Vat Kok Bap. Luang Prabang, Laos. The Sak Yan (protection tattoos) tradition in Laos is much diminished. Sak Yan are the mystica


Monk has his head shaved in the Mekong River as part of his ordination as a monk. Sak Yan are the mystical 'protection' tattoos very popular in Thailand. They also exist in Laos in a form close to that of the Northern Thai Lanna tradition. They are no longer popular though and come with some stigma attached. The Communist Authorities also frown on the practice. Vat Kok Bap, near Luang Prabang on the banks of the Mekong is one of the few 'Sak Yan' temples still in existence in Laos where tattooing still takes place. The Abbott of Vat Kok Bap is Ajahn Sai.


Size: 3312px × 4416px
Photo credit: © Dan White - Sacred Tattoos of Thailand / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: abhiseka, ajahn, ajarn, akhom, akkhara, amnaat, animism, animist, asia, bap, bless, blessed, blessing, buddha, buddhaguna, buddhist, ceremony, charisma, chk, consecrated, consecration, culture, dan, disciple, disciples, east, evil, fashion, fortunate, fortune, guru, haa, head, holy, ink, kae, khae, khaum, khaung, khem, khmer, khong, khru, kok, krapan, kru, kuti, laap, lao, laos, lineage, luang, luck, lucky, luksit, luuk, luuksit, magic, magical, mantra, master, mekhong, mekong, metta, meuk, monastery, monastic, monk, monks, mysterious, mystery, mystical, nai, needle, ordain, ordination, pali, phee, phi, pho, pluuk, poen, power, powerful, prabang, protect, protection, pu, religion, religious, reusee, river, robe, robes, rows, sacred, sage, sai, sak, samnak, script, sehk, shave, shaved, shaving, siam, sit, skin, south, strength, strong, tattoo, tattoos, teach, teacher, temple, temples, thaew, thai, thailand, tradition, traditional, trance, vat, violence, wai, wat, white, yan, yant, yantra