Thailand Temple Tattooing

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15-01-2009, 05:56 PM
Ghandi

Thailand Temple Tattooing

These are a series of recent photos from a trip to Wat Bang Phra Temple in Nakon Patom Province about 45 min outside of Bangkok

Temple is renowned for the Buddhist tattoo's applied by the monks who reside there

They are known as "Sak Yaan" and below photo is of a Reusi. A figure from Thai mythology often associated with this style of Buddhist expression

Notice his big tool

https://teakdoor.com/images/smilies1/You_Rock_Emoticon.gif

Here are some close ups of the tattoo being applied with a large steel rod "tool" know as a 'mai sak'

https://teakdoor.com/images/smilies1/You_Rock_Emoticon.gif

https://teakdoor.com/images/smilies1/You_Rock_Emoticon.gif

Found one room inhabited by this elder Monk who seemed quite grumpy and was prone to yelling at the people around him - he does the oil style of tattoo's w/o any color.

I'm sure he was a really cool dude to hang around with when he was younger

https://teakdoor.com/images/smilies1/You_Rock_Emoticon.gif

These are the 'sak nam mon' oil style of tattoo being applied - pretty cool

no pain - no stain ?

https://teakdoor.com/images/smilies1/You_Rock_Emoticon.gif

https://teakdoor.com/images/smilies1/You_Rock_Emoticon.gif

This is what the tip of the needles they use look like , they are kept sharp after each session by using a fine grit sand paper on the tips - who's next ?

https://teakdoor.com/images/smilies1/You_Rock_Emoticon.gif

Anyway trying to dig out some more pics and will upload them soon - hope you liked looking at these.

please share your experiences with this interesting style of Thai tradition
15-01-2009, 06:09 PM
kingwilly

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ghandi

hope you liked looking at these.

cool i do.

thanks for taking the time.
15-01-2009, 06:52 PM
phuketbound

Interesting photos. What a huge tool ;)

I've never quite seen this type of tatoo. Although, in Thailand, I've seen the bamboo tatoos. I had read that bamboo tatoos are also popular with Thai monks. Did you see this type as well?
15-01-2009, 07:00 PM
Ghandi

Quote:

Originally Posted by phuketbound

Interesting photos. What a huge tool ;)

I've never quite seen this type of tatoo. Although, in Thailand, I've seen the bamboo tatoos. I had read that bamboo tatoos are also popular with Thai monks. Did you see this type as well?

There is really no such thing as a bamboo tattoo per say.

There are laymen who tattoo by hand using a wooden stick with steel needles tied to the end - sometimes even a chopstick type of apparatus. Some of the work is very nice and detailed but there is no real bamboo involved.
15-01-2009, 07:39 PM
smeden

cool pics keep them coming :):):)
15-01-2009, 08:34 PM
Ghandi

More Photo's From Wat Bang Phra

This photo shows the elder monk tattooing this chap who came all the way from Singapore to receive his very auspicious tattoo - he seems pleased

https://teakdoor.com/images/smilies1/You_Rock_Emoticon.gif

Below is Luang Poh Buun - he was the senior monk from this temple , this statue is huge and you see it upon entering the temple grounds.

His contributions to the community of Nakon Patom were very noble from building a local hospital and schools - he was well loved and respected.

Big Up's Lp Buun

https://teakdoor.com/images/smilies1/You_Rock_Emoticon.gif

More Up and close tattoo shots - The famous tiger tattoo , well before that goofball Ajarn Noo was even shitting in his diapers it was being done at the original Wat Bang Phra

https://teakdoor.com/images/smilies1/You_Rock_Emoticon.gif

https://teakdoor.com/images/smilies1/You_Rock_Emoticon.gif

Lp Buun Statue with him riding the tiger - in front of the main buddha hall

https://teakdoor.com/images/smilies1/You_Rock_Emoticon.gif

This is a very interesting temple to visit any day of the week to see something pretty unique to Thailand and well off the beaten path
15-01-2009, 08:56 PM
killerbees

How do they go about cleaning those needles, I wonder?
15-01-2009, 08:59 PM
Ghandi

Quote:

Originally Posted by killerbees

How do they go about cleaning those needles, I wonder?

Yaa , they soak the tips in a bottle of alcohol in between each person.

Far from the most hygienic of practices and there is some obvious blood present during the process.
16-01-2009, 05:40 AM
Johnny Longprong

Thanks for the nice clear blood photos Mahatma. Good work.
16-01-2009, 05:42 AM
Incredible Ice

it was the believing that people believed,not all but many believed in that,i wanna get onelike that too but have tomake sure that it cleaned...
16-01-2009, 05:47 AM
Propagator

^ Pissed?
16-01-2009, 05:54 AM
kingwilly

Quote:

Originally Posted by Propagator

^ Pissed?

nope. non english speaker.
16-01-2009, 07:02 AM
November Rain

Very nice thread, Gandhi. Cheers for that. :D
16-01-2009, 07:46 AM
Loombucket

Excellent pictures Ghandi, well done.
16-01-2009, 09:21 AM
Ghandi

Thanks everyone for the kind comments.
16-01-2009, 11:09 AM
phuketbound

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ghandi

Quote:

Originally Posted by phuketbound

Interesting photos. What a huge tool ;)

I've never quite seen this type of tatoo. Although, in Thailand, I've seen the bamboo tatoos. I had read that bamboo tatoos are also popular with Thai monks. Did you see this type as well?

There is really no such thing as a bamboo tattoo per say.

There are laymen who tattoo by hand using a wooden stick with steel needles tied to the end - sometimes even a chopstick type of apparatus. Some of the work is very nice and detailed but there is no real bamboo involved.

[QUOTE]

Really? I got one done myself, and they were using bamboo. Maybe it depends where you get it from?

Quote:

Very fine needles are firmly attached to the end of a thin piece of bamboo using cotton. Usually 5 needles are used in this process but this can vary according to tattoo type and size. The needles are put in a line instead of a round bullet so that a very fine line can be achieved. This is then gently tapped into the skin.

Bamboo Tattoo | Bamboo versus Machine
16-01-2009, 03:00 PM
Ghandi

[quote=phuketbound;918810]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ghandi

Quote:

Originally Posted by phuketbound

Interesting photos. What a huge tool ;)

I've never quite seen this type of tatoo. Although, in Thailand, I've seen the bamboo tatoos. I had read that bamboo tatoos are also popular with Thai monks. Did you see this type as well?

There is really no such thing as a bamboo tattoo per say.

There are laymen who tattoo by hand using a wooden stick with steel needles tied to the end - sometimes even a chopstick type of apparatus. Some of the work is very nice and detailed but there is no real bamboo involved.

Quote:

Really? I got one done myself, and they were using bamboo. Maybe it depends where you get it from?

Quote:

Very fine needles are firmly attached to the end of a thin piece of bamboo using cotton. Usually 5 needles are used in this process but this can vary according to tattoo type and size. The needles are put in a line instead of a round bullet so that a very fine line can be achieved. This is then gently tapped into the skin.

Bamboo Tattoo | Bamboo versus Machine

Nice link , they are using needles tied onto a wooded stick and in some pics he is using a traditional style metal 'mai sak' tool - not really a "bamboo" tattoo.

I guess that is just a simplified terminology used for a hand poked tattoo.
20-01-2009, 07:37 AM
luangpohbill

Sak Yant - Temple tattooing

Nice article Ghandi, what most people don't realize, is that this hurts like a son of a b****. Those guys that get a full back tattoo have a lot of balls. Ajahn Noo would be proud of you for mentioning his name. :mid:
20-01-2009, 08:19 AM
sharon

That looks like it hurts. My friend just got one by a bamboo, he said it didn't hurt at all.
20-01-2009, 11:38 AM
sunsetter

Quote:

Originally Posted by Propagator

^ Pissed?

on ice?
20-01-2009, 03:00 PM
Ghandi

Quote:

Originally Posted by luangpohbill

Nice article Ghandi, what most people don't realize, is that this hurts like a son of a b****. Those guys that get a full back tattoo have a lot of balls. Ajahn Noo would be proud of you for mentioning his name. :mid:

Do you think my comments about him were a bit harsh ?

turning a religious practice into a cash cow money making machine is totally ethical correct ?
20-01-2009, 09:21 PM
phuketbound

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ghandi

Quote:

Originally Posted by killerbees

How do they go about cleaning those needles, I wonder?

Yaa , they soak the tips in a bottle of alcohol in between each person.

Far from the most hygienic of practices and there is some obvious blood present during the process.

This does not sound hygenic, and rather unsafe. Do they not care if they contract HIV or Hepatitis?