Some tattoos in Thailand are administered by high-ranking monks. Tattoos can be sacred or magical. The ink is derived from charcoal, lampblack or Indian sepia and then mixed with herbs, sap, lizard skins, buffalow bile and all sorts; tattoos have poems, ancient symbols and spells written into them. Certain images convey certain meanings. Dragons depict strength and wisdom, wild boars fierceness. A lion signifies dignity and strength. A tiger on the chest is for protection from injury.
Invisible tattoos written in sesame oil instead of ink are for women. The design heals into a feint welt but the magic spell remains undiluted.
Once a year at Wat Bang Phra, 30 miles west of Bangkok, thousands of young men gather to be tattooed by monks. The monks too, are heavily tattooed. Wat Bang Phra’s tattoos come with promises of protection and prosperity, and the temple is the only one offering a second skin of protective spells.
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
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1 comments:
Hey Everyone.
I was wondering if anybody could tell me or give me a hint about where could I find traditional thai patterns. Those patterns are usualy made by monks, unfortunatly I'm not in thailand at the moment and so i can't go anywhere to ask myself...
The pattern usualy has a temple at the top and small "wats" at the bottom.
Thanks in advance Tizy
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