(Photo: Peter Klashorst)
The Sak Yant tattooing tradition from Cambodia is shrouded in mystery. The ink is said to contain snake venom, among other ingredients:
Sak Yant (or Sak Yan and Yantra) were tattoos engraved by Buddhist monks, Brahman masters and Ruesi ascetics into the warriors who sought protection and strength in battle. These are believed to give the warrior good health, luck, strength, and protection against evil. The Sak Yant artist punctures the skin with the use of a sharpened long steel rod or bamboo called mai sak dipped in ink that may be made of snake venom, charcoal, herbs, or cigarette ash. But no one really knows what’s in the ink since it’s a secret only known by the monks.
This is 1 of 7 tattoo styles from around the world rounded up by When on Earth. Other nations among the contributors are the Philippines, Japan, New Zealand, and China.