Sak yant appeared from the time of Angkor, most of the sacred inscriptions are written in ancient Khmer script (Sanskrit). Since ancient times, Thai soldiers covered their bodies with divine tattoos called Yantra. It is believed that Yanta tattoos will protect soldiers and bring them luck.
Today, Yantra tattoos are still popular and these mystical Thai ancient tattoos have become world art. With famous tattoo places like Bangkok Ink, visitors can learn about a unique and distinctive Thai art.
Thai people believe that tattoos will bring magical powers to the person who has the tattoo on the head - the most sacred part of the body according to Buddhism.
The picture above is the tattoo on the hand of the viking jersey owner of Bangkok Ink, this tattoo is called Taew or five lines. This is a popular tattoo in the art of Yants sak. Each line represents 1 mantra, when chanted 108 times can bring spiritual power to people.
The first line is meant to punish crimes, protect the family. The second line is meant to change destiny, the third line protects from "darkness", the fourth line brings strength and energy, the fifth line represents prestige, attracting the opposite sex.
Permanent imprint
Even when tattooing in a free style, most tattooists do not draw directly on the skin. They will start drawing on paper, sketching lines on greaseproof paper. Then press the drawing paper onto damp skin.
At the beginning of the last century, tattoos were often carved into wood with carbon powder and then pressed against the skin to transfer the drawing to the skin before the actual tattooing began. For every tattooist, each tattoo is a lasting art. Every tattoo cannot be easily erased, it can be kept permanently on the body.
Proficient in the use of bamboo
A popular modern tattoo method in Southeast Asia is the use of pointed bamboo, unlike the metal tips of the past. Both Yant Sak art tattoo styles or modern tattooing today can use bamboo floral skull boxer noses to tattoo. It is a technique that requires workers to reach a high professional level, knowledgeable about new types of bamboo, to be able to do it. Bamboo tattoos cost more than regular tattoos because it does not cause burns or damage to the skin, less bleeding and no scabs on the tattoo. In particular, it also heals faster than usual.
Suffering from the pain of getting a tattoo
When tattooing, the tattooist will have to suffer when the needles are inserted into the skin. In particular, to tattoo a snake takes 90 minutes and the pain will increase, snake tattoos are said to embody speed. And workers who can tattoo snakes must be masters of the speed of tattoo nose movement and shaping rhythm. Snakes mean against religious persecution, so many people want this tattoo.
Sak Yant tattoo became more and more famous around the world when a series of leading Hollywood stars such as Angelina Jolie, Michelle Rodriguez (Fast & Furious) ... came to Thailand just to tattoo the Five Lines for good luck and health.