释义 |
Definition of mokomokai in English: mokomokainounˌmɒkəˈmɒkʌɪ NZ A preserved Maori head with traditional facial tattoos, kept as a trophy of war or for ritual reasons. mokomokai became highly sought after as curios Example sentencesExamples - His work evocatively includes both Maori iconography and culture, such as shrunken heads (mokomokai), native birds such as tui, and European symbols and items.
- These are some of the mokomokai preserved in the museums of France.
- We the living generation of carved mokopuna require the mokomokai of our forefathers to be given back immediately.
- One of the driving forces behind this idea is the offence experienced by Maori people at the display of mokomokai (smoked tattooed heads), the head being considered particularly sacred.
- The Mokomokai were a constant element in the development of Māori society and had enormous cultural significance for them.
- As a sailor, he had previously traded in smoke-dried Māori tattooed heads (mokomokai), which generally fetched £10 apiece.
- Te Wherowhero ordered those with fine tattoos to be carefully beheaded so their mokomokai could be saved for trade.
- In the case of mokomokai, anthropological inquisitiveness curdled withghoulish fascination.
- He built up an unrivalled collection of mokomokai.
- The Museum of New Zealand effectuated the return from museums or private collections abroad to New Zealand of 300 to 500 mummified Māori heads (Mokomokai).
Origin Late 19th century: Maori, literally 'tattooed slave or captive'. |