Learn from Master Tevent Say

Sak Yant Master Tevent is now taking the time to impart his old knowledge and skill set to the upcoming generation of Sak Yant practitioners, much like other Masters who are senior citizens in our kingdom. Four young apprentices are studying under the master, and they have worked very hard to absorb as much knowledge as they could from him.
Being a monk, Master Teven started studying Khmer Sak Yant at the age of fifteen. 

Along with Master Say Tevent, Nan Pinthorn, Savorn Davin, Sim Sottoum, and Sim Sotoun, the founder of the Federation Khmer Sakyantra. We began this initiative in 2014 with the intention of preserving and promoting records of traditional Khmer Sakyant art. 
Among the goals are: to impart knowledge of our traditional Khmer tattoo art to the upcoming generation.
To join together, wish to prepare the previous regulations once more and distribute them to the educators who have arrived to observe upkeep and application.
to gather records on Khmer traditional tattoo art in order to add it to the national treasure when the time comes and the national institution requires it.

Every day, the younger generation receives instruction from the Federation Khmer Sakyantra.
The scope of learning is restricted to: 
- All students will become tattoo artists after a year or two of study.
- Following five years of training, all students will become sakyant artists instructors.
- All students will become  Specializing in sakyant art after completing their eight years of education.
-Following ten or twelve years of study, every student will graduate as a high level Sakyant Master.

Master Tevent is able to instruct not only the Khmer people who are studying Khmer culture, but also people from other countries.

The teacher, although being overburdened with responsibilities, makes an effort to teach the upcoming generation of pupils out of love and a desire to pass on knowledge and support the growth of this culture.

These are a few of the new students activities that the teacher has been teaching. Since all of these subjects are difficult for teachers to teach, they appear to learn extremely carefully.

In addition to learning about this Sakyant art, students also need to learn about education, meditation, and how to be decent citizens, good people, and decent family members.

Learn from Master Ouk Eourn

Now a senior eitizen in our Kingdom, Sak Yant Master Ouk Ourn has been taking the time to pass his ancient knowledge & skillset on to the next generation of Sak Yant practitioners. Altogether, 5 young

apprentices from Federation Khmer Sak Yant studied hard.

Born in 1959 in the Kingdom of Cambodia,

Master Ouk Ourn began learning about Sak Yant at the age of 18 in the year 1977. His teacher's name was Minn. Master Ouk Ourn has survived many wars but has

managed to survive & continue his practice of ancient Khmer tattoo in Siem Reap province. He has a total of 45

years worth of experience & knowledge in Sak Yant.

One of our goals was to remind Khmer society of the master's name & identity when it comes to our traditional tattoo.

The master has been showing our

brothers skillset by using banana tree trunks. No need for paper notebooks, banana trunks are better. He's also taken the time to show them his style of creating the

harpoon like instrument (Dong Sak) our ancestors used to sak or hand tap ink into our bodies. It is still used today.  Master Ouk Ourn uses a type of Khmer wood called Pdav.

Other rituals like the blessing/activation from Sak Yant

master (kru) who gives the Yantra tattoo to the receiver as

well as the Bay Sei (offering) ritual were also reviewed.

Since each master has a slightly different style, it is very

important for Sombath & the others to learn how Master

Ouk Ourn prefers to do his Khmer Sak Yant rituals so they are

educated on the variations that exist. This way, even if Master

Ouk Ourn is gone one day, his teachings will still survive &

can be passed down to the next generation.

On the last day of their studies, all the young students paid their

respects to Master Ouk Ourn as artists of all crafts in Cambodia are

taught to do so: give credit to & show gratitude to their teachers.

 Sak Yant.

Master (Lok Kru) Ouk Ourn

Located in Siem Reap province,

this Lok Kru has 45 years worth of

experience. He teaches others to

practice their Sak technique by

using the interior areas of cut

banana tree trunks. Lok Kru Ouk

Ourn offers certificates to young

people who want to learn his

unique style & technique.

Larn from Master ( Luk Kru ) Phrom Tuoy

Like Master Ouk Ourn, Master Phrom Thoy is a senior citizen in

our Kingdom, Sak Yant Master Phrom Thoy  is now

taking the time to pass his ancient knowledge & skillset

on to the next generation of Sak Yant practitioners. One of these

young students learning from the master this week is my good

friend Sombath, who has sent me these photos & descriptions to

share here on IG with you all. Altogether, these 8 young

apprentices studied hard to learn what they could from the master.

Master Phrom Thoy  began learning about Khmer Sak Yant at the age of 15. He had 4 teachers: Master Hynch,

Master Linh, Master Lors & Master Leam. Phrom Thoy became

a Kru Sak Yant in 1970 & continued to tattoo even through the

Khmer Rouge period that began in 1975. People often sought

after Master Phrom Thoy to get a Sak Yant for protection & so

he risked his life to tattoo them in secrecy at night.

Like all the other traditional arts, Khmer Rouge wanted to

eliminate our culture & so during the war, Khmer Sak Yant

nearly vanished. After the Khmer Rouge were no longer in

power (c. 1979), Master Phrom Thoy worked hard to pass on the

traditional knowledge of his teachers so that we Khmer never

lose this aspect of our culture. Sombath explains: *Master

Phrom Thoy's hope is to educate new students to truly bring

back our sacred tradition of Sak Yant". This Master's technique

is to use the bamboo rod with a steel needle at the end. 
 

The master has been showing our brothers how to make traditional ink using charcoal & specific plants. The point of our Sak Yant is the meaning & function of the 

design, not in how neat or clean the lines or tattoo looks. Western aesthetics & Khmer traditions are not always aligned. 

Probably the most important part of Khmer Sak Yant are the 

rituals such as the offerings, blessings + activation between 

the student (who receives) & the master (who gives). The Kru 

who gives the Yantra to the receiver must be focused & 

balanced to give the Yantra the right komlang (strength) the 

wearer is hoping to carry with them. As each Kru have slightly 

different styles, it is very important for every students to learn how Master Phrom Thoy prefers to do his Khmer 

Sak Yant rituals so they are educated on the variations that 

exist. This way, when Phrom Thoy passes on, his teachings 

will still survive & can be passed down to the next generation. 

On the last day of their studies, all the artists paid their respects to

Master Phrom Thoy as artists of all crafts in Cambodia are taught to

do so: give credit to & show gratitude to their teachers.

Master (Lok Kru) Phrom Touy.

Located in Preah Dak, Siem Reap

province, Lok Kru credits four

different teachers for teaching him

how to Sak. He was learning how to

tattoo prior to the genocide in the

early 70's. His distinct style of using

steel needles & making his own ink

from charcoal + special plants

makes his Sak unique.

Larn from Master ( Luk Kru ) Rerng Saream

Located in Battambang, close to the

Banon temple, Lok Kru Rerng

Saream spent time with the

members of Federation Khmer Sak

Yantra in 2023 to show they how to

create Baysei offerings. He also

showed them his technique of using

the interior rods of an umbrella to

be dismantled & then used for Sak.

He's also taken the time to show them his style of creating the

harpoon like instrument (Dong Sak) our ancestors used to sak or hand tap ink into our bodies. It is still used today.  Our master  uses a type of Khmer wood called bamboo. 
Rerng Saream's hope is to educate new students to truly bring

back our sacred tradition of Sak Yant". This Master's technique

is to use the bamboo rod with a steel needle at the end. 

The master has been showing our brothers how to make traditional ink using charcoal & specific plants. The point of our Sak Yant is the meaning & function of the 

design, not in how neat or clean the lines or tattoo looks. Western aesthetics & Khmer traditions are not always aligned. 

Probably the most important part of Khmer Sak Yant are the 

rituals such as the offerings, blessings + activation between 

the student (who receives) & the master (who gives). The Kru 

who gives the Yantra to the receiver must be focused & 

balanced to give the Yantra the right komlang (strength) the 

wearer is hoping to carry with them. As each Kru have slightly 

different styles, it is very important for every students to learn how Master Rerng Saream prefers to do his Khmer 

Sak Yant rituals so they are educated on the variations that exist. This way, when Phrom Thoy passes on, his teachings 

will still survive & can be passed down to the next generation. 

On the last day of their studies, all the artists paid their respects to

Master  Rerng Saream as artists of all crafts in Cambodia are taught to

do so: give credit to & show gratitude to their teachers.

Larn from Master ( Luk Kru ) Pour Sambo

Located in Battambang, Lok Kru

Pour Sambo is known for his

mastery in both Sak Yant & Khmer

martial arts. In addition, Lok Kru's

distinct style of geometrical Yantra

patterns makes his style of Sak very

unique. Organized by Tevent Say,

Lok Kru authorized for young

artists to learn from him in

exchange for a certificate.

He's also taken the time to show us his style of creating the

bamboo stick like instrument (Dong Sak) our ancestors used to sak or hand tap ink into our bodies. It is still used today.  Master Pour Sambo uses a type of Khmer wood to use as Equipment. Pour Sambo's hope is to educate new students to truly bring

back our sacred tradition of Sak Yant". This Master's technique

is to use the bamboo rod with a steel needle at the end. 

The master has been showing our brothers how to make traditional ink using charcoal & specific plants. The point of our Sak Yant is the meaning & function of the 

design, not in how neat or clean the lines or tattoo looks. Western aesthetics & Khmer traditions are not always aligned. 

Everyone's only thought in class is to pay attention to the teacher and his instruction. Everybody picks up knowledge very carefully. Monks and other pupils are both involved in this learning.

On the last day of their studies, all the artists paid their respects to

Master Pour Sambo as artists of all crafts in Cambodia are taught to

do so: give credit to & show gratitude to their teachers.

Larn from Master Loth Bo

Master (Lok Kru) Loth Bo

Located in Siem Reap province, Lok

Kru Lot Bou's style of Sak Yant is

considered "clean" & "classic". At a

whopping 92 years of age, Lok Kru

is still strutting around & doing all

he can to write down his knowledge

for the next generation. Federation

members took a group trip to visit

Lok Kru in November 2023 where

he signed certificates for them.

He's also taken the time to show us his style of creating the

bamboo stick like instrument (Dong Sak) our ancestors used to sak or hand tap ink into our bodies. It is still used today.  Master Pour Sambo uses a type of Khmer wood to use as Equipment. Loth Bo's hope is to educate new students to truly bring back our sacred tradition of Sak Yant". This Master's technique is to use the bamboo rod with a steel needle at the end. 

The master has been showing our brothers how to make traditional ink using charcoal & specific plants. The point of our Sak Yant is the meaning & function of the 

design, not in how neat or clean the lines or tattoo looks. Western aesthetics & Khmer traditions are not always aligned. 

Everyone's only thought in class is to pay attention to the teacher and his instruction. Everybody picks up knowledge very carefully. Monks and other pupils are both involved in this learning.

Probably the most important part of Khmer Sak Yant are the 

rituals such as the offerings, blessings + activation between 

the student (who receives) & the master (who gives). The Kru 

who gives the Yantra to the receiver must be focused & 

balanced to give the Yantra the right komlang (strength) the 

wearer is hoping to carry with them. As each Kru have slightly 

different styles, it is very important for every students to learn how Master  Loth Bo prefers to do his Khmer 

Sak Yant rituals so they are educated on the variations that 

exist. This way, when Phrom Thoy passes on, his teachings 

will still survive & can be passed down to the next generation. 

On the last day of their studies, all the artists paid their respects to

Master Loth Bo as artists of all crafts in Cambodia are taught to

do so: give credit to & show gratitude to their teachers.

Master Sun Phat

Located in Battambang, Lok Kru

Sun Phat is known for his

mastery in both Sak Yant & Khmer

martial arts. In addition, Lok Kru's

distinct style of geometrical Yantra

patterns makes his style of Sak very

unique. Organized by Master Tevent Say,

Lok Kru authorized for young

artists to learn from him in

exchange for a certificate.

He's also taken the time to show us his style of creating the

bamboo stick like instrument (Dong Sak) our ancestors used to sak or hand tap ink into our bodies. It is still used today.  Master Pour Sambo uses a type of Khmer wood to use as Equipment. Sun Phat's hope is to educate new students to truly bring back our sacred tradition of Sak Yant". This Master's technique is to use the bamboo rod with a steel needle at the end. 

The master has been showing our brothers how to make traditional ink using charcoal & specific plants. The point of our Sak Yant is the meaning & function of the 

design, not in how neat or clean the lines or tattoo looks. Western aesthetics & Khmer traditions are not always aligned. 

Everyone's only thought in class is to pay attention to the teacher and his instruction. Everybody picks up knowledge very carefully. Monks and other pupils are both involved in this learning.

Probably the most important part of Khmer Sak Yant are the 

rituals such as the offerings, blessings + activation between 

the student (who receives) & the master (who gives). The Kru 

who gives the Yantra to the receiver must be focused & 

balanced to give the Yantra the right komlang (strength) the 

wearer is hoping to carry with them. As each Kru have slightly 

different styles, it is very important for every students to learn how Master  Sun Phat prefers to do his Khmer 

Sak Yant rituals so they are educated on the variations that 

exist. This way, when Phrom Thoy passes on, his teachings 

will still survive & can be passed down to the next generation. 

On the last day of their studies, all the artists paid their respects to

Master Sun Phat as artists of all crafts in Cambodia are taught to

do so: give credit to & show gratitude to their teachers.