The Sacred Art of Tattoos

They have been around Southeast Asia for centuries, these tattoos. They aren’t beautiful in the western concept of that, but to anyone who has one they are beyond special. They are called sak yant tattoos and for many in countries like Thailand they are sacred. In fact, they are help in such high esteem that this past summer the government of Thailand made it illegal for a foreigner to get one.

There have been a few notables that have one, the most famous being Angelina Jolie, she of the numerous tattoos. But the styles are simple – just simple blue-black with hand-lettering as a major part of the design. With most westerners love of color and decorative embellishes, you wouldn’t even think that the government of Thailand would need to make them prohibited to non-Thai. But that is what happens when you are a major movie start and you have the process of getting your sacred tattoo filmed.

For those of us who aren’t planning a trip to Thailand to get our under-the-table totally illegal tattoo, there is an easier way to see these tattoos. The books explore the mystical connections behind the tattoos. During the Red Shirt Rebellions last summer you could see that many of the rioters had sak yant tattoos under their shirts, as a form of protection. As symbols of the individual’s relationship with the higher spiritual world, these tattoos create a powerful statement for the wearer.

The book – Sacred Skin: Thailand’s Spirit Tattoos is written by two Thailand-based writers Tom Vater and Aroon Thaewchatturat. The book delves into the meaning, history and mysticism of the tattoos without ever being boring. Vater has a long history of writing about the subcultures of this part of the world and talks with authority on the story behind the tattoos. When paired with Aroon’s stunning photos, you have a book that goes beyond the basics to truly draw you into this world that so few have seen.

Let’s hope that with this kind of book, and there is another on the tattoos about to come out as well, we can bring enough of an education to the western world on the spiritual importance of sak yant to have the ban lifted. It is a pity when our ignorance leaves us in the dark of such a rich and important part of our ever shrinking world.