Tribal tattoo
The tribal tattoo style is considered the oldest in existence. It originates from the tribes of the aborigines, who carved drawings on the skin with scarring. Each of the lines had a sacred meaning, conveyed significant actions and moments of the owner's life. By the tattoos, one could find out the entire autobiography of a person, his hopes and thoughts. The style is also widespread in the modern world, acquiring new features and characteristics.
What it is?
"Tribe" means "tribe" in English. It was tribal motives that became the basis for the creation of this style. Its main feature is clear, straight lines. Patterns are made in black or gray, often of different shades and brightness.
When tribal tattoos were made in tribal style, one could learn the entire history of the owner from them. Now they show the purposefulness of a person or play the role of a talisman against negative energy. Many believe that such tattoos reveal potential, develop intuition and protect against evil spirits.
The style takes its origins in Polynesia, Africa, and the Mayan peoples. Hence the deep meaning of tattoos. They were applied according to all customs, as a sacred ritual. The procedure was carried out only by the priests, sometimes for several months. It was believed that tattoos reveal the hidden abilities of the owner, help determine the path of life. Oceanians, on the other hand, believed that a tattoo connects the navel (internal energy) and the mind.
For women, the patterns had a completely different meaning. The first tattoo was done at the time of puberty. This meant that it was already possible to marry the girl. After the wedding, another tattoo was made, copying part of the husband's pattern. If a woman could not bear the pain of the process, she was considered unable to give birth to a child.
In Europe and Asia, the style appeared thanks to navigators who learned about it from ancient tribes. He quickly replaced the usual tattoos - unusual images immediately attracted attention. Drawings were made in accordance with all the canons: clear black lines, folding into unusual shapes.
Over time, craftsmen began to add new shapes, creating unique images never seen before. In addition, new colors have appeared in tattoos to make designs more attractive.
Review of tattoo sketches
Tribal allows you not only to create a unique pattern, but also to emphasize an existing image. It is best combined with plants, predatory animals, insects, runes. Tribal will only strengthen the initial meaning inherent in these images.
In tribes, tattoos also carried a certain meaning. Moreover, each nation had its own images with a unique meaning. There are 6 main tattoo styles.
Polynesian
Tattoos include three-dimensional ornaments with an unusual interweaving of lines. Most often they are wavy, curved, or spiral. A distinctive feature of the images is their uniqueness. It is very rare to find 2 identical sketches. Main images:
- the sun - symbolizes success, a joyful outlook on life;
- skull - the idyll of family life;
- lizard - fills the body with supernatural power;
- Tiki mask - protects the owner during important tasks.
All images are supplemented with flowers, crosses, various lines, teeth, etc. They embody natural phenomena found in everyday life.
Indian
Tattoos are associated with the people of Hyde, who have lived in the United States and Canada since ancient times. Images are distinguished by clear and bright lines and have a specific meaning. Most often, birds, animals, marine life were applied to the skin. The following images have a special meaning:
- wolf - drives away ill-wishers, symbolizes the belligerence of the owner;
- feather - protects from negative energy, symbolizes courage;
- bow - protects the owner and his funds from ill-wishers.
Tattoos are made not only in black, but also with the addition of red, green or blue, denoting, respectively, blood, plants and the sky.
Japanese
This style is popular due to the unusual look and color of the tattoos. They are bright, most often with the image of hieroglyphs, geishas, samurai, unseen animals, etc. The Japanese style has its own subtypes.
- Iredzmumi. A species was born among the Japanese mafia. Almost the entire upper body was covered with tattoos: arms, back, hips and chest.
- Haman. The style is widespread among men who want to show their courage and fortitude.
- Kakushi-boro. Common style among women. He was especially popular with geisha. The pattern was cut into the skin and then filled with rice flour. Such tattoos were not visible at normal times and only appeared with an increase in body temperature.
All images are hidden under bright, clear lines. To see the drawing, you need to carefully look at the tattoo. Most often, the following images were applied:
- carp (fish turning into a dragon is especially common) - persistence on the path of life, resistance to difficulties;
- dragon - brings good luck, a symbol of longevity;
- snake - protects from difficulties;
- the turtle is a symbol of the owner's wisdom.
Now it has become popular to apply the image of "yin and yang", symbolizing the harmony of two opposites. It is especially common among couples.
Celtic
Tattoos were applied to themselves by warriors as a talisman. The most common were images of crosses, bracelets in unusual interweaving of lines. Now they are very popular with young people. The main elements of the tattoo are spirals, loops, branches, leaves, animals. In addition, all the details have a certain meaning:
- connecting lines - rebirth, continuity of life;
- loops - the cyclical nature of life, its replacement with death;
- crosses - designation of all elements;
- hearts are a symbiosis of souls.
This style is suitable for both men and women. Often tattoos are done with shadows, which allows you to achieve a three-dimensional image.
Slavic
The main element of the tattoo is a symbol of the infinity of life. Additionally depict birds, animals. Drawings with hidden meaning are especially popular. The most common ones are:
- wolf - courage, loyalty;
- falcon - striving for leadership through fortitude;
- the thunder wheel is a symbol of courage, courage.
Runes
Images are often included in Slavic ornaments. In addition to black, red, green and blue colors are used in tattoos.
African
Tribal tattoos served as amulets, talismans. They are applied only in certain places: on the neck, arms, chest, shoulder blades. The most common tattoos:
- fern - personifies the infinity of life;
- target - speaks of the owner's leadership qualities;
- crocodile - the ability to solve difficult situations;
- wooden comb - feminine purity;
- panther - personifies power, for women - beauty, motherhood;
- the moon, the stars are a symbol of fidelity in love;
- the lion is a contradictory symbol that carries harmony and destruction at the same time.
The images are symmetrical with clear dark lines.
There are also sketches most demanded by customers:
- bear is a symbol of wisdom, goodness, strength;
- butterfly - the immortality of the spirit;
- feather - personifies the creative nature of the owner;
- dragon - wisdom, courage;
- shark is a sacred fish that personifies endurance, perseverance.
Women prefer to complement the lines with butterflies, bows, hearts, flowers. To create an original tribal tattoo, only black colors are used. But neo-style allows for a wider palette.
Selection Tips
Tribal tattoos for girls are distinguished by a special smoothness of lines. Most often, women prefer Slavic themes. This is due to the fact that they like to apply colored tattoos that stand out brightly on the body. An unusual image can easily hide body imperfections. Girls prefer drawings of plants, butterflies, mythical creatures.
Men, on the other hand, tend to favor hard, pointed lines. Everything should talk about the strength of the owner. In addition, men choose completely black tattoos depicting predatory animals and birds.
The correct sketch can say a lot about the owner; it is created strictly individually. That is why it is worth contacting professionals familiar with tribal symbols. This is the only way to create an image that fully corresponds to the character traits of the customer.
Where to locate?
Such tattoos are placed almost everywhere. Both small images and patterns are applied over the entire surface of the skin. Large lines can visually enlarge parts of the body. Therefore, men prefer to apply them on the hips, chest, back, and forearms. It is not uncommon to see sleeves passing over the shoulders. These areas are considered traditional because the tribes preferred to tattoo the same places.
Girls choose small tattoos. Most often they can be found on the lower back, hips, and sides. Often, tattoos are applied in the form of a bracelet on the wrist or hand, the lower part of the leg. Neat lines highlight feminine curves.
The most daring ones place tattoos on the neck and face. Such images look unusual, but before applying them, you need to carefully consider the pros and cons.
Beautiful examples
Unusual patterns add attractiveness to tattoos. Often times, the lines are made in different sizes to make the image unique and to emphasize the desired parts. Fragments completely filled with black paint look especially beautiful.
Large lines look great on the shoulder and arms. Rounded shapes intertwine with each other, creating unusual patterns.At first glance, you might mistake them for the stems of thorns, but each bend has its own story. Images with shadows or filled with colored paint look good.
Girls often choose butterflies for the loin. But symmetrical wings made of intertwining lines look more beautiful. They symbolize the girl's purity, her union with the spiritual world. Complement the image with small subtle details.
An unusual solution would be to enclose the pattern inside the lines. A wide contour is created, and already in it a three-dimensional image is created, as if looking out from under the skin. The effect is achieved using different shades of paint, shadows.
A tattoo depicting a bear is perfect for men. It is considered a symbol of wisdom, strength. It can be a simple pattern that shows the silhouette of an animal.
It is rare to see tattoos all over the body. But small identical patterns from the knees to the middle of the neck look beautiful. Of course, not everyone can decide on this, but the tattoo will fully convey the internal state of the owner.
The mask of the god Tiki is applied primarily to the forearm. A smiling spirit with closed eyes is adorned with intricate interweaving of patterns. The round part is placed on the shoulder, which visually makes it wider. By the way, instead of Tiki, you can use Mayan folk symbols.
Images of arthropods look elegant on the girls' hips and gods. These can be flexible lizards, dangerous scorpions. Thin lines turn them into a real work of art, emphasizing the gracefulness and predatory nature of the girl.
Men often place dragons on their backs. These can be figurative figures with symmetrical wings, created by an intricate interweaving of lines, or clear images of a mythical beast. Such a symbol is associated with the owner's luck and guarantees him longevity.
Lovers of religious symbolism can also add variety to everyday images. Often crosses are decorated with tribals, complementing the symmetrical lines emerging from them. They are distinguished by their smoothness, sharply turning into sharp corners.
A tribal tattoo is not just a pattern that will remain with a person for life. It was created to protect its owner, to show his views, aspirations, hopes. With the help of tribal tattoos, you can easily depict an autobiography written on your own body.