Polynesian tattoo symbol: darkness

Polynesian cultures considered of great importance the concept of balance in every aspect of life, which required reaching an equilibrium between symbolic opposites, like light/darkness, life/death, positive and negative forces.

Pō represents darkness and it is associated to origins: like in many myths all around the world, tradition says that the world was in darkness when father sky Rangi-nui and mother Earth Papa-tū-ā-nuku were embracing each other so tight that no light could come in between the two.

When Tāne-nui-a-Rangi separated them to let the sunlight in, this brought life to people and earth, but also enraged two of his brothers, who were against this, and they keep manifesting their rage to these days through storms and earthquakes.

There can't be life without death, or light without darkness.

Polynesian tattoos reflect these dichotomies and seek to balance them as well.
Often symbols will be chosen to represent all realms: the world of people, the world of spirits, and nature, with elements for earth, sky and ocean together with people and divinities.

No individual is seen as isolated or separated from the rest. Everyone belongs to the world and, interacting with it, must seek for balance.

The very concept of mana reflects this, where mana can bring authority and power, but it can also bring illness and death to those who are not ready for it, unworthy.
Tattoos are one way to channel mana and control it, making it visible to everyone.
They can do this because they involve shedding the blood, bringing it from the darkness within the body into the light, joining the two opposites.

Black parts being associated to origin also represent union with the divine ancestors, and being related to the underworld are often used as a mark of warriors, especially in Marquesan tattooing where asymmetry and solid black areas are used to increase the ferociousness of the warriors' look.

On the opposite hand, dark patches would not result without empty spaces between them, and oftentimes these blank spaces have the same importance, as in the case of Maori tattoos where they are used to create patterns "carved out" of the design.

A well-balanced tattoo should have both dark and light elements, and while solid areas can have any size, keeping the smaller elements all the same size will help making the whole tattoo look more balanced and integrated.

- USAGE SAMPLES -

Alternance of dark and light elements in this Marquesan tattoo:

Solid black patterns were included in this Hawaiian tattoo to represent creativity:

You can click on the images to read the full description of both tattoos.