Sak Yant Myths and Misinformation

Clearing up Sak Yant Myths and Misinformation by Travel Bloggers

Travel Blog articles and even some Tattoo Parlors that write articles about Sak Yant usually rank highly in search engines. While this is great to get an idea of the Sak Yant Experience - many often copy and paste incorrect Sak Yant information from each others Blog Posts - creating Myths and Expectations that have no Basis in the Real Sak Yant Tattoo.

Sak Yant Myths and Misinformation. Get the Truth - Sak Yant Information Guide Expert and Real Information Vs Misinformation

Table of Contents

Where do Sak Yant Myths and Misinformation come from?

1) Travel Bloggers

One of the biggest reasons that there are so many Sak Yant Myths and mis-information created by Travel Bloggers who rank highly in search results with incorrect information. While attempting to write quick and interesting articles for their readers, they seldom take the time to understand the traditions, and will often copy information from other (incorrect) blog posts; or guess what just happened..

The lack of any knowledge about the tradition, the inability to speak Thai makes it difficult to write a Blog Post about Sak Yants with accuracy. Most have to guess about the meanings and traditions behind the experience they just had.

Almost all of them guessed wrong, and/or copied incorrect information which includes being disrespectful and cheating Monks. Many had no idea how to choose the design and understand the meanings of their tattoo, or actually just went to a Tattoo shop and got a normal Tattoo.

2) Tattoo Shop Websites

A recent development in Sak Yant Information found online is the ever growing number of Tattoo shops creating pages about Sak Yant Tattoos in the hopes of gaining customers. The Sak Yant Information provided by a Tattoo Business trying to cash in on the Traditional Thai tattoos is purposely filled with misinformation.

The bottom-line is you can not get a Real Sak Yant from a Tattoo Shop, you can only get a design that is full of errors, and and obvious fake to those who appreciate and follow the Sak Yant Traditions. You can find out more information in the article Why you can not get a Sak Yant from a Tattoo Shop.

Tattoo Shops will advertise on Google and provide Sak Yant designs and meanings on their website. While they can not actually read the script, change the meaning, or provide any spiritual blessing for the fakes they make. They do attempt to convince people to use them (and pay 3-5 times more) with their own unique set of Sak Yant Myths and Mis-information.

Typical Sak Yant Mistakes from Bloggers and Tattoo Shops

Travel Blogger Created Mistakes

If a Blog Post about a Sak Yant contains any of the following claims … It is a inaccurate article

A Sak Yant is by donation of whatever you think appropriate
The Inks contain ingredients like henna or snake parts that makes allergic reactions a possibility
There is only ONE place to get a Sak Yant in a given city
A real Monk can not touch a women so females can not get Sak Yants from Monks
Sak Yants are done with a Bamboo Needle
Needles and Ink is reused for many people
You need to follow strict rules after getting a Sak Yant
The Monk or Ajarn chooses the design
Monks can read Auras

Tattoo Shop Created Mistakes

If a Tattoo Shop Website about a Sak Yant contains any of the following claims … It is to Scam Tourists

You don’t really need the magic aspect of the Sak Yant
They make prettier looking designs
They have Air-conditioned rooms
Real Sak Yants are unhygienic using old needles and ink
Thai People will praise you for having fakes because they look good
Real Sak Yant Masters can’t accept Money
They have no ethical issues going against Thai Culture – so why should you?
Real Sak Yants are not available in the areas they operate in
and so on and so on

Got Sak Yant Questions?

We have the Answer at our Sak Yant FAQ

Sak Yant Myths and Misinformation : Corrected!

Since most of the Sak Yant Myths and Misinformation are created and copied from the Expert Vagabond websites article ‘Blessed By A Monk: How I Got My Magic Sak Yant Tattoo’, this article will list and correct the misconceptions.

Some are important, others are just a result of insufficient knowledge or research. The author himself acknowledges how he learned about the Sak Yant .. “Traveling around Southeast Asia while living out of my backpack, I learned about these tatoos from some fellow travelers and thought it sounded like a cool experience“. It is not really the best source to learn about traditional and sacred rituals of a country from someone promoting budget experiences he learns from backpackers.

1) Sak Yant Origins

Misconception: “Buddhist monks originally engraved Sak Yant into warriors seeking protection and strength in battle. Often covering their entire bodies from head to toe in magic symbols to prevent knives and arrows from piercing their skin”

Reality: The history of Sak Yant’s is much deeper and richer. Holy Shaman not Monks originally created them, and then later more Monks started doing Sak Yants as Temples were the schools in Thailand. In order to learn to read and write, you had to first become a Monk. Sak Yant began to be taught to Monks even though it is not part of the Buddhist tradition because Monks were able to read the magical scripts.

2) Poke method Vs Machine Tattoo

Misconception: “No machines are used to create a Sak Yant design. These traditional Thai tattoos are engraved into the skin with a long metal spike or bamboo sharpened to a point”.

Reality: Many Monks and Sak Yant Ajarns use modern tattoo machines in addition to the poke method. Bamboo has not really been used for 30 years since it takes half a day to make, they are very light and cause much more pain. Now days most Sak Yants are done with a stainless steel Kem (rod) with replaceable needles.

3) The Monk chooses the design based on Auras?

Misconception: “Monks will often choose a sacred design, as well as the location of your tattoo based on your aura“.

Reality: This is perhaps one of the most inaccurate Sak Yant myths around. Monks do not see Aura’s! Monks do not know about Auras – they are not part of Buddhist teachings. Aura’s are part of the western new age movement and have nothing to do with Buddhism or Sak Yant traditions. A Sak Yant master can help you chose a design if you want them too. But all this does is show the Sak Yant Master you have no idea about Sak Yants, or why you are getting one.

It is much better to explain to the Sak Yant Monk, I want a Sak Yant for this reason, and I choose this design to represent it. The Sak Yant location is based on the design. Certain designs have certain locations, others can go where the person wants.

4) Best Place to get a Sak Yant Tattoo

Misconception: “The best place in Thailand to receive a Sak Yant tattoo is a Buddhist temple called Wat Bang Phra. It’s located about 40 minutes West of Bangkok.”

Reality: Wat Bang Phra is without a doubt the classic and most traditional place to get a Sak Yant tattoo. But there is no best place, as each Sak Yant Master has different skills, different traditions, different rules to follow and different blend of traditional and modern.

Many people who have Sak Yants will say ‘abc is the best’ or ‘abc is the only’. It is very difficult to offer accurate opinion of where to get a Sak Yant if you only been to one place. How can you compare with a grand total of one experience? You can not, so anyone person or service claiming to be the best is doing it to present themselves as an expert or are doing it for commission.

5) The Ink - made of snake venom and human parts?

Misconception: “Each monk concocts his own special blend of magic tattoo ink too. The recipe is secret, but is thought to contain Chinese charcoal, snake venom, palm oil, and even human remains!”.

Reality: The ink used by the vast majority of Sak Yant masters is brought from the local tattoo supply shop. Just like no one spends 4 hours making a bamboo needle anymore, no one spends days making special ink. Maybe a few hundred years ago, ink was made with what was available out in the jungle, but it is just incorrect to make assumptions that because the Sak Yant is a century old tradition, they still do it the way it was first started.

A starter Ink that has been made using some additional herbs and prayed over is often added in small quantities. But seriously? Monks are digging up bodies to give tattoos? give me a break!

6) The Sak Yant Hygiene?

Misconception: “The safety of Sak Yant is debatable. It can be a risky practice. The needle itself is usually wiped with an alcohol pad after each tattoo. Or it might be placed in a bottle of alcohol while a separate needle is used for the next person. But the same pot of ink is used with everyone, and blood can mix with the ink”.

Reality: This can be the case at Wat Bang Phra in Bangkok, where thanks to the author, people go to get a Sak Yant tattoo and give less than the cost of ink containers, gloves or needles.

It is not the case from any other Sak Yant Master in Thailand, who all use new Ink and Needles for each guest. Even at Wat Bang Phra you can request all of these things and give a donation will almost always ensure you get them.

7) Cigarettes As Payment? How much does a Sak Yant Cost?

Misconception:“Outside the entrance, I purchased a temple offering consisting of orchid flowers, incense sticks, and menthol cigarettes for 75 baht ($2.40 US) before removing my shoes and heading inside. Everyone is expected to present these simple gifts to the monk as payment for a Sak Yant tattoo”.

Reality: This myth is the most prevalent and has been used incorrectly to gauge if the Sak Yant is genuine – because it is done for $2-3! Even the author edit on his article makes the comment that it now cost more than he gave, making him question the new commercialization of Wat Bang Phra (then refers you to a much more expensive tour alternative as a remedy to this). Sak Yant tattoos have NEVER been done for a few dollars, this is the offering you make to the temple (via Sak Yant Master) to show respect. THEN you give a donation for the service you are about to receive.

Let’s examine this with the reality and a little common sense. First Thai people who belong to the Temple and have been giving donations for years, STILL give a day or two wages as a donation to the Monk in addition to the offering to support the Temple for a Sak Yant. Thais who have not spent years supporting the Temple with donations give a little more. Yet somehow talking with his backpacker friends, the author decided that the Sak Yant Master has dedicated his life to providing his skill and knowledge for the price of $2 in the form of cigarettes? Seriously? someone who dedicates their life to being spiritual, has decided to support the temple that is their home by selling a packet of cigarettes? This is just plain wrong, a combination of not understanding the way things work and the desire to travel the world on as little money as possible.

Sak Yants like any form of spiritual practice have a cost. Every form of spiritual advancement requires sacrifice, this is one of the fundamental underpinnings of spirituality. In the situation where a westerner is coming from a position of earning 4-5 times the salary of a Thai person – that cost is money. If Thai people make a donation of around a days salary, why would a tourist think that 20 minutes of salary is a sufficient payment? Especially when they have not being (or continue to) give donations to their local Temple for years as the Thai people are doing?

Take Away Points

Blogposts about Sak Yants are great for getting an idea of other peoples experience, but also run the risk of pointing you in the direction of a higher cost service. Check out Google and Facebook reviews of all local providers of Sak Yant services – these are done without receiving payments and tend to be more honest representation than a commissioned article.

Tattoo Parlors can not give real Sak Yant Tattoos. It doesn’t matter how they try to justify it – they are not qualified