The Art of the Body Adornment - Essay Example

Body Adornment For thousands of years, people from many cultures have used the art of body adornment to display religious, cultural and family affiliations. The purpose of this paper is to specifically focus on one specific type of body adornment within one specific culture, and discuss the significance of that adornment. Traditionally, in the Middle East, the art of henna designs placed on the body, signifies important occasions and events. This type of body adornment will be focused on in this paper. Henna comes from a plant known as Lawsonia Inermis. This particular plant can grow to heights as high as four feet tall and is native to Pakistan, Iran, Syria and Persia. It ias also found in areas such as Egypt, Uganda and other Middle Eastern and African countries. The plant is used for body art because it contains a property called tannins which allows the plant to exhibit color when ground up finely and mixed with hot water. One of the practical uses of henna is as a cooling agent. One can rub the mix on hands or feet in order to cool down in hot, Middle Eastern and African countries with extremely hot, dry climates. Henna is also commonly used as a form of hair dye. When it is used however for the purposes of body art, it is mixed with oils and sugars. Henna can be known as some of the following names, “henne, Al-Khanna, Jamaica Mignonette, Egyptian Privet and Smooth Lawsonia, the art of its application is referred to as henna (Arabic) or mehndi (Indian)” (Islamic World.net, 2006). Historically speaking, henna has been used for as much as 5,000 years for both its healing properties and for cosmetic purposes. Today henna is used in place of tattoos from time to time as it is not permanent. Henna designs can last on the skin for several weeks as opposed to the permanence of getting a tattoo. Culturally however, Hanna has significance in the Muslim religion as well as other religions. Many historians believe that henna originated in India with the Hindu culture but other historians have reason to believe that it originated in Egypt around the twelfth century. It is also possible that henna was used even earlier by certain African countries as well as countries in the Middle Eat. Many archeologists have found henna markings on the fingers and toes of mummified pharos. Hindu body decoration has been used within the Islamic faith but also within Jewish, Hindu, Christian and even pagan religions. Although henna has been used for religious purposes in many cases, it is known to have been used by working class individuals within different cultures for specific medicinal purposes. When used medicinally, henna is an excellent way to cool, condition and cleanse. It is also used by many in the hair to both cleanse and condition the hair or repair damaged hair that has been overly exposed to heat. When used for religious purposes, henna art is thought to promote good health, healing and fertility among its users. It is also thought to promote spiritual enlightenment as well as wisdom and prosperity. Henna designs can be quite intricate, elaborate and beautiful. Within the religion of Islam, henna designs are performed on individuals as a means of celebrating a wedding, birth of a child or other important life events. Women of the Islamic faith will typically adorn their hands, feet, chest, neck and throat prior to a wedding, particularly their own, “The art form of henna (Arabic) or mehndi (Hindi) varies from region to region. Varying designs have a different meaning for members of each culture, such as good health, fertility, wisdom, protection and spiritual enlightenment” (Islamic world.net, 2006). Henna is one of the more gentle forms of body adornment as it is not painful like tattooing and is also non toxic. The art of henna has even extended to celebrities who have used its unique intricacy to make fashion statements. The celebrity Madonna is known for her henna hand markings after adopting the teachings of Kabala (Jewish mysticism). Many tattoo parlors now offer henna designs as an alternative to the permanence of tattoos. Henna can truly be looked at as one would look at an archeological artifact due to its historical, religious and cultural significance. The use of henna in Moroccan history is quite significant and can be dated back to the migration of the Berbers. The origin of the Berber people is thought to be Syrian. Around the time of the 8th century, followers of Islam began to spread the message of Mohamed and eventually infiltrated areas of Berber inhabitance thus mixing the Berber culture with Islamic ways. In observing the paintings done on caves by prehistoric man, ways of life which included gathering and hunting, archeologists have observed the groundwork for what would later evolve into different cultural art forms such as henna design. The Berbers used similar symbols depicting elemental representations of the sun and planets, organic displays of nature and other aspects of life, in their art work and henna body art. This was not only done as a celebration of life or for the purpose of telling a story but also to ward off evil spirits. The Berbers used a myriad of symbols which represented key aspects of life. Different and sometimes intricate geometric shapes were used to represent things such trees, birds, the sky, animals, wheat or barley and so on. Where these symbols were placed on the body (either by tattoo or hennaed), was equally as symbolic as the symbol itself. Certain designs centering around breasts or genitals was thought to heighten or strengthen one’s sexuality. Designs placed on or around the feet were thought to prevent evil from coming up through the earth and possessing one’s body. In present day, Moroccan designs are specific to locations such as trade routes. Thos living in Morocco that may be Islamic, are forbidden by the rules of Islam to bare markings depicting the human form. Most Moroccan henna designs are a mixture of Islamic influence, African influence and European body art. Much of Moroccan henna designs include flowers, earthy symbols such as leaves or trees and architectural designs. Although the religion of Islam provided stipulations on the henna art adorning its followers, it also encouraged henna art on the disciple of Islam to be a celebration and statement of one’s devotion to Allah. In order to acquire henna adornment, one does not always need to go to the local tattoo parlor. Henna kits can be purchased at many multi-cultural markets and stores as well as be ordered from religious supply stores carrying Islamic and Hindu objects. The first henna plant made its appearance in Northern Africa. Since then, it has spread to many geographical areas including Australia. Henna can even be used to dye nails and beards and beyond the body, it can be used to dye clothing and leather. Its uses are widely varied as it functions as an excellent, non toxic dye. It is the actual henna leaves that possess such fantastic dying qualities, but the flower of the hena plant can be used in bath oils and shampoos. Even today, many shampoos on the market include henna. The ancient Berbers learned centuries ago that henna possesses healing properties. Incidentally, today henna is also used as an anti-bacterial and anti-fungal agent. Scientists of this century have found it to be quite an effective anti-hemorrhagic as well as an anti-inflammatory. Henna can even be used to cure a condition caused by a fungus known as athlete’s foot. Despite the myriad of uses that henna possesses, it was made most famous by the prophet Mohamed, founder of the nation of Islam. Its uses within the Muslim faith are mainly for celebrations and are usually used on women. Again, the adornment of henna within the Islamic faith, is representative of one’s devotion to Allah. Henna adornment in Islamic women can also be considered a beautification process, not just a celebratory marking. The specific uses of henna in those who follow the Islamic faith, depends on the geographical location. Its uses among the Islamic varry slightly form region to region. In many cases, an Islamic woman will bare henna markings on her hands and feet when she becomes pregnant. One Muslim custom involving henna is the “henna party”. This is a time for Islamic women to come together to not only decorate one another with henna, but also to talk and fellowship. This can also be done to celebrate. Islamic women may come together for a henna party to celebrate an upcoming wedding or the birth of a baby within the community. A henna party in India will most likely produce henna designs of lacy vines. If one were to go to a henna party in Saudi Arabia, floral designs would most likely be the set design. In parts of Africa, henna parties most likely will produce geometric shapes and patterns representing specific places, events or instances. The Moroccan people tend to be quite superstitious about their henna customs. An example of this is that often times, Moroccan women will use henna designs on their body on the day of Muharram (the 10th of Muharram) in order to prevent or ward off possible illnesses throughout the upcoming year. Within the religion of Islam, it is not doctrine that one must adorn one’s self with henna art. It is however common practice in geographical regions such as Morocco for the purposes of protection due to a common superstition among the Moroccan people. It is believed that certain shapes and designs are specific for warding off bad luck, evil spirits and illness. The Moroccan people believe that henna possesses a certain power known as “Baraka”, which can be translated as the power of the saints. This belief in Baraka is an ancient and important belief within Moroccan culture and history and makes the art of henna design integral to their society and culture. Works Cited: Abiff, I.C., 2001, The History and Uses of Henna, retrieved from website at: http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?c=Article_C&cid=1157962522243&pagename=Zone-English-HealthScience%2FHSELayout Islamicworld.net, 2006, Henna, Retrieved from website at: http://islamic-world.net/sister/henna.htm Read More