In the Korean, Vietnam and second world wars, the Thai soldiers were nicknamed "Taharn Phee" (ghost soldiers), by the allied forces, because of their sak yant tattoos and amulets.
Sak Yant tattooing is not only performed by Ordained members of the Buddhist Sangha (monks), there are also a great number of revered laymen who practise as ascetics or take certain spiritual vows and make yant tattoos. The popularity of a certain master is normally attained through hearsay from other devotees of the master; tales of being shot or stabbed without wounds being inflicted, or being in car crashes where the vehicle was crushed into a box shape like a concertina but the individual with the yant tattooed remaining safe and without a scratch inside the vehicle, have led to some masters being so highlyrevered as to be thought to have supernatural powers in their own right.Whether this is true or not, is of course a matter of personal belief. There are many documented cases of people being shot where the bullets did not penetrate the skin, instead leaving just a whelt or a bruise where the bullet hit. There are recorded cases of this in many of Thailand's police records, hospitals and court house archives.
- Legend has it, that the Father of Yant magic were the 'Ruesi'; a kind of hermit/sorceror, living in the depths of the forest,Studying spells and practising their magic. These Ruesi existed a long time before Buddhism existed. They are often mentioned in the Thai Ramakiarn (a version of the Hindu Ramayana Epic Myth), and are usually depicted holding a black slate and chalk, with a Yant design inscribed on the slate. The Ruesii wore long hats; and normally had long wispy beards.There are so many Ruesi stories, such as the ones told in the 'Hnang Thalung' shadow puppet theatre in Southern Thailand.Kings, Emperors and Political leaders normally had a Ruesi as their advisor, rather like the Court magician in Mediaeval times here in the Western world The Ruesii was also responsible for creating the Magic Book of power so treasured by the Hindu Gods, known as Thrai Paet, or Thrai Waet; meaning Three Sciences, or Three Magics. This book was the theme for several stories in the Ramakiarn Epic.
- Neighbouring Khmer (Cambodia), has always had a reputation for it's Shamanistic magic and Sorcery. The use of Magic Yantras, and Sacred Alphabet to write them with (Known as "Khom Agkara") has been common with the Khmer race for thousands of years.
- Local belief in Nature Spirits, Animism and other sub-belief systems have been also incorporated into the Pantheon of yant designs that exist in the Thai Tradition to date.
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