Each Sak yant tattoo is believed to evoke supernatural powers, protect the owner from calamity and bring good luck.
Sak yant, also known as sak yan or yantra, is a Thai form of "divine" tattooing with sacred inscriptions written in ancient Khmer. It is meant to arouse supernatural powers, and is considered an amulet to protect the owner from disasters and bring good luck. Each tattoo is likened to a blessing, showing the way for people to get out of the spell, created by masters in the art of magical tattooing.
Appearing from the time of Angkor
today's Sak yant is part of the identity of the Golden Temple country. Not only Thai people have magical tattoos, but many tourists around the world come here to ask for a sacred amulet. One of them is the viking jersey famous actress Angelina Jolie with a 5-line tattoo on the back of her shoulder.
The 5-line tattoo (Hah Taew Yant) is the most popular of all Sak yant tattoos. Each line of Hah Taew Yant represents a type of spell and carries a different meaning, depending on the wishes of the recipient. It is believed that if these spells are chanted 108 times, the person with the tattoo will ascend to a higher level of meditation.
However, basically the lines of charms usually have the following meanings: the first line helps to prevent injustice, cleanse the soul and protect the place where the subject lives. The second line neutralizes the bad stars and resolves the term. The third line protects the owner from enchantment or curses. The fourth line brings luck, success and wealth. The fifth line gives attraction to the owner to attract the opposite sex.
Hah Taew Yant is not only a beautiful
delicate tattoo but also a sacred blessing from a monk or Brahmin monk.
There are two methods of tattooing Sak yant, one with a sharp tatkuinkcom bamboo stick and the other with a steel rod with needles attached. Bamboo tattoo does not cause much harm to the skin, less bleeding and fast healing. However, it is also more painful and requires the tattooist to reach a high level of professionalism.
Today, Thailand's mysterious ancient tattoos have become world art. Every year hundreds of foreign tourists spend a few months in Bangkok learning about Sak yant and modern tattoo styles. Many people even believe that the power of Sak yant can decrease over time, so after a period of time, they return to the tattoo place to ask the monks to bless and restore their inherent power.