8 Fun Facts About Thailand,The Thai Tradition of Tattooing (Sak Yant)

8 Fun Facts About Thailand
Thailand is an amazing country that stuns the visitor in many
ways. Thus, get ready for some fun facts about Thailand in
numbers
8 Fun Facts About Thailand
2 grams weights the world’s smallest mammal. It is the
Kitti’s Hog-nosed bat which is also known as the
bumblebee bat. It is a vulnerable and rare species of
bat and the only extant member of the family
Craseonycteridae. It occurs in Western Thailand in the
Kanchanaburi province, more specifically in the Sai Yok
National Park, where it occupies limestone caves along
rivers.
Kitty’s Hog-nosed bat (photo credit:
nationmultimedia.com)
95% of all Thai people are Buddhists. Thai tradition
supports laymen to go into a monastery for a certain
time period. This retreat is expected of all male Thais
and is commonly scheduled after high school. Such
retreat brings honour to the family and merit to the
young man.
Young novices entering a monastery in Thailand
(photo
credit:
Siwaphong
Pakdeetawan,
Instagram@knack66)
169 letters has the official name of the capital
Bangkok: It is known to Thais as Krung Thep Maha Nakho,
but its full ceremonial name is Krungthepmahanakhon
Amonrattanakosin
Mahintharayutthaya
Mahadilokphop
Noppharatratchathaniburirom
Udomratchaniwetmahasathan
Amonphimanawatansathit Sakkathattiyawitsanukamprasit.
View from Baiyoke Sky Tower on the capital Bangkok
(photo taken by myself)
70% of all animal and bird species are living in
Thailand. Thus, Thailand is one of the world’s countries
richest in species. There are over 200 different
reptiles living in Thailand according to Thai National
Park’s ‘List of reptiles’.
A country rich in species, here a lizard (photo
credit: Siwaphong Pakdeetawan, Instagram@knack66)
172 meters high is the world tallest stupa. It is
located in Nakhom Pathom and called Phra Pathom Chedi.
It was completed in 1870 and the name Phra Pathom Chedi
means ‘the first holy stupa’.
Phra Pathom Chedi (photo credit:
ScorpianPK, wikimedia.org)
1430 islands are there in Thailand, ranging from desert
islands to spectacular islands. Some are well-known and
popular among tourists while others are still pristine.
Angthong Islands National Marine Park (photo
credit: Amazing Thailand, FB page)
1586 meters long was the catwalk of the Pattaya
International Fashion Week in 2010. Thus, it was a
Guinness World Record in Pattaya.
1,500,000 Bath (around 37.000 Euro) was paid for a
painting created by eight elephants from the Maesa
Elephant Camp in Chiang Mai. The painting measured 2,4 x
8 meters.
A paiting elephant, a fun fact about Thailand (photo
credit: elephantpaintings4you.com)
Well, did you know all that? Do you know more amazing and
astonishing fun facts about Thailand? Feel free to comment
Yours, Sirinya
(Reference: Thailand Magazin TAT 2015, German Version)
The
Thai
Tradition
Tattooing (Sak Yant)
of
The custom of tattooing has a long history in Thailand.
Tattoos are generally divided into two categories, those for
loving-kindness (metta) and those for invulnerability and
empowerment. These tattoos are part of Thai magic (Sak Yant)
and not for beautification. Thus, Sak Yant is an ancient
magical practice using Buddhist, Brahman and animist imagery.
In particular, Wat Bang Phra in Nakhom Pathom Province is
known for Yantra tattooing by monks living in the temple.
During March each year there is a tattoo festival at Wat Bang
Phra.
Thai Tattoos
Luang Pi Pant tattooing a Yant in Ang Tong
Province (photo credit: sakyant, wikimedia.org)
Tattoos for loving-kindness serve to enhance in the person a
feeling of benevolence and kindness towards others and
simultaneously instill in others the same feelings to oneself.
Some tattoo motifs for loving-kindness are:
Swan – the swan is the vehicle of the great God Brahma (Phra
Prom) and it promises liberation from worldly bondage.
Turtle – since turtles appear to be slow and clumsy, they
arouse compassion and pity. Thus, nobody truly wants to harm
them. Thus, the Great Turtle Yantra also stands for auspicious
blessings.
Yant Paya Tao Ruean –
Great Turtle Yantra –
excellent auspicious
blessings,
riches,
treasures (Pokasap),
health and long life
from
this
Yantra
(photo credit: Ajarn
Man
Anusas,
sakyant.com)
House Lizard – the house lizard is supposed to warn people.
Hence, according to Thai belief if one hears the cry of a
house lizard when about to leave the house, it is recommend
not to go because something awful might happen.
Mynah Bird– the common mynah bird is sometimes tattooed on the
tongue, since its song is enchanting and causes those who hear
it to experience great joy.
A Buddha Image (Ongk Pra) is flanked by a
Heavenly Bird Yant (photo credit: sak-yant.com)
Buddha – since the Buddha is an enlightened being, he feels
compassion and loving-kindness towards all living creatures.
Tattooed monk of Wat Bang Pra, sacred
tattoos (photo credit: sak-yant.com)
Thai
Sak Yant, the tattoos for invulnerability, however, have been
selected for the intrinsic power that they possess. These
characteristics may be fierceness, speed, strength, cunning
and endurance among others. The tattoos are supposed to
protect the wearer from bullets, knifes and other weapons. In
particular, people who work in high risk occupations like
soldiers, taxi and tuk-tuk drivers like to wear these kinds of
tattoos.
Yant See Bantat (four lines), Yant Gao Yord
(Nine Peaks of Meru) Yant Jing Jok (Gecko
Charms), and Yant Paed Daan (eight sided
Yantra) (photo credit: sak-yant.com)
In addition, tattoos for invulnerability are also sought after
by people with a criminal background like gang members and
convicts. Nevertheless, Sak Yant tattoos or Yantra
tattooing are nowadays very popular both with Thai people and
Westerners. However, some Thai people think that Westerners
fail to appreciate the true meaning and spirituality of the
Sak Yant. Tattoos for invulnerability are:
Dragon – the dragon stands for fearlessness, strength and
wisdom.
King Cobra – the cobra is a venomous fearless snake that will
attack rather than retreat.
Eel – the eel stands for the ability to escape because it is
very slippery and hard to catch.
Hanuman – the monkey god from the Ramakien is known for having
powers of invulnerability and invincibility from the God
Shiva.
Yant Hanuman Haw Pen Daw
Pen Duean (Hanuman Yawning
the Moon and Stars (photo
credit: sak-yant.com)
Tiger & Mythical Lion – they represent cunning, strength and
fierceness.
Toad – the toad is supposed to be a robust animal since it
has coarse skin.
Sak Yant on Monk by Luang Pi
Pant (photo credit sakyant.com)
The Thai tattoo master is called ajahn (teacher) which is a
title of respect. He is different from other tattooist because
he is most often a Buddhist monk and knows the magic
of symbols, figures, cabalistic signs and verses of power. It
is also important to note that each tattoo has a ‘heart’
wherein the power lies. Merely the tattooist knows the
location of the heart of the tattoo. Verses of power are often
reduced to a few letters or even numbers. Hence, each tattoo
master knows which verse is represented by the particular
groups of letters. Thus, their power is protected. The
following clip shows Luang Pi Pant tattooing Wat Ko Poon in
Singhburi.
Summing up, we may claim that the art of Thai Tattoos are both
spiritual and traditional. However, today Yantra tattooing has
become an international phenomenon and there are also places
in Western countries that offer these kind of
tattoos. Nevertheless, people should not forget about the
origin and spiritual and ‘magical’ meaning of the Sak Yant.
Yours, Sirinya
(Reference: Writing From Asia. Treasures Myths and Traditions.
The National Museum Volunteers Group, 1996)
Woodcarving – A Famous Thai
Art Form
Woodcarving can be regarded as a characteristic decorative
Thai art form. It reflects the fertility and vitality of
nature in technique and subject matter. Wood has been
primarily used for furniture and religious objects, and
thus not so much for creating Buddha statues. Hence,
woodcarvers have sought their inspiration primarily in nature
and mythology since they have been free of restrictive
iconography.
Thai Woodcarving
Carved wooden facade at Thawan Duchanee’s
Black House Museum (photo credit:
Anandajoti Bhikkhu, photodharma.net)
Woodcarvers have employed a composite technique that allowed
them to carve single parts of a work separately and later
assemble them. Thus, the art work appears spontaneous and
effortless, hence paralleling the creativity of nature.
In tropical countries like Thailand, wood is an abundant
material that is also considered to have a kind of spiritual
quality. Therefore, trees are considered to house spirits.
Among these spirits, the most well-known to Thai people are
Phra Sai (the spirit of the banyan tree) and Phrase Pho (the
spirit of the pipal tree). These are frequently mentioned in
Thai literature and are included in the group of heavenly
spirits. The other two famous spirits are Nang Tani (the woman
spirit of the banana tree) and Nan Takian who is the female
spirit of the hopea tree. Nevertheless, teak wood is preferred
to other wooden material because it is easy to carve and
relatively resistant to the elements and insects.
Thai woodcarving from the most recent
past: large carving on wall at the Black
House Museum (photo credit: Anandajoti
Bhikkhu, photodharma.net)
The earliest Thai woodcarving pieces date from the 16th
century. The high-point of this Thai art form is found in
images of lesser religious figures which date from the late
Ayutthaya period, i.e. the 17th to early 18th century. For
instance, the collection of the National Museum in Bangkok
includes such fine pieces like the mythical dancer and
celestial swan Kinnari (in Thai: กิน​รี).
Kinnari
statue
at
the
National
Museum
in
Bangkok (photo taken by
myself)
The Kinnari is a mythological figure, an inhabitant of the
Himaphan (Himalaya) forest, that is half-human and half-swan.
It is a symbol of feminine beauty, grace and cultural
accomplishment. The Kinnari statue at the National Museum in
Bangkok is 110cm high and dates from the 17th to early 18th
century. Its tail is in a stylized design which is called
‘kranok’. It is often found in Thai art.
‘Peaceful head’ by Thawan Duchanee at
Baan Dam (photo credit: Anandajoti
Bhikkhu, photodharma.net)
In fact, there had been a rich developing tradition of
woodcarving in Thailand over prior centuries. However, earlier
works, before the 17th century, did not survive. Nonetheless,
this amazing workmanship continued into the early Bangkok
period. Nevertheless, in the most recent past,
Thai National Artist Thawan Duchanee also created stunning
wall and façade carvings at Baan Dam, the Black House Museum
in Chiang Rai.
Even today, woodcarving is a prominent art in Thailand. Thus,
the finest wood sculptures have been closely associated with
architecture, animals being a favourite subject. You can buy
objects carved from wood at special markets like the cultural
and craftsman’s market in Chiang Mai. The following video
shows you which kind of objects are created and available at
these markets. In addition, it also relates something about
the history of this art form (in Thai).
By the way, there is also a new privately-owned museum named
Woodland in Nakhom Pathom Province. The presentation is about
a fantasy land and Grandfather Teak who relates the story of
the woodmen in thousands of elaborate woodcarvings. These
sculptures are from a collection owned by Narong Thewphaingarm
and
his
father.
There
are
three
areas
in
the
exhibition: firstly, the Story of Woodland, with over 5,000
wooden objects, secondly, Woodland Village where you find
restaurants and souvenir shops, and thirdly, the Resort, which
is the former residence of the owner’s family.
Woodmen room at the Woodland museum (photo
credit: bangkokpost.com)
Finally, we may say that Thai woodcarving has a great
tradition in Thailand. It is a very elaborate, amazing and
stunning craft that requires a lot of skill by the craftsman.
Yours, Sirinya
(Reference: Treasures from The National Museum Bangkok,
Selected by The National Museum Volunteers Group, 4th reprint
2006)