What do tiki man represent

Made from such high-quality materials and finished so carefully, Tiki masks can last a lifetime. Because Tiki masks are typically used as a display piece more often than as bodily adornments, they are much larger than the average mask. Ancient, cultural Tiki faces — like the statues found on Easter Island — could be as large as 14 to 33 feet for community display purposes and to watch over the town.

While some Tiki masks are as little as eight inches tall, most are at least a foot. Typical smaller Tiki masks meant for household and decor purposes might range from a couple to a few feet in height.

At Forever Bamboo, we offer modern, hand-carved, authentic Tiki masks from 20 inches to five feet tall. You now know a little about Tiki traditional masks and the process that goes into making them, but where did Tiki history begin, and what is the significance of the masks within Polynesian and Hawaiian island culture? Tiki masks originated with the Maori tribe, the indigenous Polynesian people of New Zealand. Spanning the Oceanic region, Polynesian tribes of aboriginal peoples include various interconnected cultures with similar belief systems and lifestyles, including the people of Australia and New Zealand, Hawaii, Easter Island and other Oceanic areas.

Cultural beliefs, traditions, religious practices and symbols like Tiki masks carried across regions and tribes, looking similar in both aboriginal Polynesian and Hawaiian culture.

In the Maori tribe, which began in New Zealand and made its way to other Polynesian and Hawaiian islands, Tiki culture begins with Tiki, the first man.

Believed to have been the creation of the god Kane, Tiki is often worshipped as a god because he was the first and only human being on Earth.

Lonely, curious and craving companionship, Tiki wandered to a water pool, where — depending on the origin of the mythology — he either discovered or created the first woman, Marikoriko.

Together, they created their son, Hine-kau-ataata, and began the human race. Because of his mythological importance and vital role in the creation of their people, the Polynesians worshipped Tiki and began to create idols in his image. Over time, the Tiki mask and statue tradition grew to include a wide variety of gods, personas, traits and meanings, becoming integral to Polynesian culture and religion from about C.

When the first Hawaiian inhabitants arrived from Polynesia thousands of years ago, they brought the tribal traditions and religious convictions of their many gods, as represented by Tiki masks, and so the tradition continued. Modern Tiki masks, as we incorporate them into our themes and decor, most often derive from the Hawaiian interpretations of traditional Tikis.

What does a Tiki head symbolize? Originally used to mark boundaries for sacred grounds and serve as religious idols, symbols and protectors in Polynesian culture, Tiki mask meanings have evolved over time and have only become richer, encompassing various deities, cultural traditions, meanings and uses. Here are the main ways Tiki masks have been used in history, along with their particular meanings.

The Hawaiians and Polynesians worshipped thousands of gods that pertained to natural elements, landmarks, plants and animals — and Tiki heads were a prominent factor in their lifestyle and the cultural importance of keeping the balance on their islands, acknowledging their lineage and thanking the deities who created and kept them.

In Hawaiian culture especially, these gods represented the four elements in nature and had special characteristics. These are the four deities most traditionally represented in the styles and attributes of Tiki masks. Ku: As one of the most prominent gods in Hawaiian mythology, Ku is one of the four great Tiki gods in history.

The husband of the goddess Hina, he is the ancient god of war and a harbinger of strength. Ku is especially unique among the gods because some of his worship rituals included human sacrifice, which was never part of worship rituals for the other gods. Skilled artisans of the Maori tribe created Tiki statues that represented the Tiki gods in Hawaiian and Polynesian mythology.

The Tiki statues were carved to symbolize the importance of a particular mythical deity. Tiki statues were placed by Maori tribe members to mark the boundaries of sacred grounds.

The statues were given the name of Tiki from the Maori name for the first human male. In the Hawaiian culture there are four significant gods that are most commonly represented: Kane, Ku, Lono, and Kanaloa. Kane is the creator of the universe and the ruler of the natural world. When Kane is depicted in statues he is an amalgamation of many aspects of the natural world. He will have a human body, fishlike mouth, and leaflike hair.

Ku is the Hawaiian god of war. His mouth is normally open to suggest that he is devouring his enemies. Ku is the god that human sacrifices are made to. Ku is built with broad shoulders and a large, menacing head. Even today, a Tiki evokes the respect of Polynesians. It is considered that a Tiki placed outside a house protects people and keeps bad energies away. Even though it is considered a guardian, a large part of the local population thinks that it should not be harmed.

It is said that each Tiki has its personality, and that it can be benevolent for some, but also harmful to those who harm. Beyond these ancestral beliefs, the Tiki is a key element of this very rich Polynesian culture. Discover French Polynesia, its inhabitants, their traditions and the myths and legends that are part of their lives … Tahiti and her islands still have many treasures that have survived the ages, and so many beautiful things to share.

Origins of the Tiki The first stone sculpture representing a Tiki dates back to the 13th century. Between culture, art and passion Sculpting Tikis is an art that requires a lot of time and patience. The significance of Tikis nowadays The Tiki has preserved this spiritual and mystical value and the privileged place it was granted in the past. We are using cookies to provide statistics that help us give you the best experience of our site.

By continuing to use the site , you are agreeing to our use of cookies.