Dayak Tattoos Are Not Just Fashion, But Emancipation and Self-Esteem

Tattoos are an art. But once in a time the tattoo became feared because it was considered a symbol of thuggery.

As the value of art can indeed be interpreted various meanings. For certain tribes, tattoos are not just art but contain very deep meanings.

One of the tribes who interpret tattoos is not just art and fashion is the Dayaks.

The tattoos of the Dayak tribe are a symbol of everything. initiation marks, symbols of magical power, and relate to religion, and for treatment, travel memories or life notes.

This is possible because in general the Dayak tribe does not have a written tradition so that the painting or tattoo on the body is a communication medium in the form of art and symbols of body painting.

In addition to the above meanings specifically for men, tattoos have a meaning as males that are resistant to suffering.

Dayak Tattoos Emancipation Symbols

Tattoos for the Dayak tribe are not exclusively intended for men. The women also have tattooed body paintings with different symbols and meanings.

So in this case actually shows that in general the Dayak tribe does not really distinguish prominently the positions and values ​​of men and women. So it can be said that tattoos can also be interpreted as a symbol of emancipation.

The Dayak tribe and male tattoo motifs are distinguished in their shape and purpose.

Male tattoo

For the Dayak tribe, men have their own motives with symbols of various meanings. Also each tattoo image is placed in a certain position of the body with a different purpose.

The tattoos on the fingers indicate that the owner is a person who has contributed a lot in helping.

Eggplant or eggplant flower tattoos with a picture of life rope (intestinal shape on the frog) in the middle is a sign that a man from the Dayak tribe has entered adulthood. Usually this type of tattoo is placed on the front side of the chest.

Tiger face motif tattoo, this tattoo is usually placed on the thigh shows high social status for the owner. So actually tattoos with this motif should not be used by just anyone.

Carved Tattoos located in the neck serves to provide strength to the throat or function as a protector so as not to be cut off by enemy Mandau. So there is a kind of meaning to protect body parts from enemy attacks.

Tattoos for women

For Dayak women there are certain images and symbols. Certainly not only to decorate the body but also has cultural and magical cultural significance as well.

Tedak Kassa tattoo is located on the feet, indicating that the woman is an adult. This shows that the woman is ready to act as a mother.

The Tedak Usuu and Tedak Hapii tattoos located in the hands function as guardians of evil spirits. With this tattoo design, it is expected that women who choose it are kept away from disaster and havoc.

Various Types and Meanings of Tattoo Patterns

In terms of motifs, Kalimantan Dayak traditional tattoos are full of symbols and philosophies. Dayak mythology in sketches presents living things in abstract form. There is an artistic value and beauty is also shown there.

So this tattoo cannot be made by just anyone. There is a kind of expertise and artistic talent from those who are trusted to do that.

Tattoo on the body can explain several things: part of religious traditions, social status, respect for abilities, experts in medicine, or indicate someone often wanders.

Traditional tattoo images generally only have one color, namely bluish black with a distinctive form of handmade. In contrast to tattoos today that have been much more presentable and colorful thanks to machine tools and ink.

As said above, the tattoo pattern has a meaning, one of which is magical power.

With this belief for some people, the tattoo motif that he has has magical powers.

For their animal tattoo motifs drawn in his body at any time can be turned on, and really live like animals as usual can even be used as a guide for the owner of the tattoo image.

If there is a danger facing it will notify the owner of the tattoo.

There is also the meaning of health and treatment in Dayak tattoo motifs.

In this sense, for example if there is a woman who gave birth to a baby who successively the baby died then the mother must undergo a ritual to get rid of bad luck. In the ritual above the mother's nipples are made tattoos or rajahs that resemble breast nipples.

The meaning of the ritual and tattoo design is to get rid of the bad luck that is lodged in the original nipple, which is believed to be the cause of the death of two consecutive fetuses.

With this tattoo motif and position it is hoped that the baby to be born by the mother will be saved.

How to find original motives from certain tribes?

Each Dayak sub-tribe has a motif and a unique meaning of their tattoo designs. The different meanings and designs are usually due to the environment and of course there is a touch of artist interpretation there.

Of course with the passage of time and the ease of relations between sub-tribes and transportation, also of course marriages between sub-tribes there is a mixture of design and meaning that now exists.

But with the various features available if we search carefully we can explore the characteristics and uniqueness of each - each

To find out the related tribes, usually women can be used as a benchmark.

The reason is, because the tattoo motifs on the body of women may only use the characteristics of their own regions and may not be mixed with other Dayak sub-tribe motifs.

As for men, even though they have mandatory tattoos that are characteristic of their regions, men's tattoos cannot be used as a benchmark for their own regional characteristics.

The main reason is that young men in general often travel or migrate to other areas in search of knowledge.

In their wandering, they often ask for a tattoo with the motive of the area in which they are riding and of course with permission from the regional tribal chief.

The motif used is just an ordinary tattoo motif and does not show tribal characteristics. That tattoo should only be taken from the family who gave a ride, whether he was a passenger in an ordinary people's family or the family of the chief.

Tattoos from other tribes may only be worn by certain people who have noble personalities and at least one year he settled in the area. In this case the tattoo pattern is also a marker of social strata in the Dayak community.

Tattoos owned by men, taken from other tribal tattoo patterns, certainly not found in women because they are not permitted to migrate unless there are certain things that must involve them.

In general, women only stay at home. So, men who often wander will bring the tattoo as a report of his journey, because the motives show where they have lived and settled. Overseas people are generally carried out by related tribes.

From this, it can actually be said that it is women who are the guardians of the patterns and traditions of tattoo motifs of the Dayak tribe in each sub-tribe.

Meaning and Meaning of Dayak Tattoos

There are various styles and meanings of Dayak tattoo designs. Of the many types of tattoos, there are several things that can be classified as examples of groups and types of tattoos.

Some of the features and meanings are:

Telul Puntul. This style is usually painted on the left or right side of the lower part of the body covered with loincloth, daily clothing worn by ancient Dayak men. The meaning is that the male genitals are mounted as a stimulant in sexual intercourse. So this is related to the meaning and motive of fertility.

Fingerprint Fingerprint. usually painted on the back of the palm of your hand as a sign of having gotten the result of an enemy head in a war between tribes. If the left means that you have got two heads, and if the right and left, means you have got seven heads. The owner of this tattoo is considered a brave hero in his tribe.

Ears are done. This tattoo motif design as a sign that those who have it a lot of long walks (wanderers). Dayak migrants generally have this type of tattoo.

Kelatan. Usually this type of tattoo is made on the neck as jewelry or art on Dayak women.

Eggplant Flower. This style is mounted on the left and right shoulders at the rear, as a sign of a lot of distance walks or nomads. The meaning will be the same as the ear puntul, if there is a backside.

Crescent Rope. This motif is hung on the wrist. This type of tattoo is only for decoration.

String Strap. Motifs that are carved on the wrist are only as sweeteners or jewelry, do not have magical meaning.

Tebulun which is usually tattooed on the back of the fingerprints on the thumb has a meaning as a person who likes to help or if in war are those who are diligent in helping mengayau. If this tattoo motif is mastered in women, then that means she is good at weaving or being diligent.

Traditional ways to make tattoos

For now, if we want to make a tattoo, there is a tattoo clinic that prepares various designs with modern equipment. Also the colors of tattoos can be so diverse that the results are like a painting on the body.

However, Kalimantan Dayak tattoos were very different long ago. The making of this tattoo is made by utilizing the resources available around their village.

For dyes, there is no colorful ink like now.

The natural color used is soot from lamps or crock pots and cauldrons. The ingredients are then collected and mixed with sugar and then stirred so that it becomes a coloring liquid that is ready to be used in the tattoo process.

Other coloring agents can also be from resin charcoal taken from resin stones.

For the needle of the tattoo the thorns of the orange tree are used quite long and the level of sharpness is adequate. The thorn can be used directly or clipped to a wooden handle for a handle so that it resembles a hammer in its use.

In addition to the orange tree thorns, sharpened bamboo bark is usually used.

When merajah, the tip of the orange tree thorn dipped in "ink" made from soot and sugar. Then repeatedly the tattoo artist stabbed the thorn into their skin tattooed according to the desired motif. You can imagine how tormented the process. If the motives are complicated then the process of making a tattoo can take a whole day.

Scars of orange thorns can result in swelling and bleeding. Due to the absence of the sterilization process, it could be after this tattoo process that causes fever one to two days due to wound infections that occur.

because that is one of the reasons why the owner of a tattoo is considered as a brave precisely because of this complicated and painful process.

The final word

From this description it is clear to the Dayak tribe, tattoos are not just art, let alone the work of fad.

Changes in the meaning and interpretation of tattoos that are often associated with crime and crime make Dayaks also misunderstood and even judged.

Even now, one of the requirements to become an ASN or TNI and Polri is not to be tattooed, which has a flat meaning. Of course with this condition there are many Dayak sons and daughters who want to keep the tradition from being hampered by their careers.

It is fitting for things like this we do not want. After all, by looking at the meaning and meaning of the tattoo, actually Dayak tattoos should also be preserved and preserved.

This Dayak tattoo art should be a noble culture that must be respected and appreciated.

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