A Year in Seoul - video by Maddy

Thursday, September 17, 2009

Thailand Part 5: Sak Yant

In the midst of it all



Om and his handy work



My beautiful new tattoo


close up



Sak Yant is a form of sacred tattooing practiced in Thailand. They are normally tattooed by Buddhist monks and the designs date back to Ankgor times (800-1200 A.D.) when they were received by masters through visions. The tattoos are sutras made up of writing and geometric patterns and are meant to protect those bearing them from bodily or spiritual harm. Thus they have been very popular among the military and muay thai fighters.

The tattoos are applied using a bamboo rod, a technique which is about 3,000 years old. A fine needle is attached to the rod and then tapped into the skin. Because the skin is punctured and not torn as it is with a gun tattoo, the healing process is quite different. Pain is reduced and there is no bleeding or scabbing. The entire healing process only takes about four days and there is no need to cover the tattoo or avoid the sun or sea. Another benefit is the color tends to stay strong much longer with a bamboo tattoo.

I decided that I wanted one six months ago during my first visit to Thailand. It's hard to explain but there is something special about the connection one develops with this country. By my last count I've been to 17 countries, some that I have loved very deeply, but I have never felt such a deep bond between traveler and place. The rest of the world seems to melt away while you are there. There is no yesterday or tomorrow, no sense of urgency or stress. Life feels simple, all you need is a nice place to rest, a bit of shade, and some good food to eat. The needs and desires of everyday life, particularly for the material, fade into the background. Time passes only with the rising and setting sun.


I wanted to keep a small piece of that feeling with me, to remember who I am when it's all stripped away. I loved the beauty of the art and I wanted it all to be a part of me. So after discussing it with Om, our tattoo artist and finding the perfect design for me, I felt completely confident. I couldn't be happier with the way it turned out.


Most people want to know if it hurt. It didn't. It was more of an annoying "quit poking me with that needle for an hour" sensation. The placement of my tattoo was also not in a sensitive area (unlike Maddy who got one on her side, right over her rib cage). The discomfort was over in under an hour anyway, and it felt like a rite of passage.


My tattoo is supposed to bring harmony, safety and luck to me and those closest to me. I don't believe that anything in this world can protect you from all harm, nor would I want complete immunity, but so far my tattoo seems to be working its magic. It helps me remember, it protects me from lives I don't want.

18 comments:

  1. I absolutly LOVE your tattoo. I was also thinking of getting a sak yant and I was wondering where in Thailand you got it?

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  2. I've received a lot of questions about my tattoo. I did not get my tattoo in a temple, where they are traditionally done. I hear you can accomplish this quite easily in Bangkok. Mine was done in a small shop on Koh Phagnan. There are places to get both bamboo and gun tattoos all over Thailand, so if you are planning a trip you should have no problem. Look for a store with lots of artwork photographs and remember you can bargain them down on the price. Good luck!

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  3. I got my sak yant done about 6 weeks ago by Arjan Anek, based outside Pattaya, he is a shaman who trained under Poodum a Buddhist monk and Sak Yant master, a sak yant received from Ajan Anek is essentially received by Poodum by proxy.Check out www.poodumtattoo.com.th, Arjan Anek has a westerner who manages the site and westerners queries and questions for him, so you can liaise with him that way. My experience was very intimate, spiritual, basic but collective with Arjan Anek asking me what I thought about the yants (I had researched what I thought I liked and had real value to me) but he ultimately choose for me a combo of my thoughts and hid feelings. I love my sak yant, I chant every day to respect Poodum and Arjan Anek and i will get another to add to its next trip to Thailand. If you want to do it then go ahead its a wonderful thing to experience, but you must respect the tradition and spirituality behind the yant. Katie B

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  4. How do they sterilize those needles? is it safe to make one? I love sak yants, but kind concerned about health...

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  5. They use a new needle for each tattoo. The shop I visited made sure to show me the box of clean needles and the process of adding a new needle to the bamboo rod. There should be no health issues when getting a tattoo in Thailand as long as you choose a reputable place and are mindful of your concerns.

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  6. Hey I was thinking of getting one when I go to Thailand next year, does anyone know about the sterilization process used in temples? I was planning on going to Wat Bang Phra near Bangkok, also if anyone knows how to get there that'd be great :)

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  7. hi

    where exactly did you get the tattoo, the one on the back with the lines? the tattoo in the first picture? this tattoo is something i've wanted for years but its so hard to find a reputable, safe, and skilled place to do it. could you tell me where it was you got the tattoo?

    thank you soo much!!

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  8. It was at a small shop on Koh Phagnan. I don't remember the name but we just kept checking out places all over Thailand and when it felt right and I found an artist who I trusted I just went for it. I think intuition and patience are the most important thing when choosing where to get a tattoo. You'll know when it is right. Good luck! (also be sure to have a look at their artwork and be sure the place is clean and they follow proper sterilization processes)

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  9. you are right about the bond with Thailand, theres something undescribelable about it. You just feel like you are at peace, and living life is the only thing that matters. Your description couldnt be more accurate.

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  10. I really want this tattoo on my ribs instead of the shoulder do you think that's possible for me to get that done in Thailand by a monk?

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  11. A monk will likely adhere to tradition. Tattoo artists in Thailand may be open to interpretation, but only sometimes, because different areas of the body imply respect/disrespect. For example, most cannot be applied to the foot. There may be a problem with having that tattoo done below the heart. I am not sure about any of this however. My friend had a really beautiful one down the side of her ribcage, you may just get there and decide a slightly different design is perfect for you. Be warned, she said it hurt!

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  12. This tattoo is awesome! I'm traveling to Thailand in a few months and have been wanting to get a bamboo tattoo to commemorate my trip there. You wrote that your tattoo brings harmony, safety, and luck to you....did you just discuss this with the tattoo artist? I'm not quite sure what I want to get done, but if I can just get a tattoo that is supposed to bring me harmony and balance I think that would be awesome!

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    1. Sorry for the late reply! Yes, I definitely discussed this with the tattoo artist. He sat down on the floor with me and a big book and we talked about all the options. Find an artist you get along with and the rest will follow.

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  13. I am wondering why you took fake sak yant tattoo ?

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  15. Your sak yant is on the right hand side which is for a man? First pic i see is in the left??? Which is for lady

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