Well, let's take a look at where the first journey of tattooing started. In New Zealand, the Maoris, who have a warrior spirit and face tattoos, used face tattoos called moko. The origin of this tattoo goes back to Poland 2000 years ago. The twisting lines and spirals in traditional maori design are inspired by nature and each design has its own meaning. Each moko bearer provides detailed information about his family and status. Moko was beauty for women and warship for men. According to traditional Maori rule, a flat-tipped chisel was used to make these tattoos, and with this chisel the face was formed. When the wound heals, it opens again. Then the wound was formed and filled with ink consisting of plant extracts and preservation. The way it is applied is almost a torture compared to now. The life of the Maoris changed with the arrival of the British in the south pacific in the late 1700s, and the westerners first encountered tattoos. Maori moko tattoos are unique to foreign warriors, so the heads of those killed in battle They mummified it and kept it as a souvenir. In fact, the heads of the Maori who had mokos were deliberately cut off and either traded for weapons or sold to Europeans. And of course, after all this, the moko art has come to an end. In Hawaiian Adana, the northern tip of Polynesia, tattoos defined people's roles in society. Who he is, what he's done, the battles he's won. They believed that tattoos protect people from physical harm and evil spirits. In order to make tattoos, bone sticks called nifo with 35-40 teeth made of bird's beak, fish fin, and pig teeth were used and applied by hand. There it was called "tatu". The first known female tattoo artist; Maud Stevens Wagner (February 1877 – January 30, 1961)
There are many more stories from the past, many things to be told about tattoo art. Every culture has carried and kept the tradition of tattooing alive with different reasons and stories. All different and interesting stories. When a person learns that tattoos have such a history, he thinks more about the tattoos he has had or will get done, and takes more care. From now on, the meaning of the tattoo and the meaning of a tattoo from which culture and belief becomes more important and valuable.