Tattooing with numbers represents the following virtues:
Paruhassabody, 20 the second power of the Saturn, 21 virtue of Father, the Mother Earth; the planet Venus, 33 the alphabets, 38 the Dhamma, 39 the Mother Rice or Kwankaow, 41 the alphabets, 56 the Bhuddha, 227 the 227 precepts.
Applying Khmer alphabetical lettering to the tattooing is very popular. The action is called “ Khoam to Pali Tattoo.” The tattoo can also be done for some other languages. Either tattooing the various sacred designs or the yantra with alphabets has been a cultural practice over many successive generations. The powerful art is worth further research otherwise the culture will vanish from our country, Thailand. Tattooing on skin, so called “Saklai or Sakyantra,” is Thai tradition but the ancient form of body art has nearly vanished. Most tattooing nowadays is only for beauty. Above all, the stories behind Thai-style tattoo as mentioned above are worth studying. However, it seems that nobody loves to do it while the culture has faded out from society.
Method of Tattooing
Tattooing uses sharp pointed sticks as the main tools. Masters, monks and laymen, douse the metal needles in ink or herbal oils and then pierce the skin to produce the particular design or powerful alphabet tattoos. Tattoos made using ink are called “Ink Tattoo” and with oils, “oil tattoo.” Staining the designs on chest or back of devotee’s body is trendy.
It is widely known that no one could prove eventually when ink tattooing began. Regardless of when it started, there are 5 reasons for having this type of tattoo.
1. Identifying official position. Young men had “ Saklaek” to show they were registered soldiers and identifying with their particular departments. Those wearing no tattoo were called “White handed men.” They had no commander or subordinates.
2. Showing evidence of punishment. The mark on shoulder meant being punished not as badly as if it was on the face. The tattoo spot on face not only proclaimed him a very bad prisoner and also prohibited him from ordination as a monk.
3. Showing beauty, such as flower designs or pictures of animals. Some tribes believe that wearing tattoo with animals transfers the animal’s beauty to them. Ancient Lao people preferred piercing tattoos on legs. This value was essential to them all. As one of their poems says, “A woman without any tattoo on top of her thighs did not have any sex appeal and could not attract any man. Another poem says, “Covering with ten or twenty blankets does not seem as warm as having your tattooed legs across my body.”
4. Identifying tribes. Thai Aai Lao tribe traditionally let the group wear body tattoos of dragons or snakes. Some Laotians had them on belly, then the group was called “Lao Poong Dum, or a Laotians with black bellies.” The others
without any tattoo on that spot were called “Lao Poong Kaow or a Laotian with white bellies.”
5. Being invulnerable. A great work of Thai literature “Khunchang Khunphan,” tells that Treepetkla, the Burmese commander wore magical tattoos all over his body to protect himself in wars.
Educators on the tradition should obtain records of the typical designs, processes and rituals. They should also compare the different artwork of each tribe and cultural changes and the group’s values as well. The science is also worth further study. There are two kinds – the ancient style, the belief base. Each one has evolved specifically and reflects traditions and customs in Thai history. Prince Damrong Rajanupab understood that Bhuddist followers practice Tantra Niguy (means Neo-Hindu ideology, belief in rites to worship Siva and his Sakti. The word “Sakti” means one of 3 main Hindu Niguys – Visanop, Saiva, and Sakti.) Nowadays people in Tibet widely believe in the Tantra. Later the civilization flowed into Burma and Thailand. (Civilization is peace, based on society or morality and law) A considerable matter is that the yantra of Tantra Niguy belong to “Kritiya” (means magic, charm and spells). When this Hinnayan great monks in Srilanka moved to Thailand, then yantra tattoo, as of Hinnayan ideology, became “the heart of Dhamma.”
Presently, tattooing for invulnerable benefit is scarce and fading. Considering customs in the period “Mala Num Thai” of General Phiboonsongkram’s administration, while the government strongly encouraged Thais to wear hats and to chew areca nuts they disliked and discouraged yantra tattooing. Wearing tattoos was prohibited. A tattooed person could not become an official. Anyone who covered his body with magic tattoos was treated as a rough man and had a hard time making a living.
In olden days, Thai soldiers tried to make themselves braver in battle with potent magic such as various small holy stuff and by wearing images of Bhuddha in different forms. Magical tattooing was widely applied to achieve for being invulnerability so helping to defeat enemies for the sake of Thai independence and stopping Thailand becoming a colony of any country in the world.
Both monks and laymen can handle the magic art, but there are a few masters sustaining the science. To become a follower a person should have faith in his master and the belief.
Ajan Noo Kanpai is best known as the leading tattoo master of Thailand who instructs a lot of devotees and who owns the unique tattoo of Hanuman Tua Kaow at Brahma class of celestial beings. Does anyone known about his personal life and the obstacles he had to overcome to achieve today’s success? The following tells us about his biography.
Ajan Noo Kanpai was born on a Saturday, the eight day of the ninth waning moon at Bangbuathong District in Nonthaburi. He is the second son of Mr. Kun and Mrs. Sawang Kanpai. He has other four brothers. He was a bold child and mature for his age because he hardly ever listened to his parents’ warnings. They both warned him not to leave home as they were afraid that he might came to harm.
He was not a bad boy even though he left home sometimes. His family did not face a bit of trouble with him. Instead the boy stayed overnights with Luangta at a neighborhood temple. He practiced praying with the senior monk in the late evenings and helped carrying “Pinto”or tiffin carriers when Luangta went about to receive food from villagers at dawn. Indeed, he went to school everyday. After school he earned money for himself by cleaning boats and selling ice cream with woodsticks. He carried a big box of icecreams over his shoulder and sold them along the way. He had been taking small jobs and gave his mother the income
His family received regular income from rental house payments that supported their livings. Despite his jobs, he never skipped studying as it was very important to him. His diligent experience hardworking tells us the truth – hard workers deserve the valuable rewards more than those who earn piles of money and gold by chance.
After finishing Grade 4, he kept reading his father’s old books on magic science. The books made him deeply respect and adore the subjects. He also studied and practiced on ancient Khmer spells – the magical verses in the book which were widely used by “Tigers,” the typical tough men of his grandparents’ generation.
When he was 13 years old, he gained enough experience to be able to read and write Khmer letters fluently. He tried applying the magic to some neighbors. People in Bangbuathong and other districts named him “Noo (Jom Sab).” They knew he was a tough boy as he did not bow down to others and headed a gang of other youngsters. Daring actions strengthened his spirit and boldness. Therefore he had more confidence in his ability and believed he was second to none. One day he asked his friend to shoot at him. He did not know why he could make this challenge. From a young boy to a teenager, he was far and away a tougher boy than the young nowadays. Neighbors walked away from him because of his cruel behavior. To test his magic, he did fighting and attacking enemies with weapons every day. He and his gangster never ran away and faced all attacks – hitting, cutting, stabbing, and shooting. Therefore people in Bangbuathong recognized and were wary of Noo.
He took a job as a fare-taker on buses in Nonthaburi. He always spelled magic words before the buses started. At the station and nearby market there was a very annoying gangster. One day, after helping park a bus, Mr.Noo saw the gangster raising a great hue and cry against neighbors along the street. Both Noo and the bad guy stared at each other and started a big fight. Suddenly one of them picked up a knife and stabbed into the stomach and some other spots on Noo’s body. Fortunately, they ran away when a policeman saw the violence. The police turned to look at Noo’s body and found his clothes torn up but no wound. It was an unbelievable sight that he alone was struck severely but was not hurt though the enemies seemed worse. Thus the police asked him what magic thing he had for self-protection.
The same day Sinsaa, a Chinese fortune teller, walked past Mr.Noo’s house. No one knew where he came from. He warned Noo’s mother to keep an eye on her son as he was very tough. If he survived the next three days he would become a famous master. Sinsaa’s words made her wait anxiously for Noo in front of their house.
When Noo arrived home she immediately told him, “You should enter the monkhood to avoid any trouble in the near future.” He replied at once, “It’s up to you, I will do it as you desire. Please confirm the date and month to ordain.” She told him, “Within 3 days.” Actually he was stunned but did not argue against her. He committed himself and said “ Alright, I can do it.”