For thousands of years, people have tattooed themselves with tribal designs to solidify their spiritual beliefs, social status, and warrior ferocity.

Tribal tattoos will link you with your ancestry, remind you of the shoulders you are standing on, and form a bond with past generations that you’ll carry everywhere you go.

The most popular tribal tattooing cultures come from the peoples of the South Pacific. Samoans, Maori, and other islanders developed the skill thousands of years ago. The first European to see tattooed Polynesians was a convey of three Dutch ships commanded by Jacob Roggeveen.

One of his crew wrote about the people of Manua, saying “They do not paint themselves, as do the natives of some other islands, but on the lower part of the body they wear artfully woven silk tights.” The crew member did not even realize that the Manuans were naked; their legs were covered by tattoos.

The ancient Japanese tattooed themselves to display their spirituality as early as 10,000 BCE and the practice continued on down through the ages from samurai to Yakuza. Tattooing in the Philippines predates European contact. Filipinos would cover their arms and torsos with geometric lines and shapes to indicate prowess on the battlefield and military rank. They believed certain tattoos conferred magical qualities.

It has been the same across the world. Few cultures do not have some form of tattooing in their past. Wherever you’re from, there’s an awesome tribal tattoo out there for you. They’re a means of communicating with the past. Get one of these awesome pieces, and you will undergo the same process of those who came before you.

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See some more tribal tattoo designs here.