THINK OF INK: AJARN THONG, SAK YANT THAILAND...
Tattoo 'grandmaster' Ajarn Thong booming in SingaporeWhen Ben Loke wanted to boost his financial prospects, he approached neither his banker nor his broker. Instead, the 35-year-old company executive asked a professional tattooist to ink on his back a sak yant religious symbol, which he hoped would bring him wealth and happeiness.
"I'm a Buddhist, and the scriptures that are being tattooed on my back will give me some protection," he said as he prepared to go under a needle wielded by a visiting Thai expert.
The sak yant form of tattooing originared in Thailand and is gaining popularity in Singapore, a predominantly ethnic Chinese city-state with a strong Buddhist and Taoist tradition.
Sak yant tattoos - mainly inscriptions of religious texts and animals as well as deity figures - are believed by Buddhists to bring good fortune, courage and self-confidence.
This is Loke's second sak yant tattoo and sits beneath a dragon surrounded by lines of Buddhist text.
Tattoos have come a long way in Singapore. Once associated with gangsters, they're now widely used as expressions of individuality, fashion statements or invitations to divine assistance.
Willie Heng, a sales executive at Fo Guang Hang, a company specialising in sak yant tattooing, welcomes the growing acceptance of the practice.
"Sak yant is now widely embraced by the general population because of people's need for a form of spiritual support, aided by the social acceptance of tattoos," he says.
More than 300 tattoo artists from around the world, including Chris Garner of the hit television series Miami Ink, attended the recent Singapore Tat2 Show, but it was Fo Guang Hang's tattooo specialist Ajarn Thong, 60, who drew one of the largest crowds.
Business was so good that Thong, a Thai sak yant" grandmaster" who flew to Singapore for the show, had to extend his stay after the event to attend to all his customers, Heng says.
While some get tattoos just for show, many of Fo Guang Hang's clients are businessmen looking to use the powers of sak yant to change their fortunes in the wake of the global recession, Heng says.
"They come for luck."
Christopher Tan, 28, who owns sak yant tattoo shop Siam Ink, has had customers from diverse age groups and backgrounds.
"I got students, bankers, office ladies, PR girls, all kinds of job scrope," he says, adding that the tattoos provide "spiritual support" in times of hardship.
"Singapore has a lot of Chinese Buddhists, and many of them believe in this," says Ajarn Thong.
Tattooists say Singapore also attracts believers from other countries who fly in for sak yant tattoos.
Badr Fyrkree, a banker and amateur muay thai boxer from the United Arab Emirates, travelled to Singapore specially to have two tattoos inked onto the back of his hands by Thong.
"I got a power punch and a speed tattoo, and it's spiritually based to help you not just with your fighting, but with your living," he says.
Caption Ben Loke
In Singapore, customers queue for 'sak yant' tattoos to boost their financial prospects - or their chances in the boxing ring.
Ajarn Thong uses a traditional needle and 'blessed ink' to inscribe a sacred tattoo on a client's nape.
'Sak Yant' originated in Thailand and is gaining popularity in Singapore.
cho's talk: I'm the one who received the colourless oil sak yant tatoos from Grandmaster Thong many times in Thailand.I'm pround to read those article that my grandmaster Thong gaining sak yant Thailand popularity in Singapore.
many thanks sak yant article from PHILIP LIM/AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE-NATION 16 FEB 2010contact Ms.Cho cho.khalong@hotmail.com additional photo related grandmaster Thong in Thailand http://khalong.com/board/viewthread.php?tid=1250&extra=page%3D1copy to khalong.com
ขอบคุณครับ It is the pride of the Thai. Older people and inculcate inscription Thai people love and cherish in Buddhism to future generations to help preserve the land, the Thai partner.
ไหน ๆก็ไหน ๆแล้วอังกฤษตามเจ้าเมืองเเล้วกัน{:2_26:} แก้ไขล่าสุด พาลี เมื่อ 26-3-2010 10:17
I am very proud to be disciple of Grandmaster Thong and very proud to have his great ancient Thai Tattoo onto my back. I think he is the true thing.
With my the best respect to him; my Master Thong
Pharli แก้ไขล่าสุด pal เมื่อ 26-3-2010 13:13
ผมว่าต่อไปอาจารย์ทองต้องดังในต่างแดนแน่นนอน{:3_52:} I am very proud to be disciple of Grandmaster Thong and very proud to have his great ancient Thai Ta ...
ต้นฉบับโพสโดย พาลี เมื่อ 26-3-2010 10:16 http://khalong.com/board/images/common/back.gif
oops! we've a new friend here.. It's great if you can show me..and/or all Khalong Citizen too..what's on your skin พาลี?...
By the way, I just took oil sak yant (metta maha-niyom) today! That's great for my birthday celebration! ขอบคุณครับ .
พยายามอ่่านนะเนี่ย นับถือๆอ.จ.เก่ง..ลูกก็เก่ง.สวยด้วย ขอบคุณครับ .
พยายามอ่่านนะเนี่ย
ต้นฉบับโพสโดย เอกอุ เมื่อ 29-3-2010 08:50 http://khalong.com/board/images/common/back.gif
thanks for your trying to read those sakyant article. we're provide for foriegner and/or some Thai understand in English language reader, don't panic ka Ek-U.. ผมว่าต่อไปอาจารย์ทองต้องดังในต่างแดนแน่นนอน ...
ต้นฉบับโพสโดย pal เมื่อ 26-3-2010 13:10 http://khalong.com/board/images/common/back.gif
he's very well known among Singaporian Malaysian and Hong Kong!!
Think of ink...kkkkkk
I want to sak ink.... Greetings from Singapore!
My name is Chong and I am a luksit of the Grandmaster Ajahn Thong.
Would like to share some info on Ajahn Thong in Singapore.
Hope to share more in the future!
Ajahn Thong has been performing Sak Yant for 16 over years. Throughout these years, Ajahn Thong has worked hard to earn himself a reputation of being the best in the business. Today in Singapore, the name Ajahn Thong is synonymous with Sak Yant of the highest quality in both aesthetic and spiritual aspects. Equipped with a keen eye for detail and humble persona, Ajahn Thong has gathered thousands of disciples in Singapore and Malaysia. Anyyone who has ever received a Yant from Ajahn Thong will know that he is not only a master but also a teacher of life and fatherly figure. An image of him smiling happily will always be etched into our minds.
In fact, Ajahn Thong had to overcome many setbacks and endure much heartbreak to be at where he is today. Fortunately for us, he never let this negativity affect him and his work. His love for his disciples triumphed over these obstacles. http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm71/williepower/DSCN3546-1.jpg
http://i1008.photobucket.com/albums/af208/Willie_power/DSCN4018-1.jpg http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm71/williepower/DSCN3442-1.jpg
Lady Rambo แก้ไขล่าสุด cho เมื่อ 16-5-2010 14:54
Hello... Chong!!
Welcome to Khalong Charming Town social network!!!
That's inspire me to thinking of INK....soonest!!
Firstly, I will ask my close friend get 'dragon' yant as soon as possible
MY DADDY THONG IS GORGEOUS!!! แก้ไขล่าสุด jakobchong เมื่อ 16-5-2010 14:10
Hi Cho,
Thank you for your warm welcome.
Yes, I strongly encourage you to get something done in ink.
How about this ?
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m312/jakobchong/DSC_0009.jpg
P.S. : Mae Thoraneeby Ajahn Chai of Lat Krabang, disciple of Ajahn Thong
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