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A simple nine spire Sak yant at the base of the neck

Sak Yant tattooing is a sacred, ritualistic art performed by Buddhist monks, Brahman masters, and Ruesi ascetics who go through at least 5 years of training to become Sak yant masters. In Buddhist beliefs, a Sak yant tattoo has a protective power towards the person it is on—making many Buddhists believe that this type of tattoo is magical. A blessing is laid upon the tattoo by the Sak yant master while it is being inked onto the devotee. This blessing is seen to be the part of the ritual that makes the tattoo magical by binding the blessing to the sacred symbols and text.
When Sak yants are given to the devoted, they are unique and catered to the individual getting them—this is not usually the case for a Westerner who travels to a Samnak Sak yant. The tattoos for the devotees are chosen based on the symbols and script that the Sak yant master believes will best protect the individual. As such, different aspects of a Sak yant will have different meanings. For instance, yant are composed of Pali Buddhist suttas in Khom script, known as kaathaa. The suttas are thought to have power themselves, but the Pali language is the language of the scriptures—which is believed to give “unmediated access to experiential truth”. If an animal is chosen for the tattoo, it is meant to give the bearer the power of the animal. For example, a tiger is strong and powerful and because of this it is used in a Sak yant to protect against injury.

History

There is some debate over exactly when Sak yant tattooing started however, it is widely accepted that the practice began during the Khmer Empire (8th-13th centuries). The Khmer Empire reigned over Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, and Southern Vietnam. It remains unknown exactly where Sak yant tattooing originated from but researchers have estimated that it did in fact begin in one of these Southeast Asian countries In this region, many individuals took part in either Buddhism or Hinduism. This lead to an amalgamation of sacred symbols and scripts from both religions that would be used in the Sak yant ritual.
Indric yantras make up a large part of Hindu and Buddhist practice. They are geometric designs that act as the visible form of a mantra, which are sacred syllables in Buddhist culture. Indric yantras are thought to help teach the mind how to focus and are often used as a part of meditation. Over time, these yantras have been incorporated into Sak yant tattoos and are believed to enhance the power of the mantra. The blessings the Sak yant masters bestow upon the tattoo are thus derived from a combination of mantras and kaathaa.
Traditionally, Sak yant tattoos were reserved for men only, as women were believed to be “dangerous sources of pollution”. Because of this, women were believed to affect the effectiveness of sacred and magical objects—including tattoos—often rendering them powerless. It was thus believed that a woman's effect on the magic of the tattoos would leave a man spiritually vulnerable. This belief was ingrained to the point that men with Sak yants were advised by Sak yant masters to limit any contact with women for fear of being made vulnerable.
Sak yants incorporate influences from both Hinduism and Animism, with aspects of each being seen in the symbols used. Because of this you will also see the same, or similar, ritual performed within these two religions. The designs are mainly derived from Indric yantras, Animist magic, and Buddhist beliefs/practices. Yantras, meaning “instrument of thought”, were originally used in ritualistic and meditative practice in Buddhism.

Technique

Luang Pi Nunn using a Pak Challam at Wat Bang Phra

The Sak yant master spends time with a devotee discussing the problems the devotee is having in their life to determine the image and the inscription that will be tattooed onto the devotee. The Sak yant master alone chooses the symbol(s), inscription(s), and location(s) of the tattoo for the devotee based on what he feels will best protect the devotee. The tattooing is done in specific areas—most often the upper back—due to the potency of some areas over others. The Sak yant master blesses the tattoo in the Pali language while it is inked into the skin—this is believed to be what truly gives the tattoo its protective powers.
Prior to tattooing, the body that is being inked must be cleansed of bad elements by completing the srotch tik (spraying lustral water) ritual. The tattoo is then inked into the skin using a double-pronged rod, called Pak Challam, that is two feet (~61cm) in length. The Pak Challam works by having ink pour down in between the two rods, where it enters the skin only upon force. To give the tattoo its magical properties, a blessing must be inlaid upon the tattoo. This is done by the Sak yant master chanting in Pali language while inking the Buddhist sutta inscriptions into the devotee’s skin.
It is believed that the tattoos are only as powerful as the nature of the person making it. Because of this, Sak yant masters must undergo a training period of at least 5 years. During the 5 years, the apprentice is not allowed to tattoo but must intensely study the kaathaa and devote all extra time to meditation. Sak yant masters must learn Khom script, an ancient Khmer lettering system permitted only for sacred texts. Khom script, like Pali language, is believed to be all powerful in its very right.

Cambodian vs Thai

Cambodian protective tattooing originated from Northern Thailand, but was adapted under the Khmer civilisation. The most significant change to the appearance of the tattoos in Cambodia is the use of the Khmer alphabet for the mantra composition. The use of the Khmer alphabet is favoured over Khom script, despite the power Khom script is believed to have. Cambodian men use protective tattooing by encasing their bodies entirely in tattoos in order to make them impervious to wounds for battle. This is different from Thai protective tattoos as such tattoos in Thailand are not used for warriors but for the most religiously devoted. While Sak yant tattooing in Thailand must be done in a sacred place (ie. Temple, monastery, etc.) it can be done outside of a sacred venue in Cambodian Buddhist culture as long as an altar is set up and the place is consecrated.

Controversy

One of the most basic teachings of the Buddha is that all beings are marked by three characteristics, including impermanence. As tattoos are permanent, Sak yant tattooing in Buddhist culture can be seen as a rejection of these teachings. There is also controversy around Sak yant tattooing in that the purpose for the tattoos can be seen as a way to evade certain challenges one is supposed to overcome in their spiritual journey.. One of the goals of a Buddhist is to renunciate objects of desire but the tattoos are given for protection, good fortune, love, and monetary wealth. This is especially problematic when considering the role Theravada Buddhism has in Thai society. Theravada Buddhism currently holds the title of the state sanctioned religion in Thailand. Theravada Buddhists believe Sak yant tattooing to be against everything they believe in as Buddhists. Because of this, practitioners of Sak yant tattoos are sometimes seen to be rebellious in nature and against the beliefs of the state.

Western Influence

Since Angelina Jolie got her Sak yant tattoo in April of 2003, many westerners have followed suit and gone to get Sak yants themselves. Many Westerners go to receive the tattoo for the experience and the prescribed aesthetic. This in itself has become controversial in both Thailand and Cambodia because the receiver of the Sak yant is supposed to be deemed spiritually worthy of bearing the tattoo. Westerners are generally inherently not spiritually worthy in the eyes of Theravada Buddhists as they have not devoted their lives to the religion. Aside from some Westerners getting the tattoos for aesthetic, there are many more that get the tattoos as a reminder to partake in spiritual practice. This is still seen as a problem by Theravada Buddhists because, again, the patrons are not inherently spiritual and are not getting the tattoo for its intended purpose.

Where it's Done

Places where Sak yant tattooing is done are called Samnak Sak Yant. For the most part, Westerners are not allowed to get a Sak yant tattoo however there are a couple places left that will allow this. One of the most common places for a Westerner to go to receive a Sak yant tattoo is Wat Bang Phra temple in Bangkok, Thailand. As part of the ritual, an offering is required and usually consists of incense, a pack of cigarettes, and some fruit.
Some other common places around Southeast Asia that allow Westerners to be tattooed are:

• Sak Yant Chiang Mai—allowing Westerners to be tattooed since 2015. Here, the patron will pick their own tattoo from a set of symbols that will help with their problems.
• The Siam Hotel—Found in Bangkok, this is a tattoo studio inside a hotel spa run by Ajarn Boo. He will pick the symbol and inscription for the patron.