Magic Tattoos
Ratanakiri, Cambodia, 2008.
I love this story from the LA Times on the fading art of the magic tattoo in Cambodia. For 2,000 years, Khmer warriors and "strong men" have relied on the magic symbols to protect them from harm and boost their powers. Today, the art form appears to be a casualty of Cambodia's peace. There are fewer bullets flying, and fewer people see the need to ink their bodies with protective designs.
The art is still alive and well in Ratanakiri, where Kieng, a young Tampuon man I worked with, proudly showed off the tattoos his spirit healer father inked for him with a bamboo needle. He got his first, the eagle head on his left forearm, at age 14. It protects him from evil spirits. “When I have this, I don’t worry about spirits,” he said. The eagle is a bad spirit, gone away from my body. Fire can do everything. It can cook, burn, create, destroy."
Like most tattoo recipients, Kieng was hooked. He wants full-sleeve arm tattoos with colors. “If people see lots of tattoos, they know you can handle a lot of pain,” he told me.
The LA Times reporter got similar recommendations from Khmer kickboxing legend Eh Phoutong, who has magic tats on his body and on his right fist.
"'Magic tattoos make me feel more confident, focused, allow me to punch harder and avoid my opponent's blows,' Eh says, sporting a phoenix, a symbol of rebirth; the Hanuman monkey king, a force of life, agility and learning; and Vishnu god imagery, meant to provide strength. 'They really work.'" Side note: In 2004 I met Eh Phuthong, the Khmer equivalent of The Rock, at his movie premiere in Phnom Penh. I don't know if "met" is really the right word; I was standing next to him, someone with a camera said "Smile!" and we both turned to the photographer. I look absolutely elated to be having my photo taken with Cambodian kickboxing legend Eh Phuthong; Eh Phuthong looks considerably less excited to be having his picture taken with me.
Posted on Friday, May 21, 2010
