THE EVOLUTION OF THAI SACRED TATTOOS: FROM SACRED RITUALS TO BODY ART

Abstract

This article aims to examine the evolution of Thai sacred tattoos from the past to the present by considering factors of belief, culture, and society that influence the change of sacred tattoos in each period. The results show that Thai sacred tattoos have evolved from sacred rituals that have been with Thai society since ancient times into body art that has become widely popular nowadays. This change has caused the patterns, designs, and meanings of the tattoos to become more diverse, while the sacred value has decreased. However, Thai sacred tattoos are still valuable wisdom that should be preserved and passed on to future generations.