| The art of tattooing is probably as old as | | | | magical powers or they can drive off evil spirits. |
| humanity itself and tribal tattoo designs have | | | | *Tribal Tattoo Meanings in the Modern World |
| always been at the forefront of the most | | | | Tribal tattoos are really great-looking designs that |
| favorite tattoo designs throughout the ages. Even | | | | stand out despite their monochromatic |
| though the technology used in tattoos have | | | | characteristics. The modern world and tattoo |
| evolved from the crude ink and needle techniques | | | | enthusiasts have combined certain elements of |
| of yesteryear's to the modern tattoo- making | | | | traditional designs and mix it up with modern lines, |
| tools and machines that can create colorful, very | | | | curves and other elements. These designs can be |
| intricate and very complicated works of art on a | | | | adapted from traditional patterns used by real |
| human body, the preference for tribal designs | | | | tribes, or designs can be created from an original |
| never waned. | | | | variation of the artist using traditional tribal |
| The following is a short discussion of the various | | | | elements. |
| tribal tattoo designs that many people prefer and | | | | However, a person wanting such variations or |
| a look into the meaning behind these designs. | | | | adaptation from original designs should be careful |
| *The Traditional Meaning of Tribal Tattoos | | | | not to offend the original tribe by making more |
| It has been the tradition of many tribes around | | | | careful studies on tribal tattoo meanings |
| the world to sport a form or two of tribal-tattoos | | | | particularly for a specific tribe. Some traditional |
| on their bodies as part of being a member of that | | | | designs used by native tribes signify their identity |
| particular tribe. Some of the more popular | | | | and if used by an outsider, the act would be |
| traditional designs that we see today originated | | | | considered a serious insult to the original tribe. |
| from Borneo, the Celts, the Haidas in Southeast | | | | In most cases, tribal tattoo designs used in a |
| Alaska, the Native American Indians, the ancient | | | | modern context does not have the same |
| Chinese, the Aztecs and other South American | | | | meaning or connotation as traditional tribes have |
| tribes, and the Polynesian tribes particularly the | | | | intended them to be. Most do not have a real |
| Maori people. | | | | meaning in itself and were just created because |
| Tribal tattoo designs and meanings vary from | | | | of plain, artistic and aesthetic beauty that the |
| each tribe and it depends on their mythological | | | | image possesses. Despite that, a lot of people are |
| roots and how each tribe view and interact with | | | | enamored and would prefer the tribal design over |
| there surroundings and with the world. Most of | | | | the multi-colored variations. |
| these designs are associated with their beliefs and | | | | Tattooing is an age-old tradition used by many |
| religions and form part of rituals and rights of | | | | tribes all throughout the world. The black images |
| passages. These tattoo designs also have | | | | used in tribal tattoo designs have different |
| significant social meanings ranging from a unique | | | | connotations and meanings as they are used |
| identification system for families or tribes or as a | | | | throughout the tattoo world - both traditionally |
| record of the individual's accomplishments and | | | | and in a modern sense. |
| phases in life. Others believe tattoos can bring out | | | | |