Bua Hong
Lotus and Hong with Mantra Panels
A red lotus with two Hong birds beneath it and five spires above, between two panels of five mantra lines in black and red.
✦Meaning & Background
In the centre two Hong birds meet beak to beak beneath a red lotus, with five spires above and an arc of red and black script below. On either side stands a panel of five mantra lines with a red middle line: a lotus on the left, a pair of folded wings on the right. In the tradition the lotus stands for purity and growth, and the Hong, often drawn in pairs, for grace and a harmonious bond.
✦More about this design
Lotus and Hong appear together more often on the site. In the Lotus & Hong the birds sit above the flower, in the Red Lotus with Five Spires they stand beside it. In this design they sit beneath it, beak to beak, their spread wings forming a bed for the red lotus. Above it stand five spires in red and black, and below a double arc of script closes off the centrepiece. What sets this design apart are the two panels on either side. Each panel has five mantra lines with a red middle line, and each brings back one of the two figures: a red lotus on the left, a pair of folded wings on the right. So you see lotus and Hong twice each, once together in the centre and once apart in a panel of their own. The same panels also exist on their own, entirely in black, as the Lotus and Hong Diptych. You can read more about the bird itself in the Hong Birds. With its three parts this design needs width, such as the upper back with the centrepiece between the shoulder blades. The combination of red and black ink is something to discuss beforehand. Browse all Sak Yant designs, read about all Sak Yant symbols or book an appointment.
✦Frequently asked questions
How does this differ from the Lotus & Hong?
In the Lotus & Hong the birds sit above the flower and everything is black. Here they sit beneath a red lotus, and two panels of mantra lines are added in which lotus and Hong each return on their own.
What is in the side panels?
Each panel has five mantra lines with a red middle line and spires above and below. On the left a red lotus sits in the script, on the right a pair of folded wings that refer to the Hong.
Where is this design usually placed?
On the upper back across its full width, with the centrepiece between the shoulder blades. Because the three parts stand apart, they can also be spread over the back and shoulders.
