12 ANGkOR June-August 2014
Sacred yantras worn throughout the body, each with a special meaning, placement & purpose
12 AngkoR June-August 2014
The Art of
Khmer Tattoos Tattooing has been synonymous with the ancient warriors of the Angkorian Empire dating back to 803 AD. It was believed that this ink adornment would deem the warriors invincible in the midst of battle and they would live to fight another day. All the Khmer Warriors were covered with tattoos from head to toe, including their chest, arms and even fingers. Mighty King Jarvaraman VII, tested this out with his own body, being struck by arrows and having all hits bounce off his chest.
Twin Tigers Yantra represents power and authority
Yantra tattooing originated in Cambodia with the use of ancient Khmer script writing. Yant is Thai for the Sanskrit word yantra. Sak means “to tap (tattoo)”. Sak yant designs are normally tattooed by wicha (magic) practitioners and Buddhist monks, traditionally with a long bamboo stick sharpened to a point (called a mai sak) or alternatively with a long metal spike (called a khem sak). The wise practitioner usually determines the yantra tattoo design and its placement. These days in modern tattoo parlors standard tattoo machines are used. Caution should always be taken with any kind of tattooing, and those seeking ink should insist that high standards of sterilization of all equipment are applied to reduce the risk of transmission of infection and disease. Those pursuing traditional methods must understand that the equipment will not be sterilized to appropriate standards, warns Chris Walk, owner of Siem Reap- based Angkor Ink. In Cambodia, the tattoo is used as a symbol of self-protection. Cambodians believe a yantra has magical powers to ward off evil and hardship. The tattoo is particularly popular amongst military personnel. The tattoo supposedly guarantees the person to not receive any physical harm as long as they observe certain rules such as living honestly, not taking advantage of others for your own personal gain, respecting others, refusing to partake in adultery or evil deeds. Common choices include prayers to remain bullet-proof, power of the fist, images of elephants on the knees and feet to represent strength and wisdom, and depictions of tigers as this animal is considered to be the King of the Jungle according to many Khmers, given their are no lions in Cambodia. Lord Hanuman,
Face of an fierce Angkorian warrior
In Cambodia the tattoo is used as a symbol of selfprotection, some believing they have magical powers 12 AngkoR June-August 2014
the Hindu mighty ape deity who represents the compassionate warrior, is often depicted on soldiers. High-ranking officers and elders often wear the white Lord Hanuman, who known as the King of all Monkeys. Since the Khmer Rouge killed many of the best artists, there are now very few practicing this ancient art Sak Yantra. However, there is a re-emergence of interest in traditional tattoo designs amoungst Khmer youth and returnees as well as foreigners. They wear these tattoos as symbols of pride and honour bolstering their cultural identity and foreigners resonant with their deeper meanings. According to Chandara Tep, Owner and Manager of Phnom Penh-based Angkorian Ink custom- designed tattoo parlor, every symbol or character a person chooses is a refection of how one feels as well as a reminder of the qualities they wish to become part of them. He explains further, “ Angkor Wat represents the pride of our culture and nation, and Naga, the Snake King is the special mythological protector guarding Angkor. Garuda the fierce mythical half- man, half-bird creature displays the essence of a brave flying warrior. Images of monks or Buddha convey peace and wisdom, whereas Apsara dancers reflect peace and beauty”. Whether or not these symbols bring good fortune or ward off evil spirits, they remain beautiful works of art. It is refreshing to discover that the old ways have not been lost completely & still bring the wearer confidence and comfort to wear these designs with pride. Head of King Jarvaraman 7th, known as a “Victorious Warrior” and builder of Angkor Thom and Ta Prohm
Tattoos are used as representations of pride and honour bolstering one’s cultural identity
Tattoo artist “Tone” concentrating on his work
12 AngkoR June-August 2014
Buddhist monk wearing sacred yantra’s all over his body as a means of protection and dedication to his spirituality
សាក់ មានន័យថា "To tap tattoo" ហើយ យ័ន្ត គឺជាភាសារថៃ មកពី
ដែលលំបាកខ្លាំងបាន។ ការសាក់នេះទទួលបានប្រជាប្រិយភាព ជាពិសេសពី
ពាកយ្ បាលីសស ំ ត ឹ្ក្រ យ័ន។ ្ត្រ ក ារសាក់ យ័នន ្ត ះជេ ាទូទៅធ្វោ ើដ យអ្នកចេះមនា ្តអ គម
សំណាក់កងទ័ព។ ការសាក់នេះតវបា ូ្រ នគស េ ន្មត់ថាអាចជួយមនុសស្ អោយជៀស
និងព្រះសង្ឃសាសនាព្រះពុទ្ធ ត ាមទំលាប់គេប្រើគំនួចឬស្សីដែលមាន ចុងស្រួច
ផុតពីគ្រោះផ្នាក់លើរាង្គកាយ ដ៏រាបណាអ្នកទាំងនោះគោរពប្រតិបត្តិតាមដំណម
មានឈ្មោះថា មៃសា ៉ ក់ ឬក៏គេអាចយកដែកស្រច ួ វែងបន្តច ិ ដែលហៅថា ខែមសាក់
មួយចំនួន។
មកជំនួសក៏បាន។ ការសាក់យ័ន្តមានប្រភពដើមនៅក្នុងប្រទេសកម្ពុជា ដ ោយប្រើតួរអក្សរខ្មែរ សម័យដើមក្នុងការសាក់នេះ។ ក្នុងយុគសម័យអាណាចក្រខ្មែរ ទ័ពចម្បាំងខ្មែរ ទាំងអស់បានសាក់តាំងពីក្បាលរហូតដល់ម្រាមជើង ដូចជាលើដើមទ្រូង ដៃទាំង សងខាង សូម្បីតែម្រាមដៃក៏ត្រូវបានសាក់ដែរ។ ព្រះមហាក្សត្រព្រះបាទសម្តេច ជ័យវរ្ម័នទី៧ បានធ្វើការសាកល្បងការសាក់យ័ន្តនេះ ដ ោយអោយគេបាញ់ព្រួញ មកលើព្រះកាយរបស់ព្រះអង្គផ្ទាល់ ហើយព្រួញទាំងនោះមិនបាន ដោតជាប់ ដើមទ្រូងរបស់ព្រះអង្គ ទេ។
Tattoos are used as representations of pride and honour bolstering one’s cultural identity
នៅក្នុងប្រទេសកម្ពុជា សាក់ ត្រូវបានប្រើសំរាប់ការពារខ្លួន។ ប្រជាជនខ្មែរ មានជំនឿរថា យ័ន្តមានយុទស ្ធ ល ិ ប្ ដ ៍ អ ៏ ស្ចរា យ្ ដែលអាចកំចាត់បសា ី ច និងស្ថានភាព
12 AngkoR June-August 2014
12 AngkoR June-August 2014
The Art of
Khmer Tattoos Tattooing has been synonymous with the ancient warriors of the Angkorian Empire dating back to 803 AD. It was believed that this ink adornment would deem the warriors invincible in the midst of battle and they would live to fight another day. All the Khmer Warriors were covered with tattoos from head to toe, including their chest, arms and even fingers. Mighty King Jarvaraman VII, tested this out with his own body, being struck by arrows and having all hits bounce off his chest.
Twin Tigers Yantra represents power and authority
Yantra tattooing originated in Cambodia with the use of ancient Khmer script writing. Yant is Thai for the Sanskrit word yantra. Sak means “to tap (tattoo)”. Sak yant designs are normally tattooed by wicha (magic) practitioners and Buddhist monks, traditionally with a long bamboo stick sharpened to a point (called a mai sak) or alternatively with a long metal spike (called a khem sak). The wise practitioner usually determines the yantra tattoo design and its placement. These days in modern tattoo parlors standard tattoo machines are used. Caution should always be taken with any kind of tattooing, and those seeking ink should insist that high standards of sterilization of all equipment are applied to reduce the risk of transmission of infection and disease. Those pursuing traditional methods must understand that the equipment will not be sterilized to appropriate standards, warns Chris Walk, owner of Siem Reap- based Angkor Ink. In Cambodia, the tattoo is used as a symbol of self-protection. Cambodians believe a yantra has magical powers to ward off evil and hardship. The tattoo is particularly popular amongst military personnel. The tattoo supposedly guarantees the person to not receive any physical harm as long as they observe certain rules such as living honestly, not taking advantage of others for your own personal gain, respecting others, refusing to partake in adultery or evil deeds. Common choices include prayers to remain bullet-proof, power of the fist, images of elephants on the knees and feet to represent strength and wisdom, and depictions of tigers as this animal is considered to be the King of the Jungle according to many Khmers, given their are no lions in Cambodia. Lord Hanuman,
Face of an fierce Angkorian warrior
In Cambodia the tattoo is used as a symbol of selfprotection, some believing they have magical powers 12 AngkoR June-August 2014
the Hindu mighty ape deity who represents the compassionate warrior, is often depicted on soldiers. High-ranking officers and elders often wear the white Lord Hanuman, who known as the King of all Monkeys. Since the Khmer Rouge killed many of the best artists, there are now very few practicing this ancient art Sak Yantra. However, there is a re-emergence of interest in traditional tattoo designs amoungst Khmer youth and returnees as well as foreigners. They wear these tattoos as symbols of pride and honour bolstering their cultural identity and foreigners resonant with their deeper meanings. According to Chandara Tep, Owner and Manager of Phnom Penh-based Angkorian Ink custom- designed tattoo parlor, every symbol or character a person chooses is a refection of how one feels as well as a reminder of the qualities they wish to become part of them. He explains further, “ Angkor Wat represents the pride of our culture and nation, and Naga, the Snake King is the special mythological protector guarding Angkor. Garuda the fierce mythical half- man, half-bird creature displays the essence of a brave flying warrior. Images of monks or Buddha convey peace and wisdom, whereas Apsara dancers reflect peace and beauty”. Whether or not these symbols bring good fortune or ward off evil spirits, they remain beautiful works of art. It is refreshing to discover that the old ways have not been lost completely & still bring the wearer confidence and comfort to wear these designs with pride. Head of King Jarvaraman 7th, known as a “Victorious Warrior” and builder of Angkor Thom and Ta Prohm
Tattoos are used as representations of pride and honour bolstering one’s cultural identity
Tattoo artist “Tone” concentrating on his work
12 AngkoR June-August 2014
Buddhist monk wearing sacred yantra’s all over his body as a means of protection and dedication to his spirituality
សាក់ មានន័យថា "To tap tattoo" ហើយ យ័ន្ត គឺជាភាសារថៃ មកពី
ដែលលំបាកខ្លាំងបាន។ ការសាក់នេះទទួលបានប្រជាប្រិយភាព ជាពិសេសពី
ពាកយ្ បាលីសស ំ ត ឹ្ក្រ យ័ន។ ្ត្រ ក ារសាក់ យ័នន ្ត ះជេ ាទូទៅធ្វោ ើដ យអ្នកចេះមនា ្តអ គម
សំណាក់កងទ័ព។ ការសាក់នេះតវបា ូ្រ នគស េ ន្មត់ថាអាចជួយមនុសស្ អោយជៀស
និងព្រះសង្ឃសាសនាព្រះពុទ្ធ ត ាមទំលាប់គេប្រើគំនួចឬស្សីដែលមាន ចុងស្រួច
ផុតពីគ្រោះផ្នាក់លើរាង្គកាយ ដ៏រាបណាអ្នកទាំងនោះគោរពប្រតិបត្តិតាមដំណម
មានឈ្មោះថា មៃសា ៉ ក់ ឬក៏គេអាចយកដែកស្រច ួ វែងបន្តច ិ ដែលហៅថា ខែមសាក់
មួយចំនួន។
មកជំនួសក៏បាន។ ការសាក់យ័ន្តមានប្រភពដើមនៅក្នុងប្រទេសកម្ពុជា ដ ោយប្រើតួរអក្សរខ្មែរ សម័យដើមក្នុងការសាក់នេះ។ ក្នុងយុគសម័យអាណាចក្រខ្មែរ ទ័ពចម្បាំងខ្មែរ ទាំងអស់បានសាក់តាំងពីក្បាលរហូតដល់ម្រាមជើង ដូចជាលើដើមទ្រូង ដៃទាំង សងខាង សូម្បីតែម្រាមដៃក៏ត្រូវបានសាក់ដែរ។ ព្រះមហាក្សត្រព្រះបាទសម្តេច ជ័យវរ្ម័នទី៧ បានធ្វើការសាកល្បងការសាក់យ័ន្តនេះ ដ ោយអោយគេបាញ់ព្រួញ មកលើព្រះកាយរបស់ព្រះអង្គផ្ទាល់ ហើយព្រួញទាំងនោះមិនបាន ដោតជាប់ ដើមទ្រូងរបស់ព្រះអង្គ ទេ។
Tattoos are used as representations of pride and honour bolstering one’s cultural identity
នៅក្នុងប្រទេសកម្ពុជា សាក់ ត្រូវបានប្រើសំរាប់ការពារខ្លួន។ ប្រជាជនខ្មែរ មានជំនឿរថា យ័ន្តមានយុទស ្ធ ល ិ ប្ ដ ៍ អ ៏ ស្ចរា យ្ ដែលអាចកំចាត់បសា ី ច និងស្ថានភាព
12 AngkoR June-August 2014
