Get inked like Angelina Jolie in sacred Thai tattoo studio

By MiNDFOOD

The Siam - Sak Yant - Master at work
The Siam - Sak Yant - Master at work

Khun Ajarn Boo is a former monk turned tattoo master at the sacred Sak Yant Tattoo Studio at The Siam Hotel in Bangkok. The room is devoted to sacred tattoos known as sak yant, the tattoo style that received worldwide attention thanks to Angelina Jolie and her tattoos.

Carla Grossetti chatted with the tattoo master ­- with the help of a translator – about the sacred artform.

How do you feel about having a sacred ink studio at The Siam? The hotel was very careful to preserve aspects of the tradition and was very strict about the placement of the khon masks to the Buddha figures and other sacred items in the studio. I am very proud to continue this tradition.

What is the most elaborate tattoo you have done? That would probably be [Hindu gods] Swarbhanu (Rahu) or Vishnu. These designs are very intricate and take a good four hours to complete. 

Tattoos have come a long way from the black-and-grey sailor tats on the forearm. How has the artform evolved? I am not too sure how things are in the West, but sailors and soldiers still get tattoos to protect them on their journey and ward off evil spirits and danger in the East. Now people are also getting tattoos for luck in life and in business.

What do you charge? How much would a full sleeve cost?

The price depends on the size of the person and what the design is. A rough estimate would be around THB100,000 (AUD$414.72). It would most likely be a two-day session here as there are some very sensitive areas on the arm so the person being tattooed would need a break. 

Thailand is a very spiritual place. How do tattoos tie in with spirituality?

Sak yant is probably one of the most tangible forms of spirituality around. It is meant to boost the spirit of the wearer. The placement of the tattoo is very important. I will not give anyone whatever tattoo they want as I am responsible for the yants and power that I give people.  

You are a renowned sak yant master in Thailand. What is the history of this tattoo?

Sak yant is an art form best known as a blessed tattoo. In layman terms, sak yant is a good luck charm that stays with the person. It can be traced back to its use among animistic Tai tribes in southwestern China and north-western Vietnam two millennia ago. The intricate patterns range from geometric designs to vivid figures of deities.

REUTERS/Monica Almeida

Angelina Jolie has the hah taew (five-line) tattoo. What does it mean? Sak yant is somewhat known within Southeast Asia but not so much to the rest of the world. Jolie’s tattoo design is the hah taew (five-line) tattoo, for the five blessings: Maeta Ma Hah Niyom – Blessing of love and compassion from those around you; Chok Lap – Blessing of luck and good fortune; Kwam Plohtpai – Blessing against all evil, accidents; Noon Chataa – Blessing of good fate and destiny; and Ma Hah Saneh – Blessing of charm and attractiveness. 

Has the actress helped make the sak yant style of tatt more mainstream? Angelina Jolie definitely played a large role in bringing sak yant to mainstream media’s attention.

The Siam – Sak Yant – Master at work

Do you have many famous people in your studio? Are there any that you can reveal?

Derrick Rose and the Minnesota Timberwolves has had tattoos. Singer Sam Smith has also uploaded an image to Instagram, which can we share but we are not able to tell you about the others. 

How many hotel guests decide to be inked?

We probably see about three guests per month on average. We have seen a whole family getting sak yant together.

Is there any area of the body you will not tattoo?

Sak yant, being a sacred tattoo, is usually done on the upper torso. Arms are fine but not on the legs.

What is different about a bamboo tattoo?

The sak yant needle was made of bamboo a long time ago, but for hygienic reasons they have been replaced with sterilised needles. I ink all tattoos by hand using traditional khem [traditional tattoo styluses]. But to address concerns about hygiene, we now use disposable sterilised needle tips on the traditional needle shaft. 

The Siam is a member of the Legend Collection from Preferred Hotels & Resorts.

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