Khmer Traditional Tattoos

Inscription means to write or mark a surface with words or letters. The earliest written language which has been found in the region was in Sanskrit, an Indian sacred language. The Khmer Language seems to appear with many of its characters and words derived from Sanskrit on stone. An oldest stone inscription written in Khmer language was found to be carved in 612 A.D. Many countries have laid claim to the birth of this ancient art, but it is believed to have originated from the Khmer period approximately 3,000 years ago.

Khmer’s Culture and Inscription:

Most Cambodians consider themselves to be Khmers. The area that is present-day Cambodia came under Khmer rule about 600, when the region was at the center of a vast empire that stretched over most of Southeast Asia. Under the Khmers, who were Hindus, a magnificent temple complex was constructed at Angkor. Buddhism was introduced in the 12th century during the rule of Jayavaram VII. However, the kingdom, then known as Kampuchea, fell into decline after Jayavaram's reign and were nearly annihilated by Thai and Vietnamese invaders. Its power steadily diminished until 1863, when France colonized the region, joining Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam into a single protectorate known as French Indochina.

Thearavada Buddhism is the official religion in Cambodia which is practiced by 95 percent of the population-- just like that of Thailand, Burma, Sri Lanka. However, Christianity and Cham Muslim are being active and popular among a large number of population as well in the capital and provinces, showing a sign of growth. Daoism and Confuism are also commonly practiced among the Chinese people.

The art of Tattooing has been practiced worldwide. The word tattoo is said to have two major derivations- from the polynesian word ‘ta’ which means striking something and the tahitian word ‘tatau’ which means ‘to mark something. The history of tattoo began over 5000 years ago and is as diverse as the people who wear them.

History:

The Khmer word, aksarsastra, generally defined as "literature", comes from the base, aksar, meaning letter or script. Thus studies of Khmer aksarsastra generally begin with the study of Khmer stone inscriptions. Rather than a complete review of all such works, what follows is only a brief glimpse of some of the different genres of Khmer literature and a sense of change over time. The earliest inscriptions in Khmer date from the 7th century AD The "classical" works of Khmer literature were written between the 16th and 19th centuries.

Unlike people from Western countries who wear tattoos for decoration or ego hikes, most Cambodians actually tattoo themselves only for self-protection. Khmers believe in Tantras and the magical power they harbour. Few would wear a tattoo just for show sake. People in Cambodia have tattoos on their body to ward off evil or harm and it is widely believed that a certain Yantra crafted by a monk or a holy person on the chest of a believer, will even bounce off a bullet or fragments from a hand grenade.

Sak yant is a form of sacred tattooing practiced in Cambodia, home of Khmer Empire. In Cambodia, the tattoo is used for self protection and Cambodian believes that this will protect them from evil and hardship. These tattoos guarantee about self protection, prevention of physical harm, achievement and magical effect that why they are more popular among military personnel.

Angelina Jolie:

Famous Hollywood film star actress Angelina Jolie also has the tattoo on her left shoulder is a Buddhist Pali incantation written in Khmer script. It is there to protect her and her adopted Cambodian son Maddox from bad luck.

And the translation of that Khmer script is:

  • May your enemies run far away from you
  • If you acquire riches, may they remain yours always
  • Your beauty will be that of Apsara. (a celestial dancer in Khmer mythology)
  • Wherever you may go, many will attend, serve and protect you, surrounding you on all sides

She's regularly featured in celebrity news magazines and websites with one of her new tattoo designs. She has at least a dozen tattoos over her body and she also has quiet a lot experience with tattoo removal.

Different School of Thoughts:

Buth Raksmey, 47 year old former military officer at Cambodian-Thai camp mentioned that Pali scripts were tattooed on his body, including forearms, legs, head, and face. They are inscribed for protection from bullets, knives, spears, murdering attempts from the enemy and being poisoned on food. He describe that Pali scripts on his body were the ones inscribed or tattooed by a famous and magical monk and others were done by an honest person at the time he was a military officer in 1984. He further explained that the inscriptions on his body required many taboos including no steal or robs of property, no life abuse, being unfaithful with other’s wife, no rape, no offense, being honest, following five moral practices and avoids crawling below dress’s dry hanger and in particular being away from women’s underwear. Buth Raksmey added that few animal meats should be avoided from eating including meats of dog, cat, snake and pangolin; and fruits including carambola and gourd; if they were eaten, the magic inscribed would be varnished.

Buth Raksmey pointed out the study which describes inscription on body has been existed since Angkor Era in which the people inscribed were heads of troops and troops and in this generation there were some people inscribed in Pali scripts which helped preserve traditional culture but he noticed that some young adults were popular to be tattooed in dragon, eagle, snake, lion or wrestler shapes to brag about himself or to be frightened from others, no any protection. He further explained that as his notices, someone tattooed in dragon, snake, lion or other animal shapes became robber, gangster and ultimately they were jailed.

Even American also spoke in CTN (Connecticut Network) television news channel about Khmer and they share their views about Khmer.

28 years old Khuon Ratha, owner of Lyna Beauty and Tattoo of #81 said that at the first time, the tattoo mentor taught us how to draw on paper for 2 years; then the mentor taught us to tattoo on pig leather for 6 months; and I started tattooing on people’s body for almost 10 years. He studied tattoo from a Vietnamese mentor; after he was proficient, he started tattoo business himself. He explained that within this past 10 years, his tattoo business has been done well in which the tattoo of snake or dragon was charged from USD 300-400. The tattoo on arm costs from USD 40-50 (one arm). Tattoo of eagle on chest costs USD 80-100. He further explained that the people who has been tattooed including young adults and foreigners which were both male and female. Khuon Ratha added that Cambodian and Vietnamese women coming for tattoo were young sex workers or modern women who liked being tattooed in flower, butterfly on her waist or chest; and Cambodian and Vietnamese people liked being tattooed in dragon, snake, lion, eagle and etc.

Khuon Ratha explained that the same needle was not used for all tattoos of clients; one needle was used for one person and after that new needle was used for another tattoo. This prevented infection of AIDS, hepatitis through blood on the needle and it also prevented from Tetanus and etc. Needles and paints for tattoo were imported from Thailand, Vietnam and other countries. He further said that he did not know the magic but in the past he inscribed or tattooed in a Buddha shape for clients too and then the clients went to magician or monk to magic wax for happiness as they preferred.

Ph.D. Michelle Tranee, professor majoring in archeology and Cambodian culture explained that inscription on body or leather showed life of human being with nature, religion and belief on abstracts, magic through religion and nature. He described Cambodian people believed in nature and religion for thousand years in which in year 2-3 BC, there were beliefs on Brama religion tattooing in shapes of earth, sun, water, animal, magic scripts, Buddha and other divinities. Tattooing on body showed love and acknowledgement to the nature, animal and the belief that magic, Pali scripts and other shapes were able to empower them as the religion and to help for happiness and could have any type of effect.

Michelle Tranee added that for the tribes, they were popular in tattoo shapes of dragon, swan or other divinities as in their belief. He also explained that tattoo on body had been existed very long time in all nations in the world, not only Cambodian, in which the human being showed love and living with nature and relation between human being with religions and marvelous divinities in the world.

Tattoo shape is a type of thing existed with human since ancient time. The purpose of tattoo varies from one to another in which tattoo on body means the belief of magic or any other purposes. This tattoo shape stays still and there is no any way to help delete this tattoo shape. Tattoo on skin to become a shape as needed is to enable coloring elements to skin layers under the epidermis.

Coloring elements stay on the skin layer that’s the reason why it is difficult to delete; but through current modern medical sciences, they will apply a cell named Macrophages around the premise to infiltrate into the cell.

Macrophages apply on coloring elements and are broken in case those coloring elements are not too large or they are able to send these elements into the deep skin slowly in order to delete the tattoo.

For the one who wish to delete the tattoo, a current quick way is to use laser layer to break the elements in the skin and become small invisible elements.

Tattoo on different body parts and the belief of people behind is different according to their own perception. Tattoos on humans are a type of decorative body modification, while tattoos on animals are most commonly used for identification or branding.

In the United States many prisoners and criminal gangs use distinctive tattoos to indicate facts about their criminal behavior, prison sentences, and organizational affiliation Tear tattoo, for example, can be symbolic of murder, with each tear representing the death of a friend. At the same time, members of the U.S. military have an equally well established and longstanding history of tattooing to indicate military units, battles, kills, etc., an association which remains widespread among older Americans. Tattooing is also common in the British Armed Forces.

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