Thailand's Biggest Tourist Scam?

The so-called "Traditional Thai Bamboo Tattoos" are actually a recent trend, starting in 2003, driven by tattoo artists capitalizing on the popularity of Angelina Jolie's Sak Yant. Historically, Sak Yant tattoos have never been done using bamboo. Tattoo artists only began offering "Traditional Thai Bamboo Tattoos" about 20 years ago.

The Allure of the Traditional Thai Bamboo Tattoo

These tattoos have gained popularity as unique souvenirs, allowing travelers to carry a piece of Thailand’s culture back home. Marketed as more than just art, they suggest a connection to the country’s spiritual heritage, inspired by traditional Sak Yant designs. However, the link between Sak Yant tattoos and bamboo tattoos for tourists has never existed. In reality, "Traditional Thai Tattoo" and "Bamboo Tattoo" are marketing terms for one of Thailand’s biggest tourist scams.

When tourists sought tattoos like Angelina Jolie’s, tattoo shops attached needles to chopsticks, creating "Bamboo Tattoos." Initially, it was the Sak Yant designs that tourists wanted, so tattoo shops fabricated a false history, promoting their new bamboo tattoos as part of Thailand’s traditions. This false history was perpetuated by bloggers copying information from websites, making the tourist bamboo tattoo scam mainstream.

What are Traditional Thai Tattoos? - Bamboo Tattoo

The Traditional Thai Tattoo using the hand-poked method, often marketed as a Bamboo Tattoo, is advertised in tattoo parlors across Thailand. So why is this considered a tourist scam?

Bamboo Tattoo Scam

There is a significant difference between receiving a fake Sak Yant at a bamboo tattoo shop and getting the real one from a monk or Sak Yant master. The terms "Bamboo Tattoo" and "Traditional Thai Tattoo" are used almost exclusively by:

• Tattoo Artists and Shops: These entities originally promoted the term "Bamboo Tattoo" after it was used in Western media to describe Angelina Jolie's Thai Sak Yant in 2003. They continue to associate their modern art with the historical and spiritual significance of the genuine Sak Yant experience.

• Travel Bloggers/Vloggers: Many of them highlight their hand-poked bamboo tattoo experiences in Thailand. Lacking time for thorough research, they often copy and paste incorrect information, confusing genuine spiritual Sak Yant tattoos with the ordinary tattoo art they received at the shops.

The earliest reference to Sak Yant tattooing is found in the 1881 book "Temples and Elephants" by Carl Bocke. He describes the ink-making process and the application of Sak Yant with a solid steel needle, with no mention of bamboo.

Recreating a False History of the Bamboo Hand-Poke Tattoo

Almost all online information about the history of bamboo tattoos and their association with traditional Thai tattoos or hand-poke tattoos is incorrect. Articles, blogs, and various media often claim:

1. The Traditional Thai Tattoo was done using a bamboo needle with a hand-poked method.
2. These Traditional Thai Bamboo Tattoos were highly prized and considered magical talismans performed by monks.
3. Using this traditional and ancient hand-poked method, you can benefit from the magic powers and spiritual significance because they use the same designs and methods.

These claims are part of a fabricated history, perpetuated to market modern tattoo practices as authentic cultural experiences.

Separating Bamboo Tattoo Myth from Reality

Myth 1: The Traditional Thai Tattoo was a 'Hand-Poke' Method Using Bamboo

Reality: Metal tattoo tools have been available and used in Thailand for thousands of years. A bamboo tattoo was something done in jail, not part of traditional Thai Sak Yant's. Traditional Thai tattoos, known as Sak Yants, were and are still done using a metal or steel needle with the hand-poke technique. Before modern tattoo machines and shops, hand-poking was the only method available.

Bamboo Tattoos: While bamboo tattoos might have occurred thousands of years ago when tattooing first developed in Thailand and Cambodia, bamboo is too light and requires extensive effort to pierce the skin. It is also painful and unhygienic. Thailand has been using copper and bronze for 4000 years, materials that were used to make tattooing tools. Given the availability of metal, there was no need to use bamboo for tattoos. There is no historical evidence to suggest that traditional Thai tattoos (Sak Yants) ever used bamboo needles or tools. References to bamboo tattooing in Thailand have only appeared in the last 20 years.

Myth 2: The Traditional Thai Tattoo is a Highly Prized Spiritual & Magic Talisman

Reality: This is true, but only when referring to the Sak Yant tattoo, not the bamboo tattoos done at parlors. Until modern tattoo parlors emerged, tattoos in Thailand were predominantly done by monks and Sak Yant masters. These traditional Thai hand-poke tattoos included a blessing from a magical practitioner, empowering them with spiritual and magical benefits. The spiritual significance of real Sak Yant tattoos comes from the blessings given by holy men knowledgeable in magical arts. The design was less important than the magical script and blessing. This statement is true only for real Sak Yants, not the replicas made by tattoo artists.

Myth 3: Getting a Bamboo Tattoo in Thailand Has Magic Powers and Spiritual Significance

Reality: It is disrespectful to customers and Thai Buddhist culture to pretend that a tattoo from a shop has special meaning and significance. The significance of a Sak Yant tattoo comes from the magical blessings given by a holy man, not from the traditional or hand-poked method or design. Tattoo artists making replicas lack the training in magical arts or spirituality to bless their tattoos. They rely on tourists' ignorance, as Thai people would never get a Sak Yant from a tattoo shop. For a full explanation, read "Why You Don’t Get a Sak Yant from a Tattoo Shop."

The bottom line is that tattoo artists know they are creating fakes devoid of meaning and understand it is disrespectful to Thai culture. They exploit tourists' lack of knowledge, as genuine Sak Yants are deeply rooted in spiritual discipline and blessings.

The Real History of Bamboo Tattoos in Thailand - Condensed Version

The concept of the Bamboo Tattoo in Thailand emerged solely for tourists, spurred by American media coverage of Angelina Jolie's Sak Yant tattoo in 2003. The term "Bamboo Tattoo" was coined by international media, and tourists began requesting it. Tattoo artists responded by attaching a tattoo machine needle to a chopstick, transforming what was known as a prison tattoo into a tourist attraction. There is no authentic connection to traditional Thai hand-poke tattoos, which were done with steel needles by holy men and monks.

Beginning of Getting a Bamboo Tattoo in Thailand

When modern tattooing began in Thailand, non-sacred tattoos were initially associated with the poor and criminal classes. To combat these low-class impressions, tattoo artists emphasized modern methods and designs, distancing themselves from traditional practices to appear modern, different, and safe.

Before 2003, few, if any, tattoo shops offered traditional Thai hand-poke bamboo tattoos. Receiving a tattoo with a bamboo needle was something associated with jail, not the image the modern tattoo industry wanted. If you check the "established in" year of tattoo shops advertising "Traditional Thai Tattoo" or "Bamboo Tattoo" in Thailand, you will rarely find any established before 2004-2005.

Angelina Jolie’s 2003 Sak Yant Tattoo

In 2003, Angelina Jolie received her first Sak Yant tattoo. The international media referred to it as a "Bamboo Tattoo," which sparked interest among both spiritual seekers and fashion-conscious tourists eager to replicate her experience.

Tourists began approaching tattoo shops in Thailand, requesting a Bamboo Tattoo like Angelina Jolie's. Tattoo artists adapted by attaching a machine needle to the end of a chopstick, providing what the customers wanted. Initially, only Sak Yant designs were offered using this hand-poke bamboo method, while machines were used for other non-sacred designs.

Thai people recognized that this was essentially a "prison tattoo" being presented as a sacred part of their tradition, which they found disrespectful. However, tourists were unaware of this and believed they were participating in an ancient and historical Thai tradition.

With many individuals trying to make a living as tattoo artists, the misconception was quickly encouraged and soon became the main source of income for most tattoo shops. The demand for these so-called "Bamboo Tattoos" grew, perpetuating the false association with traditional Thai hand-poke tattoos.

Thailand's Biggest Tourist Scam - The Traditional Thai Bamboo Tattoo

Important to Note: Not all tattoo artists and shops engage in this activity. Many tattoo artists in Thailand are Buddhists who respect the traditional and ethical values associated with the Sak Yant. Some bamboo tattoo artists will outright refuse to provide Sak Yants but will use the hand-poke method for normal designs. Some artists will inform the customer that this is an artistic replica and not the real thing. However, most bamboo tattoo shops and artists operate on a "don't ask, don't tell" basis. If the customer does not ask if what they are providing is a real Sak Yant, the tattoo shop will happily take their money.

How Tattoo Shops Scam Tourists with Bamboo Tattoos and Fake Sak Yants

Sak Yant Tattoos are a traditional Thai form of tattooing involving sacred geometrical designs. They are incredibly intricate, and each element has a specific meaning for the wearer. These tattoos have strong ties to religion and spirituality. The bamboo tattoos made at tattoo parlors across Thailand have nothing to do with the traditional Sak Yant, despite attempts to make the connection. The most common methods of providing fake Sak Yants to tourists include:

1. Stolen Valor - Associating the Significance of the Real Sak Yant to Fake Bamboo Tattoo Designs

The claims that a bamboo tattoo from a tattoo artist has any association with the real and traditional Sak Yant traditions are incorrect. This is essentially stealing the valor and significance of the Sak Yant tattoo and what it represents to Thai culture.

A real Sak Yant master spends years learning how to read, write, and chant the magic words in a design and the blessings appropriate to each magical spell. They are required to live a strict life of rules to qualify to administer the Sak Yant ritual.

A tattoo artist has no knowledge of the meaning of the Sak Yant bamboo tattoo designs nor the ability to bless and magically empower the tattoo. Creating a replica design of something they do not understand and passing it off as "traditional" or having any spiritual significance is unethical and disrespectful.

2. Traditional Thai Bamboo Tattoo Designs and Meaning

Tattoo shops display Sak Yant designs on their shop windows, Google adverts, Facebook pages, and websites, referring to them as traditional bamboo tattoo designs. Sak Yant masters purposely make these designs incorrect so that only trained Ajarns can read, spot mistakes, and change the magical text.

Some tattoo artists might say this is their "modern take" or "artistic representation" of the classic and traditional design. However, this artwork is devoid of meaning, significance, or spirituality. Worse, a tattoo shop will charge you 2-5 times more for the fake than a real Sak Yant master will charge for the authentic experience.

Providing information about bamboo tattoo designs online to lure unsuspecting tourists into getting that design is not ethical. Calling them traditional Thai bamboo tattoos while knowing there is zero traditional or cultural history to what you are doing suggests a lack of any real ethics or spirituality they are trying to associate with the tattoo.

3. Tourists Can’t Read the Magical Text

Tattoo artists in Thailand are unable to read or alter the script and design elements. Instead, they copy the gibberish and count on the tourist having even less idea about the legitimacy of the design and magical elements than themselves.

Real Sak Yant masters, when they create and make available Sak Yant designs, usually include meaningless text that they understand and will remove and replace with authentic spells that have blessing chants.

Since it is unlikely that a tourist going to a tattoo parlor will know what the text says, it is unlikely that the artist will be questioned or face any responsibility for not knowing either.

The lack of knowledge on the part of the tourist, and sometimes the lack of caring about the tradition, has allowed tattoo artists to continue making fake replicas, pretending they are part of Thailand’s traditions without much resistance.

The Thai Bamboo Tattoo Scam that Became a Modern 'Tradition'

The Rise of Hand Poke Bamboo Tattoos

Thailand's tattoo artists have created a new trend, producing impressive tattoos using the hand poke method. Initially, the bamboo tattoo craze in Thailand began as a strategy to capitalize on false associations with Sak Yant traditions. However, the industry quickly mastered the art of hand poke tattooing, creating intricate designs.

The Traditional Thai Tattoo: Thailand’s New Trend

The popularity of hand poke bamboo tattoos has become a cornerstone of Thailand’s tattoo industry. Thai artists have gained a global reputation for their skill in creating beautiful bamboo tattoos using the hand poke method. Training schools have emerged to teach this unique technique to meet tourist demand.

Satisfying Tourist Demand

Thai bamboo tattoos primarily cater to tourists. Given the choice, most tattoo artists prefer using machines for finer lines and better detail. Inside the parlor, artists often recommend the machine method over hand poke.

Quick Answers to Common Questions

1) What is the difference between a Bamboo Tattoo and a Sak Yant Tattoo?

• Bamboo Tattoo: A modern hand poke method using a machine needle attached to a piece of wood. Rarely involves actual bamboo. It is a marketing term aimed at tourists, offering a unique experience. Thai locals typically do not get Bamboo Tattoos.
• Sak Yant Tattoo: An ancient, spiritual tradition involving sacred images and magical text, applied by a holy man using the hand poke method. It includes:
  1. The Design
  2. The Magic Text
  3. The Sacred Blessing

2) Is it Disrespectful to get a Bamboo Tattoo?

• Not Disrespectful: If it’s a hand poked design that is not a Sak Yant replica. It’s fine if you want a different design using this method.
• Disrespectful: If you want a sacred Sak Yant design, you must go to a real Sak Yant Master.

3) Can Anyone get a Bamboo Tattoo?

• Yes: Bamboo Tattoos are aimed at tourists and hold no cultural or spiritual significance. Anyone can get one from a tattoo shop.
• No: For a spiritual Sak Yant design, you need an authentic Sak Yant Master.

4) Can I Get a Bamboo Tattoo Near Me?

• Yes: In the past 20 years, Bamboo Tattoos have become widely available in almost every tattoo shop in Thailand. However, remember that a Bamboo Tattoo is different from a real Sak Yant Tattoo, which requires an authentic Sak Yant Master.

For more information about Sak Yant tattoo, including origins, history, designs and the meanings behind each patterns, taboos, and the divine energy and incantations, click Sakyant.info to learn more.

Souce from own experience and Wikipedia Google Scholar BBC Medium Sak Yant Tattoo in Thailand: All You Need to Know Before You Go – wayward wayfarer