Sak Yant Traditional Thailand Tattoos

 

Sak Yant by Ajarn Noo Kanpai date unknown from Thailand

For this blog I've decided to take a dive into Sak Yant which is a traditional Thailand tattoo style that is hand poked. It is also known as traditional Khmer tattoo or traditional Thai tattoo. It is dated back to the 1600s but it is rumored to be over 2000 years old. The records of these tattoos come from the Ayutthaya Kingdom in Thailand. Traditional Yant tattoos were given to warriors as talismans to keep them safe during battles. The tattoo process was done by monks or holy men through a traditional hand-poked and empowered with magical blessings. This is still being done today in as close as possible to the traditional way. In Thai Sak means tattoo while Yant represents a sacred design. In modern times the tattoo process has moved towards more hygiene practices. I was drawn to this artwork because I found tattoos absolutely beautiful and this process of doing it all by hand is intriguing to me. Getting a tattoo with a machine can take a while depending on the size, I can only imagine how long a Sak Yant would take. Plus doing it by hand and having such details shows how truly amazing these Sak Yant tattoos artists are.


King of Tiger Sak Yant by Ajarn Joe Kanpi date unknown from Thailand


This tattoo is called the King of Tiger which was created by Ajarn Noo Kanpai. It is a symbol of immense power and influence, reserved for those who hold authority. It can bring its wearer luck, charisma, relationship, connections, business acumen, wealth, and prestige. I personally love the King of Tiger because I think it is a great example of how talented Ajarn Joe Kanpi is. A famous wearer of this Sak Yant is Angelina Jolie


8 Directions by Frank from All Day Tattoos November 1, 2024, from Thailand

This tattoo is called the 8 Directions. It is a spiritual compass. It is meant to offer the wearer guidance and protection. What drew me to this specific tattoo was how neat and precise the symbols are.


Works cited 

“Tiger | Ajarn Noo Kanpai.” Ajarn Noo Kanpai, 2016, www.ajarnnookanpaiofficial.com/copy-of-massive-success. Accessed 2 Dec. 2024.

Tiger | Ajarn Noo Kanpai

‌“Yantra Designs | Ajarn Noo Kanpai.” Ajarn Noo Kanpai, 2016, www.ajarnnookanpaiofficial.com/sak-yant-tattoo-1. Accessed 2 Dec. 2024.

‌Yantra Designs | Ajarn Noo Kanpai

History of Sak Yant Tattoos | Cambodian or Thai? 21 Dec. 2023, sakyantchiangmai.com/history-of-sak-yant-tattoo/.

‌History of Sak Yant Tattoos | Cambodian or Thai?

 

 


Comments

  1. Christian ReevesDecember 2, 2024 at 3:53 PM

    As a tattoo artist myself I do hold hand poke tattooing in a special place. That being said, I bet it's super painful! The style is so unique in that it's done one little bit at a time and the level of detail in some of the pieces is insane considering. I like that those who still use it choose to go more traditional routes with the art and uphold a craft that's been around for thousands of years. Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  2. K AtwaterDecember 5, 2024 at 9:47 PM

    I liked your post! My dad grew up in Bangkok and last time we went back to visit my brother got a tattoo. His wasn't done traditionally, but it was still a cool connection. Though the method wasn't traditional, he got the Sak Yant centipede (Yant Takarb), symbolizing protection, balance, and strength. I liked how you connected it to Angelina Jolie. Apparently she has multiple Sak Yant tattoos, all from Ajarn Noo.

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