Get to know the Dayak Kalimantan Tattoos

          Tattoos for some Dayak tribe, tattoos are inseparable thing from their bodies, tattoos for the Dayak tribe is something that is sacred closely related to several events and goals that have become a tribal culture in Kalimantan Indonesia. But we need to remember that not all Dayak tribes use tattoos, and not all Dayak tribes have the same tattoos, some tattoos can be have the same motives but sometimes there are some modifications. 

The Purpose of Making Tattoos for the Dayak Tribe

          Tattoos in the Dayak tribe are called "tutang", each tattoo motif has a different meaning, the making and placement of tattoos also should not be done haphazardly. According to the belief that the black tattoo found in the Dayak tribe will turn to gold and become the light of road to immortality after they pass away and have gone through the Tiwah ceremony. 

Besides tattoos also have several functions including:

1. Markers that the tattoo owner is an original descendant of the Dayak tribe.

2. To protect the owner of the tattoo from the influence of evil spirits.

3. As a sign that the owner has passed Kinyah (martial arts using Mandau).

4. As an appreciation for services for often helping or treating.

5. As an award for courage on the battlefield (decapitation).

6. As a sign that the owner of the tattoo has migrated to various tribes.

7. For women as a sign that the woman is ready to get married.

8. As a marker of differences in social status.

9. and other functions. 

Various kinds of Kalimantan Dayak Tribe Tattoos

          Tattoo forms and images on the Dayak tribe are generally taken from nature such as hornbills representing the upper world, life rope on frogs representing the underworld, as well as several motifs such as eggplant flower motifs, tree branches and various other forms taken from nature. In addition, it is also known as the tutang bajai (crocodile tattoo), images of dragon, saluang murik, apui (fire), palapas langau (flies wings), manuk  tutang usuk, matan punei (green pigeon’s eye), manuk tutang penang, lampinak  (like a cross), tutang tasak bajai dinding. Dayak Male and Female Tattoo Motifs Differ in the Forms and Purpose. 

Male tattoo

          The tattoo on the fingers shows that the owner is a person who has contributed a lot in helping. Eggplant flower tattoos with an image of life rope (intestinal shape on the frog) in the middle is a sign that a man from the Dayak tribe has entered adulthood. Tiger face motif tattoo, this tattoo is usually placed on the thigh shows high social status for the owner. Carved Rekong Tattoo that placed in the neck have a function to provide strength to the throat or as a protector to not be decapitated by enemy Mandau. 

Tattoos for women

          Tedak Kassa tattoo placed on the feet, indicating that the woman is an adult. The Tedak Usuu and Tedak Hapii tattoos placed in the hands has a function as guardians from evil spirits. 

Tattoo Making Materials

          The materials for making tattoos in the Dayak tribe in ancient times were slightly different from the materials for making tattoos today, only the type of ink did not change. In ancient times tattoos were made using long and sharp orange tree thorns. But now the needle has begun to be recognized and replaces the role of the orange tree thorns. While the ink is still using the soot which have pitch black color. In addition to the main ingredients above there are some things that are also prepared including:

1. Sale Resin (charcoal resin) only uses cat's eye resin and stone resin.

2. Upih Pinang (the areca nut midrib)

3. A bamboo reeds

4. The bamboo which is halved

5. Flat iron as big as index finger

6. Ironwood is as big as index finger 

How to Make Tattoos

          When making tattoos, families are usually prohibited from leaving the house so that nothing bad happens to the owner of the tattoo. Here is how to make the tattoos by the Dayak tribe, first the resin is burned and then the midrib areca nut is bent using its smoke, the charcoal is collected and stored in a reed-barn and mixed with a little water and then placed in bamboo which has been halved. Then the skin is tattooed or chopped with the mata tutang (needle) by being hit using a round ironwood as big as a finger until it is bleeding, then the wounds that arising from the chopped of mata tutang (needle) is smeared with sale resin. Apart from the sale resin, sometimes it is also mixed with gold or copper. Tattoo scars will heal about a week to one month. To make tattoos all over the body usually takes up to two years, this is due to consider the pain that arises when the tattoo process is ongoing.