The Last Kalinga Tattoo Artist of the Philippines by Lars Krutak
Of all Kalinga tattoo motifs, centipedes and python scales seem to dominate. Both creatures were considered “friends of the warriors” (bulon ti mangayaw) and are believed to be earthly messengers of the most powerful Kalinga deity Kabunian – the Creator of all things. Many women said that their skin didn’t wrinkle if fortified with these designs. Whang Od recounted a Kalinga myth where a centipede was responsible for helping warriors take human heads like the insect takes it prey. Tattooed centipedes are also believed to make a warrior more aggressive and fierce. Some women were tattooed with “necklaces” to appear permanently beaded and beautiful.
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