How to Respectfully Get a Sak Yant Tattoo in Asia

Sak yant tattoos are a sacred rite of passage throughout Buddhist communities in Southeast Asia. They’re also become something of a trend for Western tourists traveling through the area. Though they’ve become somewhat commercial, it’s still important to respect the local traditions and beliefs when getting one.

Bring an Offering

Monks perform sak yant tattooing, and they are often given an offering for the blessing received during the tattoo. This usually includes a small monetary donation, flowers and a token from your homeland.

Keep Quiet

The tattooing of a sak yant is a spiritual event and should be treated as such. Put away the smartphone, keep quiet and allow the monk to do his job in peace. You should also be respectful and keep silent while the monk performs the tattoo on others ahead of you.

Bow

Always bow before a monk giving you a sak yant tattoo no less than three times, and keep your head below his at all times. It’s a sign of respect, and monks are given the highest of respect in Buddhist communities in Southeast Asia.

Avoid Tattoo Artists

Tattoo artists in Southeast Asia are now giving out sak yants to tourists, but they’re not the traditional ones as only monks can give blessings and perform real sak yant tattooing. Avoid a traditional artist just looking to make money (they’ll charge you more, anyway) and put in the effort to find a monk willing to give you the real thing.