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Sak Yant - The Thai Buddhist Tattoos.

Firstly, I am a northern Thai, that is to say I was born in Northern Thailand, Chiang Mai in fact, some forty years ago when Chiang Mai was no more than a village itself. Thai Tattoos ( sak Yant ) were the norm for all men of age. They where not a fashion statement, but a physical manifestation of a mystical belief in the power of such tattoos. Unlike today when many young men and some girls of questionable social standing, have western style tattoos brazenly displayed for all to see. When I was young all men would be tattooed as a symbol of our spiritual and religious belief. Not as art to be shown but a tool to achieve or change things in their life..

So when I was asked by Tyler, a London taxi driver, if Khun Luang a former monk, who now tends my orchards, could be convinced to tattoo a traditional Thai tattoo design on Tylers back. I was not too sure what to make of it. I know he is getting married in Thailand next year, in a Buddhist wedding ceremony, but was not sure if he really understands, what he was asking for.

It seemed that he did, and had even tried to get a traditional Thai tattoo in the south a few years earlier and what he got as a beautiful tattoo but really just a piece of art work that had no spiritual or religious significance with Thai culture or Buddhism at all, that I could see. In fact it had more to do with Bali art an Thai art. But it is beautiful artwork

So I translated with Khun Luang, what Tyler had wanted and it was agreed to have Tyler return in two days time. In order to let him be sure he really wanted this "primitive style " tattoo with all its religious meanings and powers on him, for the rest of his life.

At the appointed time, we picked  Khun Tyler and is beautiful bride to be ( khun Donna) up from their western high rise hotel and we drove through the rain, a warm and wet rain as it is in Chiang Mai. It started to lift as we arrived in Doi Saket, a small rural village, just out of Chiang Mai, a mere 18 kilometers. We drove through the village, up to my orchard. Where Khun Luang had being preparing the spirit offerings to be given at spirit house before the tattooing could begin. As Tyler prepared Khun Luang did a small ceremony and centered himself for the coming tattooing.

The design was discussed, as far as the spiritual and religious aspects of the design and to a more minor aspect, how it would artistically fit within his existing tattoos on his back. The design was penned onto his back and with the aid of modern digital phones photos he could see the design before the new bamboo tattoo stick was put to use affixing the symbols forever.

 

The actual tattooing took no more than 3 and half hours, during that time the rains returned and it became the local entertainment as the orchard workers had also headed to under the house to get out of the rain and socialize a little and they showed off their tattoos to Khun Tyler and explained to Khun Tyler the meanings and powers of each. . .

 

Khun Tyler mentioned to my husband, he had been in night Bazaar the night before and had seen a shop that now does traditional Thai designs with a machine but confessed he believed it was so much more meaningful to him, to be done properly, in spite or because it was done with simple materials and a rough primitive beauty that only a Thai artisan can create. It may not be as clean and sharp as could be done by professional a tattoo artist with a modern machine in a street front shop, pumping them out between doing wizards and fairies on tourists buts, however that is what makes it so special, the unique spiritual experience that comes with a life long reminder.

 

 

 

 

An Etiquette guide to Sak Yant - read here