Bua Hong
Lotus and Hong Diptych
Two panels of five mantra lines in black ink, one with a lotus and the other with a pair of folded wings at the centre.
✦Meaning & Background
Two separate panels of five vertical mantra lines each, closed off above and below with spires that end in a spiral and a small trefoil. The left panel holds a lotus with Khom syllables in its petals, the right one a pair of folded wings around a central line of script. In the tradition the lotus stands for purity and growth and the Hong for grace and connection, and here each is given a half of its own.
✦More about this design
On the site lotus and Hong usually share a single image, as in the Lotus & Hong. This design takes the opposite route and gives each a panel of its own. On the left the lotus sits between five mantra lines, on the right a pair of folded wings, with a thin line of script running through the middle like a spine. The same two panels form the sides of the Lotus and Hong with Mantra Panels, where they have a red middle line and a centrepiece with two birds beneath a lotus. Here they stand without the centrepiece and entirely in black, which puts more weight on the script and the spires. Two groups of five lines side by side also appear in the Mantra Lines in Red and Black, and you will find the bird itself worked out in the Hong Birds. Because the diptych consists of two complete halves, the panels can be placed side by side or apart, for instance one on each shoulder blade or on the outside of both forearms. Browse all Sak Yant designs, read about all Sak Yant symbols or book an appointment.
✦Frequently asked questions
Why are the lotus and the Hong separate?
That way each symbol gets a panel of its own with its own mantra lines. Together they still form a pair, just as the Hong is often drawn in pairs in the tradition.
How does this differ from the version with mantra panels?
There the same panels flank a centrepiece with a red lotus and two Hong birds, with red in the middle lines. This diptych consists of the two panels only, entirely in black.
Can the two panels be placed apart?
Yes, each panel is complete with spires above and below. You can place them side by side or spread them over both shoulder blades or both forearms.
