The process of tattooing involves the insertion of pigment into the skin's dermis. Traditionally, tattooing often involved rubbing pigment into cuts. Modern tattooing almost always requires the use of a tattoo machine and often procedures and accessories to reduce the risk to human health.
The Iban and the Land of the Head Hunters
The majority of the Iban live in Sarawak province of Malaysia’s Borneo. They make up almost 30 percent of the population of Sarawakians. Known for their traditional longhouses, headhunting and tattoos, the Iban are some of the friendliest people you will ever meet.
These days, headhunting is a thing of the past, although locals often joke about it while socializing and sipping Langkau. The Iban today are peaceful people who grow rice and maintain the longhouse tradition and culture.
What do the Iban Tattoos Represent?
Iban tattoos tell a story, the story of the bearer’s life. They can represent knowledge learned, heads taken, and the becoming of a man. They are not exclusive to men, though. Many Iban women sport tattoos as well! At the age of ten, Iban receive their first tattoo, the Bungai Terung, which is an eggplant flower on each of their shoulders. This is the most common tattoo you will see in Sarawak.
Before the process of actually getting the tattoo began, they placed the ink in a bamboo cup, Traditional Iban tattoo ink is made up from soot and fermented sugar cane juice.then placed a metal spike into a bamboo stick. They warmed up by gently hitting the stick away to acquire his rhythm.
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