What is a Sak Yant tattoo? Yantra tattooing (Thai: สักยันต์) is a form of tattooing that originated among the Tai tribes of southwestern China and north-western Vietnam over 2,000 years ago. It consists of sacred geometrical, animal and deity designs accompanied by Pali-Sanskrit phrases that offer power, protection, fortune, charisma and other benefits for the bearer. Sak means tattoo in Thai, and Yant is the ...