Ayutthaya, Samnak Kob, Sak Yant Tattoos

Three Thai men with their Sak Yants (tattoos) done by Ajaan Kob and his son.
The samnak is the workplace of a khru sak (tattoo master). Here in the samnak of Ajaan Kob.

Ajaan Kob or Gob, อาจารย์ กบ, is a Thai sak yant master, a so-called khru sak. Sak Yant (pronounced Sak Yan) is the traditional tattooing in Southeast Asia, done in Myanmar (Shan state), Laos, Thailand and Cambodia. Sak means tattooing and Yant stands for Yantra (Sanskrit). Yants are sacred geometrical designs intended to protect and bring good luck. The letters used are written in Kom, ancient Khmer-Pali script.

A khru sak is not a simple artist. These few real masters (different to the tattoo shops) are considered to possess power (wicha) of which they transfer a bit on the wearer with the tattoo. After receiving the tattoo, the khru sak will bless the sak yant. Call it magic and magic works if you believe in it. Sak yants are therefore a lot more for the wearer than a simple decoration.

A khru sak is considered a teacher, someone you ask for help when you have problems, a big brother, a psychologist, sort of a shaman trying to help people (doing white magic. Note that magic in Asia has a different interpretation as in the West). Sak yant masters are therefore highly respected persons. People come and the master will listen to their problems, hopes, fears etc. Just by listening to those who come, a good advice might be enough. He might propose a tattoo for help. A traditional Thai tattoo does not necessarily need to be done with ink but can be done with oil which cannot be seen afterwards.

Ajaan Kob is very kind and helpful. He specialized in tattooing geckos (jing joks = symbol for love) while his style is renowned to be very delicate with focus on small details.

See also:
www.facebook.com/AjarnKobOfAyutthayaSakYantMaster/
Gary Hazel's stream with plenty of further information:
www.flickr.com/photos/sak-yant_tattoo/

Taken on: January 3, 2015

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Thailand

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Gob

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Sak

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Yantra

tattooing

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Sets appears in: • People of Asia • Thailand, Ayutthaya, Ajaan Kob more » • Tattoos • Thailand, Ayutthaya « less

Groups appears in: • Travel Photography • Tattoo, Ink that don't stink! more » • Earth Asia (Post 3-Award 3) • Totally Thailand • "South and Southeast Asian LIFE" - P1 - A1, only people • **Unseen~Asia** Post 1 Comment 1 « less

Camera: Canon EOS 70D, f/8.0, 1/250 sec, 17mm, ISO 100 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Canon EOS 70D
Aperture:	f/8.0
Exposure Time:	0.004 sec (1/250)
Focal Length:	17mm
ISO:	100
Exposure Bias:	0 EV
Flash:	Off, Did not fire
Exposure Program:	Program AE
Exposure Mode:	Auto
Metering Mode:	Multi-segment
White Balance:	Auto
Color Space:	sRGB
Software:	Adobe Photoshop Elements 7.0 Windows
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