Lukut
Kayan is one of the many tribes of Borneo who practice body modification. BME has some examples of their tattoos from the Sarawak Museum. Among the Kayans, women are normally the tattoo artists. [1]
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Thigh pieces
Sihong is the term for the repeated design of thigh tattoos for Kayan women, and the type of sihongs and where they are placed can tell the class of the woman. Ida telo is the three-ligned pattern tattooed on the back of the thigh of a slave class woman. Middle class woman wore a four-lined pattern ida pat on the back of their thighs as well. Ida tuang or ida lima is for the back of the thigh of a woman of high rank. Uma lekan is also another design worn on the back of the high class. Women of high class can also have an uma pliau tattooed on their front and sides as well. <style="text-align: center">
Dogs
Udo Asu are traditional Kayan Borneo tattoos of dog designs (Kayan). These designs are from tatu-blocks in the Sarawak Museum.
Lukut
The design tattooed on the wrists is termed lukut, a charm to prevent the second escape of the soul and regarded as a charm to ward off all disease.
Others
- Tuang nganak is a traditional Kayan tattoo design representing a dog with pups.
- The image Kayan (Rejang R.) is an unknown Kayan design, but is obviously related to the tribe's thigh pieces with its sihong structure.
