A slow-moving stream of tears rolled down my face toward my chin. A single drop hung there, waiting for its partner to make the journey down to the cool concrete floor. The tears land with a quiet thud, joining a handful of others that had fallen before.
I have never cried during a tattoo, but today I am. It’s not an uncontrollable balling with shrieks of pain, just silent tears… It doesn’t even hurt that much!?! Why am I crying?
About halfway through the Sak Yant tattoo, the corners of the monk’s face roll up into a grin, and he says with the innocence that only a monk could possess, “You are not crying because of the pain. You are crying because of the magic.”
Maybe he was right. It hurt, sure – but I wasn’t crying from the pain. I honestly don’t know why I was crying. It only lasted a few minutes, and before I even realized it, he was finished.
I wiped away the tears and a few more taps with his needle, and my tattoo was finished. Did I really just get tattooed by a monk in Thailand?
Five years ago, if you were to tell me I’d be living in Thailand, I’d probably think you were crazy. If you said I’d be getting tattooed by a monk, I’d probably tell you to seek help. Isn’t it crazy how life changes and how travel can change you?
Click Here To Your Book & Get A Sak Yant Now
Reccommended Sak Yant Tour Company
We booked this tour with WSE Travel, who have Sak Yant tattoo tours in Chiang Mai and Bangkok. I highly recommend going with them. This is their specialty. They have sought out the best and safest place to get a Sak Yant tattoo.
Having an English-speaking guide will make your experience so much more fulfilling. You will learn about the history of yantra tattooing, be able to explain to the monk what magic tattoo meaning you would like, understand what your tattoo means, and be able to communicate with the monk makes it worth it.
We did our tour in Chiang Mai, but you can book this Sak Yant tattoo in Bangkok tour for the same experience and safety.
Where Can I Get A Sak Yant?
There are two options: go with a reputable tour company – or – attempt to go on your own to a temple. I got my Sak Yant in Chiang Mai with the company WSE travel. They have a tattoo tour in Bangkok and Chiang Mai.
I would highly recommend arranging your Sak Yant with them as opposed to trying to go about getting one yourself. We got ours at Ajarn Rung’s samnak, which simply means a salon for tattooing Sak Yant, aka his office.
The most popular Sak Yant temple in Bangkok is Wat Bang Phra, which is located 30 miles outside of the city. It is also possible to get a Sak Yant in Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar. If you are looking at getting a Sak Yant tattoo in Cambodia, please note all the Ajarns were killed during the Khmer Rouge.
Those offering the tattoos now are self-taught and don’t come from the ancient lineage. My friend Ian, who runs the Lanna Ink Experience, spent a month looking for a reputable traditional Ajarn in Cambodia to do similar Sak Yant tattoo tours in Cambodia but couldn’t find one.
Wat Bang Phra Tattoo
The photo above is from Wat Bang Phra, the most famous Sak Yant temple in Thailand. It is about an hour from Bangkok. Here, you can get a free Sak Yant at the temple.
Beware of the tattoo safety and hygiene standards are non-existent. Same needle and ink for everyone getting a tattoo that day, no gloves, tattoo ink is self-mixed, stray dogs, it’s hot, etc.
Don’t come here if you have high standards. Don’t expect a high-quality tattoo. Those who choose to get a tattoo at Wat Bang Phra come for the experience and to immerse themselves in the Thai culture and Buddhism.
Sak Yant Meaning
Sak Meaning – Means to tattoo or to jab.
Yant Meaning – Yant is the Thai word for Yantra or a type of mystical diagram.
Are Sak Yant Tattoos Safe?
We have contemplated getting one for years, but we’re always nervous about the needle and if it was safe. Whenever considering something that involves needles and blood, you want to make sure it’s safe.
It doesn’t matter if you are in Thailand or the USA. Always make sure you’re in a sterile environment. One of the main reasons we booked our Lanna Ink tour was tattoo safety. They visit a trustworthy Ajarn that uses clean needles.
If you visit a local Buddhist temple like Wat Bang Pra temple in Bangkok, there will be tons of people lined up daily to get a tattoo with the same needle dipped into the same vat of ink. See the above section and photo.
It’s risky, and this type of Sak Yant is questionable when it comes to tattoo safety. I do, however, have a few friends who got their tattoos there, and they are fine.
Most monks or Ajarns now use a steel tip rod as opposed to a bamboo needle. Our local guide said he hadn’t seen any Ajarn or monk use a bamboo needle. Bamboo needles are less accurate. They break the skin and are known to hold contaminants.
Steel tip needles are more hygienic and have replaceable tips. The rods are called “Khem Sak,” which in Thai means Khem=give, meaning of Sak=tattoo, a very appropriate name. Khem Sak rods are often passed down to the Ajarn from their master and are believed to be loaded with blessings and enchantments.
You may still see it advertised as a bamboo tattoo Sak Yant, but it will most likely be done with a steel rod. If you specifically want a bamboo tattoo done with a bamboo needle, double-check with your Ajarn.
Beyond Bangkok: Best Places to Visit in Thailand
My Sak Yant Tattoo Chiang Mai Journey
Why I Decided to Get a Sak Yant Tattoo in Thailand
Thailand is more than just a destination for us. Adam and I first visited Asia on our Thailand honeymoon in 2012 and have been drawn back to Thailand over and over again. We’ve spent over a year traveling around Thailand and have made Chiang Mai our second home.
I’ve always wanted to get a tattoo in Thailand to remember our time here. Sure, I could have gone to a traditional tattoo shop by a tattoo artist and gotten a tattoo design of my choosing, but I wanted my tattoo to mean something.
I wasn’t sure what kind of tattoo I wanted to remember our travels here in Thailand, but when I heard about a magical Sak Yants given by a monk, I knew. A tattoo with a meaning, a story, history, and possibly some magic powers. I have met a handful of other travelers who had gotten a Thai Sak Yant and had amazing stories.
A Sak Yant tattoo will be a permanent reminder and something to always hold on to the time we spent in Thailand. I wanted my tattoo journey to have a story, a reason, and meaning.
Related Article: Unique Things to do in Thailand
What Is a Sak Yant Tattoo
When I told my mom I was getting another tattoo, she wasn’t super happy, and I think my dad told me to sleep on it. Well, Dad, I slept on it, and I would do it all over again. I had to explain to them what was this magic tattoo and why I wanted a traditional Thai Sak Yant.
Sak Yant is also known as Yantra tattoo or Sak Yan (the “T” in Yant is not pronounced in Thai). A traditional Sak Yant is done by a Buddhist monk or Ajarn with a metal rod (no needle or machine tattoo gun here). Yantra tattooing is an art. This method of tattooing is hand-etched by the Ajarn to create a unique Sak Yant tattoo no one else has.
Another term to explain: Ajarn means a teacher or master of something. We visited a Sak Yant Phra Ajarn, aka Sak Yant master monk.
The Thai monk who did our Sak Yant tattoos in Chiang Mai had been giving these magical tattoos for over 20 years. At just 14 years of age, he started training under the most well known famous Thai monk and is known as one of the best Sak Yant tattoo masters in all of Thailand.
He studied for many years, and now he practices out of his samnak which is a traditional Sak Yant studio that has been built at his home so that he can care for his aging parents.
His years of practice were apparent with the speed at which he worked. Ajarn Rung literally drew five lines Sak Yant tattoo design, and the rest was freehand. More Sak Yant tattoo designs are below.
You will notice some monks in Thailand are covered with Sak Yants. Yantra tattooing has been around for over 2,000 years and is still practiced today in Thailand. Sak Yant tattoos are believed to give magical powers such as luck, money, good health, family, protection, etc.
Originally, Buddhist monks tattooed warriors who needed protection and strength during a battle, but now anyone can get Sak Yant tattoo. Some people would say this is similar to a witch doctor or even a psychiatrist who will prescribe something to help you.
If you have ever seen Angelina Jolie’s tattoo on her back shoulder and wondered what it was, it’s a Sak Yant tattoo. And no, I didn’t get the same design as her.
After a little convincing, the Sak Yant magic tattoo process to protect me while traveling was approved by Mom.
Sak Yant Designs
Depending on where you go to get your tattoo will determine your Sak Yant design options. There are still Buddhist temples in Thailand that offer “free” Sak Yant tattoos (offering is ALWAYS expected; see below). Here, Thai people line up daily to visit the Ajarn (master monk performing the tattoo) to get their magical tattoo.
If you go to one of these temples, the monk will most likely not speak English. You will have no control over what tattoo you are getting or where on your body it will be placed.
We booked the Lanna Ink Experience in Chiang Mai, where we had an English speaking guide there for us to translate our whole experience. We were able to tell Ajarn Rung what we would like protection from and what we are struggling with. He then had binders of Sak Yant designs for us to look at, and our guide explained the meaning of the designs that interested us.
I opted for a design that wasn’t in the book. Ajarn Rung was able to take the general idea of one of the designs I liked but then customize it to what I needed protection for. I told the Ajarn anywhere on my back was ok. He asked me if I was right or left-handed and chose to put my Sak Yant on my right shoulder.
Common First Sak Yant Tattoo Designs
If you want to get Sak Yant tattoo and it is your first one, like mine was. You most likely will have one of the following three common Sak Yants:
- Yant Gao Yord – Buddha Peaks
- Yant Hah Taew – Five Line (This is what I have.)
- Yant Paed Tidt – 8 direction
I personally have friends that have the following above Sak Yants.
Gao Yord Sak Yants & Meaning
Of all the Sak Yant designs, the Geo Yord is the Master Yant and is considered to be the most sacred Buddhist tattoo. Of all the Sak Yant designs, this is considered to be the most important Sak Yant.
Gao Yord means nine attributes of the Buddha. You will most often find this tattoo on the top of the spine.
This magic Sak Yant is believed to have a wide range of powers of protection, avoid danger and harm, from evil spirits, and be invulnerable.
Other Popular Sak Yant Designs
If this is your second tattoo, or you want a less common Sak Yant design, check out these Sak Yants and their yant meanings.
- yant paed tidt
- yant chang sam sien
- yant chang sam sien
- yant sarika koo
- yant dok bua
- yant na hnaa tong
- yant namaha samrej
- yant prachao sibhok phraong
- yant suea khlong
- yant tao ruean
The Sak Yant Ceremony
After the monk sketched the perfect blessing for me, it was time for the ceremony. We removed our shoes and entered. After speaking with our Ajarn, we lit incense and were told to think about what we needed in our lives from this blessing.
A silent moment passed, and we had our ideas in our minds on what we needed in life, and I decided something else, too. I decided to have Adam get his tattoo first, which would delay my pain for another 15 minutes.
Related Article: Top 10 Best Things To Do In Chiang Mai
Does a Sak Yant Tattoo Hurt?
Do you think getting stabbed with a pointy steel rod for 15 minutes would hurt? Yes, it hurts.
Does a Sak Yant hurt more than a regular machine gun tattoo? No, not in my personal opinion. This was my fifth tattoo. My other tattoos were all done at a tattoo shop in the USA with an electric tattoo gun.
My tattoo on my ribs hurt way more and took three times longer. Everyone has a different pain tolerance, and the pain level differs depending on what part of the body the tattoo is on. Many people say getting a Sak Yant on your shoulder is one of the less painful places, which is where mine is.
Can Women Get A Sak Yant?
Yes, I am proof of that. However, not every monk will give women a tattoo. Thai Buddhist monks cannot touch women, and therefore, most monks won’t tattoo women. A few Ajarns will give women a Sak Yant while wearing a glove in order not to touch them.
Most Sak Yant specialists are Ajarns and have left the temple and now give Sak Yant & Yantra tattoos for a living. Our Ajarn wouldn’t allow any pictures of me getting the tattoo.
Just One Thing to Note:
A monk is not supposed to be photographed giving a Sak Yant tattoo to a woman because he is not to touch a woman or see her exposed back.
With respect to these wishes, you’ll have to just enjoy Adam getting his tattoo and not me! Adam also wanted me to mention that all that talk of crying at the start of this post was not him!
How Much Does A Sak Yant Cost?
The cost varies from Ajarn to Ajarn, but if you’re visiting a temple, then it would be “free” with a mandatory donation.
All Ajarns have a standard fee, just like tattoo shops, as this is how they make a living. The price varies on the size of the Sak Yant design but ranges from 1,000 baht to 12,000 baht.
If you visit an Ajarn, you will have a fee as well as an offering ceremony. Offerings can be big or small. On our Lanna Ink experience, our guide had arranged our offering for us, but if you visit a temple on your own, you’ll need to prepare an offering for the monk. An acceptable offering would contain:
- Incense sticks
- Cigarettes
- Flowers
- Candles
- Some money (Thais believe the number 9 is lucky, so an amount with 9 is best)
If you do visit a temple offering “free” tattoos, please leave a large monetary donation. You need to realize that the local Thai people give thousands of dollars over their lifetime to the temples, and tourists should not expect to just walk in and get a free tattoo.
Think of it like this: the minimum price of a tattoo in the USA is at least $50, so you should donate at least this, in my opinion. It’s wrong for tourists to go to a country and reap the benefits locals have been supporting themselves with for their whole lives.
We presented our offering to the monk, and shortly after, Adam was on the ‘tattoo stool’. Naturally, I had him get his tattoo first.
Sak Yant Rules Of Conduct
Every Sak Yant has its own “rules,” and some are very strange. Such as not eat pumpkin (I love pumpkin soup) and not drinking alcohol (Ummm, well, I don’t know about that one). Our Ajarn likes to see them as “life guidelines.” Each Ajarn has set their own as well. Here are the rules at Ajarn Rung’s samnak:
- Do not harm any living (or non-living) thing
- Show respect to your parents and elders
- Be a contributing member of society and never do anything that harms it
- You are not supposed to have any sexual relations with a menstruating woman
If you are doing research online, you’ve probably seen the most common set of rules from Wat Bang Pra, which is not only a temple but also training for monks and Sak Yants. The rules of conduct are:
- Do not eat star fruit, pumpkin, or any other ‘Gourd’ type vegetable
- Do not be anybody’s lover who is already married
- Do not slander anybody’s mother
- Do not eat food from a wedding or funeral
- Do not eat left-overs
- Do not permit a man to be brushed by the blouse or skirt of a woman, or crossed in front of; especially during the menstruation period
- Do not duck under a washing line or an overhanging building
- Do not duck under a banana tree of the type thaanii )
- Do not cross a single head bridge; large or small bridges are forbidden
- Do not sit on a ceramic urn, especially a cracked, or broken one
- Do not let a woman lie on top of you or sit on top either
Some of these rules I will have no problem following, and some of them are just not going to happen.
Wai Kru Festival
Some believe if you break these rules, you may lose some of the power of the Sak Yant. Thousands of people attend an annual Wai Kru Festival at Wat Bang Phra, where you can pay respect to your Ajarn and renew the powers of your magic tattoo.
Other Rules to Follow When Getting a Sak Yant Tattoo
There are a few other rules to take note of. The rules are mainly not to disrespect the monk.
- No photos or video of women getting the tattoo
- Do not stand above the monk/Ajarn
- Do not point your feet at the monk/Ajarn
- Women are to cover their shoulders & legs. Only the shoulder can be bare when getting the tattoo.
Sak Yant Healing Process
Sak Yant tattoos heal much faster than a regular machine tattoo. My tattoo was red for the day, raised for the first few days, and a little itchy for a few days.
Four days after getting the Sak Yant tattoo, it was nearly all healed. Here are a few other aftercare instructions to follow:
- Don’t go in salt water for one week.
- Don’t use any healing agent. They will fade the tattoo.
- Avoid direct sunlight. If you burn easily, make sure to cover your tattoo at all times.
- Wash with soap & water and pat dry.
Would I Get Another Sak Yant Design?
Yes, without a doubt, I would get one again. I want another Sak Yant design with a different Sak meaning and powers. Maybe on my next trip to Thailand, I’ll get a new Sak Yant…
Do you have any other Sak Yant tattoo Thailand questions for us? We hope we have explained everything you need to know about the traditional Thai tattoo and why it is so special.
Please don’t go get drunk on Khao San Road in Bangkok or in Southeast Asia and go to a regular tattoo studio. Tattoos with meanings are so much better!
Did you get a Sak Yant tattoo in Thailand? Do you have any Sak Yant questions that we missed? Share your story below!
Other Chiang Mai Recommendations
If you’re heading to Chiang Mai, check out our proclaimed best of Chiang Mai. Do you happen to be traveling during the Chiang Mai lantern festival? Here is the updated Yi Peng festival information. If you’re visiting between April 13-15th be prepared to get wet during the Songkran Festival Chiang Mai is the best place to ring in the Thai New Year.
Recommended Chiang Mai Hotels:
- 99 Heritage Hotel Booking.com
- Phusanfah Resort Booking.com
Other Bangkok Recommendations
Bangkok is our favorite city in the world and a great place to kick off two weeks in Thailand. We always suggest spending 3 days in Bangkok to get a good taste of the city. Make sure to check out our Where to stay in Bangkok guide to find the perfect hotel for you.
If you find yourself in Bangkok, make sure to read our What to Eat in Bangkok Guide, which is full of great Thai street food items.
Some of our favorite things to do in Bangkok are to eat lots of street food (read this street food safety guide first), watch the sunset at Red Sky Bangkok rooftop bar with great happy hour deals, people watch on Khao San Road, head to the bizarre Maeklong train market, and just get lost exploring in the city.
Recommended Bangkok Hotels:
- W Bangkok Check Prices Booking.com
- Westin Grande Sukhumvit Bangkok Check Prices Booking.com
Nina Javez
Monday 6th of May 2019
I got mine on my last trip and it was such a magical experience. I never thought id get a tattoo but im going back to thailand in june and ill probably get another sak yant haha.
Hannah Lukaszewicz
Monday 6th of May 2019
Did you get a Sak Yant in Bangkok or Chiang Mai? We too are talking about getting another Sak Yant on our next trip to Thailand. We love our so much!
Andy
Monday 18th of March 2019
I am looking forward to receiving my Sak Yant in May I believe it will be a very humbling experience... thanks for sharing your experience
MY Travel BF
Sunday 7th of October 2018
Thanks for sharing! This is a really cool experience and something we'd look into when we go to Thailand. Love the tattoos too!
Hannah Lukaszewicz
Tuesday 9th of October 2018
It's def a unique thing to do in Thailand and getting a sak yant in Chiang Mai will be something you'll always remember.
Min
Tuesday 24th of July 2018
Hi! After bookmarking and reading (and rereading!) this lovely story multiple times, I decided I wanted to do the same when I visit Chiang Mai this year! I actually tried reaching out to WSE through their website (through their email then again through their website form) with a few questions but no response to either. Do you know if they are still doing these?
Adam
Wednesday 25th of July 2018
Yes, they are still doing these tours. We have reached out to the owner of WSE to get in contact, this isn't normal they are usually very good at responding. Let us know if they don't get back to you. Have fun in Chiang Mai!
Gabrielle
Tuesday 17th of July 2018
You feel with the sak yant now any magic results ?
Adam
Thursday 19th of July 2018
We love our Sak Yant tattoos. When we return to Thailand we'll probably get a Sak Yant in Bangkok. So far our Sak Yants have lived up to what they are to protect us for. Are you planning on getting one?