Tattoo (Research)

Dating back to 2100 BC, The Egyptians are one of the most well known ancient cultures for tattoos. Women had tattoos that were limited to females only.  

Designs used were generally lines and dots around the body.  They were all based on amulets and were valued by the ancient Egyptians but were carved from metal and stone rather than tattooed on skin.

http://people.umass.edu/aes1/origins.html

These types of tattoos were thought to be applied by puncture with a needle or other sharp instrument steeped in pigment, much like the prisoner tattoos of later times.

In Japan, tattoos had been originally used on clay figures.  Japan’s earliest acknowledged tattoo is from 297 AD and has been demonstrated to be for decorative purposes only.  

Irezumi is a Japanese word for engraving or inserting ink into the skin which would leave a permanent mark decorating the body.  But for many years tattoos were associated with gangs therefore many Japanese business banned customers from publicly exposing their tattoos pushing tattooists underground.

For the ancient Chinese, tattooing was applied as a penalty for criminal activity, putting such visible marks on a person to forever brand him as being a law breaker.  

http://www.tattoopins.com/1041/jumping-to-conclusions/

Tattooing has been a part of Filipino life since pre-Hispanic colonization of the Philippine Islands, tattooing in the Philippines to some were a form of rank and accomplishments, some believed that tattoos had magical qualities.  

http://www.jinxiboo.com/blog/2010/2/20/history-of-filipino-tattoos-tattooed-mummies-rites-of-passag.html

In Samoa, the traditional male tattoo in Samoa is called the pe'a and the traditional female tattoo is called the malu. The word tattoo is believed to have originated from the Samoan word tatau.  

Honoring their tradition, Samoan tattoo artists made this tool from sharpened boar's teeth fastened together with a portion of the turtle shell and to a wooden handle.  Patterns of lines forming to make all different types of geometric shapes for the malu, and for the pe'a larger areas of black ink covered and lines and rows of triangles.  

http://nerdbrarian.tumblr.com/post/42111704573/xcentriq-samoan-tatau-traditional-tattoo

Ta Moko is a form of tattooing done by The Maori people.  The process and application is highly sacred and like The Samoans, the designs connects the wearer to their whakapapa (geneology).  To wear a moko on the face is to bear an undeniable declaration of who you are as a Maori.

Ta Moko these days are seen as intimidating, like the Irezumi in Japan, but it's a symbol of integrity, identity and prestige.

http://www.themaori.com/maori-tattoo

References:

Mangos, Therese & Utanga, John.  (2011).  Patterns of the past : tattoo revival in the Cook Islands.  Auckland, N.Z. : Punarua Productions.

Maori Culture.  (1999).  Ta moko - significance of Maori tattoos.  Retrieved from http://www.newzealand.com/travel/en/media/features/maori-culture/maori_ta-moko-significance_feature.cfm

History of Tattoos.  (2014).  History of Tattoos – Ancient Ink Revisited.  Retrieved from http://historyoftattoos.org/