Question:
set on getting tribal armbands, but all the tattoo
artists I've talked to either say that tribal designs don't have any
meaning or that I'll have to do my own research to find out.Does anyone know what culture the tribal designs
originated from, and are there any books out there on the subject, or if
you have designs that you know the meaning of? (These are the symbols I'm
looking for: bliss, joy, enlightment, letting go, freedom, balance,
harmony, the wheel of life, karma) I don't mind
doing that, but I'd appreciate if someone could help me out so that I know
where to start?
Answer:
- Most of the designs that i have seen have been a modification of designs
of celtic origin. but I also know of some polynesian, and african based
designd on people.
*shrug* as to where to look them up, a whlie ago someone posted on
books of symbols etc... which would be a good place to start.
- Ask the person with the armband. Chances are, some are just abstract
designs which look nice. Others have symbolic meaning (my half tribal
piece will) a few more will be just flash.
A big problem is that "tribal" designs as found in America come from
a multitude of different culture, probably each with their own symbolic
system. I would suggest the following procedure.
A: Find a survey of tattooed cultures.
B: Pick a culture you like.
C: Research that culture.
- I'll quote from Victoria Lautman's book, _The New Tattoo_:
"One of the most intriguing styles to emerge with the tattoo renaissance
is the strikingly graphic tribal work...compasses native motifs from
preindustrial cultures the world over: today's tribal tattoos might
derive from the Sea Dayak of Borneo, New Zealand's Maoris, America's
Haida and Hopi, or the indigenous Hawaiian Islanders."
Unfortunately, I don't think there's one book that has a comprehensive
listing of tribal designs. Fortunately however, since these are based on
native designs, you should have some luck in a university research
library in finding sources about these peoples and their cultures.
- I found that Modern Primitives doesn't give you *any* of the cultural
background of the designs, beyond the place that the design comes from.
It *does* give you a good idea of what ome of the *styles* look like.
I'd say that you should locate some images that you like, identify what
culture they are from, and then research those cultures to find what the
images mean (and where they should be placed on your body).
It is impossible to give you a whole lot of sources for information until you
identify which culture your images come from.
Tribal armbands are commonly seen in samoan/micronesian, Hawaiian and
celtic styles. I'm sure that other cultures have armbands also.
Decide which style you like first. Then you can contact an anthropological
museum (Chicago has a really good one) to see if you can get help, or at
least the names of some books to read.
I'd have to agree. The images used in tribal work is pretty specific
and representative. The images may be stylized quite a bit, but they
still represent something physical. Like a bird or a dog or a dragon.
These images may in turn embody some attributes, but probably nothing as
specific as what you are looking for. Chinese caligraphy might indeed be
a better choice for you.
- Reminds me of the story i heard here a few months ago about the
guy who got a Kanji tattoo, and didn't realize until long afterward
(when he met someone who could actually read Japanese) that it was
upside down...
i've been thinking about getting a tattoo incorporating the Hebrew
word chesed. The best translation is the English word compassion,
but the Hebrew term doesn't have the same sappy, judgemental
connotation that "compassion" has come to have. Chesed means
loving kindness, understanding others' complexities, recognition
of the inner and outer obstacles we all face in receiving or giving
love, recognition, and care. It does not entail an end to moral
or spiritual demand, or an end to obligation. Rather, it helps
us to understand and accept the limitations of human beings, not
to utterly reject them, to recognize that we are but flesh and
blood, that we are weak and vulnerable and to some extent trapped
in a social reality that we did not construct and which is hard
to transcend. Chesed is not acceptance that allows a complacent
reconciliation with one's own personal reality ("I'm okay, you're
okay"), but the acknowledgement of what is and where it has come
from, so that one may move more effectively toward what ought to
be. It recognizes the constraints upon us so as to encourage a
loving kindness and gentleness in our dealings with others.