A Brief History of Bamboo Tattoo

Not Pins & Needles, It's Bamboo!

In Thailand, nearly all Buddhist men become monks at some point in their lives to better understand their complex religion. During this time they are tattooed with religious texts to show the strength of their faith. Despite these deeply religious origins, tattoos are not currently mainstream in Thailand and largely seen, as historically in western culture, to be popular amongst criminals. This has only recently begun to change but nevertheless the art of bamboo tattooing is dying out with prevalence of learning to tattoo with a machine as it is easier to learn.

Monk Using Bamboo For Tattooing

It is difficult to pinpoint the exact origins of Bamboo Tattoo Art as the practice is so old the history is almost lost, being tied up with myth and legend. Many countries in South East Asia lay claim to be the birthplace of this ancient art form. However, it is generally believed to have originated in the Khmer period around 3000 years ago. There have been mummies found in the Philippines with bamboo tattoos still visible, block bands around the calf with tribal hierarchy significance