Innholdsfortegnelse for 4/2021 i ASIAN Geographic

Whilst traversing the unknown, Cook’s explorations led him to the lands of the indigenous people of the Polynesian Islands, where he encountered the permanent markings the Polynesian and Samoan people wore proudly on their skin. These marks were made by tapping sharpened tools made from bones or boar husks into the skin, forcing natural pigment derived from lama nuts under the epidermis. They earned the name “tatu” or “tatau” for the tapping sound the tools made in the process. It was Cook, interpreting from the Polynesian language, who coined the English term “tattoo”. Captain Cook’s exploits tell us that the practice of tattooing predates its English term. In fact, prior to Cook’s voyages, the British and other pilgrims to the Holy Land were already tattooing the Jerusalem Cross onto themselves…

Today, Kabayan is recognised as a centre of Ibaloi culture and the Kabayan Burial Caves, where the mummies are found, are listed as National Cultural Treasures by the National Museum of the Philippines. They are also a part of the Monument Watch’s list of the 100 most endangered sites in the world and have been classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The mummies are believed to have been created by the Ibaloi people, though the exact time period this was practised remains highly debated. These mummies are unique, not only for their incredible tattoos, but also for the mummification process. The Ibaloi began the process of mummification shortly before the person died by having them ingest a salty concoction. Following the person’s death, the corpse was washed and set…

M’kuum or Magan tribeswomen have a spotted tattoo pattern in lines on their foreheads and chins. Women wear colourful traditional clothing and accessories, most notably a pair of ostentatious yellow earrings made of beads and calabashes. They are known for their mastery of the traditional nose flute M’uun Chin are also known as the Chinbok. Some sources say that the M’uun Chin of the Kanpetlet region refer to themselves as the Cho. The Chin tribes were once referred to as the “wild hill tribes” of Myanmar. “Chin” was a derogatory Burmese term used in the past to denote all the various hill tribes living near the Myanmar and India border Daai (Yindu) Chin people are of Mongolian, Indo-Chinese, and Tibeto-Burman descent, and live in the Mindat, Paletwa, Matupi and Kanpetlet…

• Apatani tribe of Ziro Valley, Arunachal Pradesh• More than 24,000 members Tattoo culture: Tattoos are widely seen on women as a veil of protection from the lustful eyes of men from rival tribes. With the ultimate aim to appear unattractive, women are tattooed on their faces and have enlarged nose piercings. This archaic form of tattooing is gradually losing its significance after the Indian government banned such practices in 1974 Tools: Thorns are used to cut open the skin, and a mixture of soot and animal fat is added to the open wound. The wound is left to be get infected, which results in a darker, bigger, and much clearer tattoo Language: Apatani, a Tani language (Sino-Tibetan language branch) • Kutia Kondh tribe of Odisha• Over 1 million members•…

• Maori people of Zealand• New Zealand population: 775,000• Arrived in New Zealand between 1320 to 1350 Tattoo culture: The Maori’s distinct form of tattooing, known as ta moko, was discriminated against after colonisation and they found it difficult to assimilate into society. Tattooing on the face is considered most sacred but men and women differ. Men are commonly seen with full-face tattoos whereas women tattoo their chins, known as moko kauae Tools: The Maori traditionally used bones as carving tools and the ink consisted of ash and other natural components Language: About one-fifth of the population can have an everyday conversation in Maori, also known as te reo – “the language”…

• Sak Yant designs originated from the Khmer Empire, which encompassed much of mainland Southeast Asia and parts of Southern China Tattoo culture: While engaging in the practice, monks will recite ancient chants and mantras. This is believed to give the tattoo power and bless the person getting it. The tattoos were deemed dangerous if they were to get inked onto the wrong person Tools: Traditionally, the ink consisted of a unique combination of snake venom, charcoal, and coconut oil Language: In Cambodia, the Old Khmer script of the Khmer Empire is used for Sak Yant tattoos…

• With its origins in the Khmer Empire, tattoo traditions in Thailand are very similar to those in Cambodia Tattoo culture: As in Cambodia, the traditional form of tattooing in Thailand is called Sak Yant. Intricate and geometrical, the designs have specific meanings and offer the wearer protection and good fortune. Originally given to warriors by Buddhist monks, tattoos were believed to provide strength and protection in battle Tools: Originally bamboo served as the needle, with the ink made from a mix of Chinese ink, snake venom, herbs and ash. Contemporary needles are made of metal Language: As in Cambodia, the Old Khmer script is used in central Thailand. In northern Thailand, tattoos may use Shan, northern Thai, or Tai Lu scripts CELEBRITY TATTOO…

• French Polynesian archipelago in the South Pacific• Population of 9,346 people (2017)• Tattooing tradition started in the late 1500s Tattoo culture: Tattoos act as body armour, with each design having specific meanings Tools: The ama nut is cooked over a fire and the soot is then captured and dried on banana leaves. This soot is collected and forms an ink concoction with coconut oil, water or vegetable juice Language: Various Marquesan dialects are the primary means of communication in the archipelago…

If you think you are beaten, you are.If you think you dare not, you don’t.If you like to win, but you think you can’t,It is almost certain you won’t. If you think you’ll lose, you’re lost.For out of the world we findSuccess begins with a fellow’s will.It’s all in the state of mind. If you think you are outclassed, you are.You’ve got to think high to rise.You’ve got to be sure of yourself beforeYou can ever win a prize. Life’s battles don’t always goTo the stronger or faster man.But soon or late the man who winsIs the man who thinks he can. MAHJONG Origin: China Countries Played: Worldwide Historians believe it was based on a Chinese card game called Mădiào (hanging horse) in the early Ming dynasty (1368–1644) and…

Evidence of tattooing has been found throughout ancient Egypt. Archaeologists have uncovered numerous Egyptian sculptures and carvings depicting female figures with tattoos on their bodies and limbs SMALL BRONZE IMPLEMENTS HAVE ALSO BEEN IDENTIFIED AS TATTOOING TOOLS FROM 1450 BCE TO DATE, ONLY FEMALES HAVE BEEN DEPICTED OR FOUND WITH TATTOOS, SUGGESTING THAT TATTOOS WERE EXCLUSIVE TO THE WOMEN OF ANCIENT EGYPT Interestingly, upon realising that the tattoos were adornments for females, mummies that were found with markings were dismissed by excavators to be of dubious status or ill repute. In some instances, they were regarded as “dancing girls” or prostitutes SOME OF THE FEMALE MUMMIES, HOWEVER, WERE FOUND BURIED AT DEIR EL-BAHARI, AN AREA THAT HAS BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH ROYAL AND ELITE BURIALS At least one of the tattooed…

Many years ago, during one of my visits to the the Philippine National Museum in Manila, I received permission to photograph some artefacts. Whilst there, the museum’s director at the time, Father Gabriel Casal, offered to show me the museum’s prized possession – an Ibaloi mummy, which was enclosed in a glass cage for its protection. I hesitantly asked if I could to take some photographs of this truly strange and rare rediscovered tattooed mummy. Father Casal, a longtime friend with whom I have traded many interesting discoveries and tales, gave me his blessing with nothing more than a warning to “make sure it looks good.” The photo of the “Ibaloi Mummy” (see page 25) is one of the only images of the artefact that was taken before the National…

The U-Pu tribespeople, one of the rarest tribes in Chin state, have their entire faces tattooed in black ink. The tattoo is made by village elders before the girls reach puberty, usually at around 10–12 years old, typically taking almost an entire day to complete Lai Tu Chin women are easily recognisable by the distinctive spider-web pattern of their facial tattoos. Originally warrior hill tribes who lived in small groups, the Lai Tu Chin people moved down to the banks of the Lemyo River in the 4th century CE and began to live together in larger villages. Now they can be found along the banks of the river and its tributaries north and south of Mrauk-U in Chin and Rakhine states. In the face of modernity, the Lai Tu Chin…

But underneath the pressed blazers and polished loafers, a vast canvas of inked skin hidden in plain sight straddles the line between art and taboo. Due to the explosive proliferation of yakuza films in Japan, many with just a passing understanding of irezumi – the Japanese term for all tattoo styles – would associate the art form with the notorious crime syndicate. This has cemented wabori, which refers to Japanese style tattooing, as a “mark of disaffiliation” from conventional society and a taboo subject amongst many in Japan today. The stigma and cultural aversion surrounding tattoos is so strong that those who adorn themselves with tattoos, referred to as irezumi no kata, or tattooed person, find themselves turned away from public establishments like bathhouses, pools, beaches, gyms, and even some…

• Ancient Egypt The world’s oldest tattoos were discovered on Egyptian mummies dating from approximately 3400 BCE. The mummies were found at Gebelein, an ancient town on the Nile, just south of present-day Luxor The symbolism of tattooing in Egypt was rooted to the protection of the unborn child. The swelling of the pregnant belly would stretch out the tattoo and go around the torso, forming a protective barrier Ancient inking tools were made from bone, copper or bronze Egyptian tattoos were coloured, with each colour having its own meaning. Blue signified fertility and black, perhaps oddly, signified resurrection and life Tattoos on women were linked to Hathor, the goddess of sky, women, fertility and love The Egyptians are believed to have first introduced the art of tattooing to Asia…

• The Yue people of South China. The original state of Yue corresponds with present-day northern Zhejiang province• The Yue thrived from the 1st millennium BCE to the 1st millennium CE, before being gradually assimilated into Han culture• The name Vietnam means “south of the Yue”, and some scholars consider the Yue people to be ancestors of the Vietnamese Tattoo culture: The Yue were known for their prominent body tattoos, wearing their hair short, and carrying fine swords. Some blackened their teeth and scarified and tattooed their faces Language: Unclassified. Possible languages spoken by the Yue may have been of Tai-Kadai, Austronesian, Austroasiatic and other origins CELEBRITY TATTOO English footballer David Beckham’s Chinese tattoo reads: 生死有命，富贵 在天 (shēngsǐ yǒu mìng, fùguì zài tiān). It can be loosely translated as: “Life…

• In Vietnam, the earliest evidence of tattooing dates to the 14th century• Vietnamese fishermen would ink their bodies with the eyes and scales of sea monsters for protection while out at sea Tattoo culture: During the Lý and Tran dynasties (1009–1400), tattoos were a symbol of the aristocracy and were required to enter the imperial court. The number of tattoos a person had was directly related to their status. Men were inked with powerful animals, while birds and flowers were common motifs for ladies. The popularity of tattoos declined with the Ming occupation in the 15th century, and by the 19th century, French colonists were tattooing identification codes on prisoners…

• The Kalinga people of Buscalan, Tinglayan, Kalinga, Luzon• Dwindling population of 742 (2017)• The oldest Cordilleran tattoos were found on mummies around 700 to 900 years old Tattoo culture: Men’s tattoos were linked to headhunting, a noble act in Kalinga society. A boy became a man, and gained the right to acquire a tattoo, when he cut off the head of a slain enemy. Male tattooing began with the wrist and forearm and progressed to the chest. Women were inked on the arms, hands, shoulder blades, and sometimes breasts and throat. The tattoos were believed to help menstrual pain as well as acting as a signal to potential suitors Tools: Tattoos were outlined with a dried rice stalk bent into a triangle. The rice stalk, or uyot, was then…

• Polynesian island country in the Pacific• Population of 202,506 (2020) Tattoo culture: In Samoan culture, tatau have been a symbol of pride for 3,000 years. Male tattoos are known as pe’a and their female counterparts are known as malu. They are marks of manhood and womanhood. Men are tattooed from their lower torso down to their knees The traditional method was excruciating and could take three or four months to complete. If the individual was unable to sit through the whole process, the incomplete work would be deemed as a mark of shame. Those who do not get tattooed would be viewed as being “naked” Tools: Tattoo artists followed simple marks as a guide, tapping designs into the skin with a mallet and tattoo comb dipped in ink. Wounds…

“The tattoo spanned the entirety of their faces, including the eyelids, which must have been painful to experience at the age of nine when the tattoos had been done” In June 2018, a small group of us took a three-hour, one-way journey on the Lemyo River from Mrauk-U in Rahkine state to the remote Chin Villages, just a few kilometres from the border with Chin state. There, a handful of older women proudly displayed the facial tattoos that mark them as the “spider women” of Myanmar. There were only seven of them left in the general area as the practice had long been banned by the Burmese authorities. Unfortunately, that means this vibrant part of the Chin culture is slipping away. Different tribes in northwestern Myanmar have long used facial…

• Ethnic minority groups in mountainous Chin state• A cluster of Chin villages on the Lemyo River upstream from Mrauk-U in Rakhine state Tattoo culture: Tattooing was introduced around the 14th to 17th century by the Shan people of Yunnan province, China. Tattoos indicate marital status and social rank. They may also prevent invaders from kidnapping women from other tribes. Among the numerous groups are the M’uun, M’kaan, Daai (Yin Du), Nga Yah, Uppriu, and Lai Tu Chin. M’uun women have large “P” or “D” shapes on their faces and “Y” shapes on their foreheads. The M’kuum women have line tattoos on their foreheads as well as their chins. Daai (Yin Du) tribes-people can be distinguished by the long vertical-line tattoos across their entire face, including the eyelids. This is…

• Atayal people of the Liwu River Valley, northern Taiwan• Taiwan’s third-largest group of indigenous people with a population of 90,000 Tattoo culture: The practice of tattooing among the Atayal dates back 1,400 years. Men’s tattoos were earned for their headhunting prowess and symbolised bravery and transition to adulthood, while women’s tattoos recognised their weaving skills Tools: A group of needles, called atok, would be bundled up and tapped into the skin with a hammer, called totsin. The open wound was then rubbed with ash to create the tattoo Language: While the group’s main language is Ayatal, they also speak Mandarin and Taiwanese Hokkien…

• The Ainu people of Hokkaido Island and Northeast Honshu• Present-day Ainu population is estimated at 200,000 Tattoo culture: Traditional Ainu culture was very different from Japanese culture: Men wore full beards and moustaches, and both sexes cut their hair to the shoulders. Women tattooed their mouths, beginning at a young age with a small spot on the upper lip and gradually developing over several years. Hands and arms were also tattooed. By age 15 or 16, tattooing was complete and women were ready for marriage Tools: Tattoos were created by the use of a knife and soot to mark the skin. After making incisions to the desired area, the blood was then wiped away with a cloth drenched in hot ash wood or a spindle wood antiseptic called “nire”.…

• The Dayak people of Borneo• The Malaysian Borneo population is more than three million (with a similar number in the Indonesian portion of the island) Tattoo culture: In Dayak culture, tattooing was a sacred activity connected to spirit worship and headhunting. Pantang tattoos, which signified participation in the headhunt, sometimes covered just the fingers, sometimes the whole body, depending on the tribe. Women were tattooed as proof of their weaving, dancing or singing skills, and also for protection Tools: The Dayak traditionally used soot as a dye mixed with sugarcane juice. The “needles”, made from thorns of orange trees, were attached to a sprig of wood for the handle so as to resemble a hammer. Complex motifs could take an entire day, with the bloody, swollen skin becoming infected…