Tattooing In Samoan Culture

Tattooing was a major part of the Samoan culture. If a chief's son is ready to be tattooed, then the father will come to the tattoo expert and offer a fine mat. If the mat is accepted, then the expert "visits the village and takes a large pig as a present to the family of the patient." (Buck, 1930. p. 641) The pig is divided between the chiefs and the talking chiefs of the village. A talking chief is a noble or title-holder who speaks or acts for a high chief. A ceremonial drinking of the kava takes place and is followed by a feast. The next day, the tattooing begins. The process of tattooing has influenced the Samoan culture with its ties in ranking, tools and patterns used, and legend behind it. Tattoos were used as a ranking status among the Samoans. They also symbolized wealth and a boy transitioning to a man. Make into sentence with quote "Adulthood in traditional Samoan society is marked by the tattoo." ( from 4th source ) If one wanted enhanced designs, the tattoo artist had to be paid a greater amount in food and money. Artists were
There were two goddesses named Taema and Tilafainga. They were Siamese twins who went from Tutuila to Fiji. Once in Fiji, they became friends with two tattooing artists named Tufou and Filelei. Teama and Tilafainga were given tattooing instruments and learned the craft from them. The names Tufou and Filelei are used in songs that are sang during the tattooing operation. Tilafainga became the war goddess Nafanua. Taema swam back to Tutuila and continued the occupation of tattooing. It was custom to tattoo the women and not the men. Taema repeated this to herself during her swim, but got the order reversed. When she arrived at Tutuila, her song translated to "When a male grows up, tattoo him. When a woman grows up, let her bear children." (Buck, 1930. p. 660) The art of tattoos is reversed according to this