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The Thai
'White-robed Elder' Master Ar Jahn Tong,
resident Master of Fo Guang Hang, speaks
about the origins:
Master Ar Jahn
Tong is one of the most respected Thai
Buddhist Elders and has been practising
Buddhism for several decades now. According
to the Master, Thailand's tattooing practice
and techniques originated from natives who
lived in the mountains of the Yunnan
province of China. Their skills gradually
passed down to the Thais during the trips
these natives made down south to Thailand to
sell their produce in order to make a
living. As Thailand's economy prospered, so
the number of trips they made increased and
the more contact the Thais had with these
natives. With the betterment of the economy
came the development of another sect of
tattooists by the name of 'Mi Di Kong'. This
sect was first founded in Myanmar and then
found its way into Thailand. So today's
Thais' skills and belief in Buddhist
tattooing can be traced back to Yunnan and
Myanmar. Through years of modification and
improvements, today, without a doubt,
Thailand is proud to have the best Buddhist
Tattoo masters in the world. |
It was
actually the Temples that started the ball rolling...
Master Ar
Jahn Tong tells us that it was actually the ancient Thai
temples that started the 'trend' of Buddhist tattooing
in Thailand, because all Buddhist monks were tattooed.
What we
know as 'Thailand' was once made up of various scattered
Thai states (or more accurately, Siamese states) which
were consolidated in 1769 after the Thais defeated the
Burmese invasion, into a Kingdom that had such brilliant
rulers it became the only country in Asia never to have
been a colony of any Western power. But even before
1769, anyone who wanted to become a monk had to first
learn a few basic Buddhist scriptures and sutras
(including the most basic ones used for tattooing and
protection). They must then proceed to pass an exam by
the wiser old monks or Elders who have certain blessed
spiritual 'powers' (through their years of practising
the Buddhist way and observing the Buddhist precepts and
rituals). This exam is to prove that these young lads
had the skills needed to protect themselves and bless
others, whether through chanting or tattooing, before
they can qualify to become a 'new monk'.
Even
after they pass this exam and become 'new monks', their
real journey and the tests awaiting them have only just
begun. They must be prepared to lead by example and the
first thing they have to do as a Buddhist monk is to
have the Buddhist tattoo tattooed on them by a 'Shi Fu'
or 'Teacher'. Every 'new monk' has his own 'Shi Fu' and
the number of disciples a 'Shi Fu' will take will depend
on his own learning, and Fate.
Every
monk has a unique tattoo. His Shi Fu will choose a
sacred image to tattoo on him, according to the monk's
birth-date and sign. The designs range from dragons and
snakes, to leopards tigers and eagles. After the design
is chosen, the Shi Fu will chant the scriptures and
tattoo it on his disciple. Through his chanting, the
Shi Fu is using his own 'powers' to bless his new
disciple and the tattoo becomes a form of sacred
protection for the new monk, a 'talisman'.
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