The notion of tribal is linked to the concept of tribe.
Tribal o tribal es un adjetivo que señala a aquel o aquello perteneciente o relativo a una tribe. Una tribu, por otra parte, es una grouping of an ancient town o un social group of the same origin, whether real or supposed.
Ancient tribes arose from the association of different families that lived together in the same village or geographic territory. These groups were led by the chiefs or patriarchs, who were usually the elders. The members of the tribe shared the same customs and beliefs.
urban tribes
Currently, the notion of tribe is associated with what is known as an urban tribe . These are subcultures that, due to their behaviors, appearances and/or beliefs, differ from the dominant culture of which they are part.
The urban tribe develops in cities and is usually made up of adolescents or young people seeking a sense of belonging. Common clothing, hairstyle, and even language make members of an urban tribe feel equal and forge a shared identity. Many times, this causes the different urban tribes to confront each other, since they perceive the others as rivals.
A tribal tattoo is based on geometric patterns.
The tribal tattoo
The notion of tribal is used to refer to a certain tattoo design . Tribals are not figures, but rather symbols that are tattooed either for their meaning or for their aesthetic appeal. These tattoos usually respect a defined geometric pattern and, due to their appearance, are reminiscent of the symbols that ancient tribes painted on themselves for religious or ceremonial reasons.
A statistical study of searches for text strings containing the word "tattoo" in the most important engines has revealed that about 30% of them included the term "tribal", which says a lot about the popularity of this type of tattoos. It is worth mentioning that not all tribal designs come from indigenous creations: there are also drawings whose inspiration is based on modern life.
Furthermore, the instruments traditionally used to make tattoos on the skin, such as needles made of bone material, bamboo sticks and dyes of vegetable origin, have been left behind; Instead of such ancestral tools, modernity has adopted a series of machines that have eliminated the mysticism of this peculiar and ancient art form.
Some believe that the first tattoo was made accidentally, probably as a result of a burn that, to the surprise of the victim , left a mark under his skin that could not be erased. More precisely, it is said that the first symbols represented through tattoos were fire and the sun, as a way to honor the gods.
Features of the practice
There are three elements of tribal tattooing that distinguished it from a common expression of art and tinged it with mysticism and spirituality: they produced pain, were permanent, and led to bloodshed. This explains why getting a tattoo strengthens the bond between a person and their beliefs , given the intensity of the practice. In addition, they were also used as a means to cause hallucinatory states, associated with shamanism .
For those who claim that the body and the soul share the same shape, that they are strongly connected to each other, tattoos have a presence on two different levels: on the one hand, they are part of the world that we see and touch, and are shown as designs under the fur; on the other, they exist in the spirit world.
Various tribes considered tattoos as a guide or a key to the spiritual world after death , as well as a mark that assured them a better destiny in the afterlife. It is known that many primitive tribes practiced some variation of body art, which may reinforce the idea that they lived in full contact with their inner side.