The art of bamboo tattoos is said to be slowly vanishing due to the ease and simplicity of the machine being widely used throughout the world.

However, with recent popularization by celebrities such as Angelina Jolie famously visiting Thailand specifically to get a bamboo tattoo, it has prompted an increase in knowledge of the art form, intriguing the western culture and providing hope for the future of the bamboo tattoo. Because of this there have been many people visiting Buddhist Temples and getting tattooed by monks to symbolize their time in Thailand.

A brief taste of History…

It is said that the bamboo tattoo originated from over 3000 years ago in the Khmer period. Bamboo tattoos began in Buddhist Temples with the Monks themselves carrying out the art with the use of India ink and prayers would often be said during this event with family often being at the devotees side. The Khmer tradition of the these tattoos usually requires that the person receiving this tattoo to not speak to anyone for 3 days and 3 nights and if he so happens to break this silence, he must follow the 5-holy Buddhist Abstinence for the rest of his life and be unable to steal, cheat, kill, become intoxicated by alcohol or even lust after a woman.

These tattoos would act as protection against their enemies rather than for its appearance and look. It is believed that with these religious scriptures and words of strength, their enemies would be unable to see them and harm them in any way.

Your first Bamboo Tattoo

The bamboo tattoo is said to be less painful than using the machine and draws little or no blood at all. However this may not be the case for those of you that have chosen tattoo ideas for awkward body parts!

Those who are considering getting this done on their next trip to Thailand, must be aware that this is a traditional art form that is not necessarily as clean and sterile as your local tattoo parlor would be. It is not unlikely that the equipment will be used more than once, so it is always advisable to be the first one there to avoid any infection.

Yet, with an increase in interest and with a little luck we could see this traditional method becoming even more wide spread and introduced to more of our cities worldwide.