Thai Black Magic
Black magic is firmly entrenched in Thailand. It’s origin aligns closely with Animism (Latin – animus “soul, or, life”) in which animals and other objects, living and dead are believed to have spirits or souls. Plants, trees, rocks, and other things were sometimes considered gods or with the ability to affect weather, people’s emotions and health, luck. Before Buddhism was even heard of in Thailand (it came from India), there was Animism and black magic beliefs, rituals, superstition, and magic spells. Though Theravada Buddhism is the belief system followed by more than 90% of the country’s residents, there is also a small Christian group and a relatively large Muslim group based mainly in the southern provinces of Thailand, near Malaysia. Black magic, animism, and belief in the supernatural and superstition is held by a majority of Thailand’s populace, regardless of the religion or belief system they primarily identify with. Black magic is not only concerned with negative, evil, demons, or bad things. Black magic spells and amulets can also be used for good, protection, luck, health, love, fertility, and as many other uses as there are human needs and desires.
Thailand is a land where modernity and black magic can coexist peacefully. There is no culture war in this part of the world. The Thai people will see no contradiction in enjoying the best of what science has to offer, while still retaining a respect for ghosts and the supernatural which are not wholly explainable. If foreigners claim that they doubt the existence of ghosts, their response can be respectful incredulity. This is particularly true for those who live in rural Thailand where doubting the existence of ghosts would be almost akin to doubting the existence of the moon.
Thailand is predominately a Buddhist country, but this tends to be mixed with older animistic beliefs. The people of Thailand are renowned for their love of life, and their laid back attitude (this is exemplified in the famous Thai saying ‘mai pen rai’ – it doesn’t matter), but they also have a strong belief in powerful supernatural entities. These spirits, ghosts, and demons are to be feared and respected, because they can bring great harm as well as good. Over the centuries, the Thais as a people have developed tools and techniques for staying on the good side of these entities. To dismiss this aspect of the culture would be to ignore much of what it means to be Thai. Black magic is everywhere, and it is a very common theme in television shows and movies. Some of the most popular movies of the year, and in history, have focused on Thai evil spirits and the bad things they are capable of. Interestingly, most of the stories on popular media treat the supernatural in a comedic fashion. Almost as if they don’t want to scare people too directly. The subject is frightening enough to many Thais.
HISTORY
Around the world black magic has been, and is practiced in many cultures. Maybe even most cultures. Native American indians still use medicine men, and spirit guides to advise them, and to fix problems in their tribe. In the USA in Salem and many southern states, witchcraft – practicing black magic and doing anything attributed to the supernatural was punished with the most horrible form of torture resulting in death. Burning people alive was popular. Cuba and other Spanish speaking places have Santa Ria. Seances are popular around the world – in which dead people or spirits are contacted through a medium. Evidence of belief in black magic is evidenced by a rather strong belief in ghosts. This is easily seen around the country in the form of spirit houses.
SPIRIT HOUSES
One important element of Thai black magic is the spirit house. These are called ‘san phra phum’ in Thai. They look like miniature houses or temples and are usually mounted on a pillar to bring them up off the ground one or two meters high. The Mau Pii is often the person who offers advice for where these should be kept, and they will be mostly found outside private dwellings or business premises, but also on tracts of land. It is also common to see them at the side of the road in places that are known to be accident black spots. The purpose of the spirit house is to give ghosts a place to call their own rather than having them come inside other dwellings where they can cause mischief. It is possible to ensure that these non-physical beings are extra happy by offering things at the shrine. Many people make offerings to the spirits at these spirit houses. Offerings of soda, fruit, water, other beverages, cigarettes, and other things. It is not unheard of to pass a spirit house on the side of the road that is covered in red Fanta soda bottles and cans. Anything to do with the spirit baby – Kuman Thong – is predominantly covered in red Fanta offerings. Spirit houses may have statues, images, or amulets of monks, Kuman Thong, Kwan Yin, Nong Kwak, Luang Phor Tuad, Luang Phor Klai, Ganesh, Shiva, Rahu, or other respected or feared deities inside. One near our home on a bad corner, has about twenty bottles of the red Fanta, anytime we pass it. If the family or business owners wishes to put an extension on their home or building they will often do the same for the spirit house so as to prevent the ghosts from becoming envious.
GHOSTS
Thais generally believe in ghosts to some degree. There are many stories that have been passed down through the culture about ghosts that haunt places or people. There are hundreds of ghosts (pi, or phi – pronounced pee in Thai) said to be real in Thailand. Some of the better known ones are
Pi Mae Nak – a female baby that died during delivery. She is well known for extending her arms in a very frightening pose!
Pi – a general term for ghost, but also referring to a spirit ghost that sits directly on someone’s chest while they sleep. In Thai movies (comedy and horror) there will often be a scene, or many scenes in which a horrible ghost is sitting on someone as they sleep and wake up. Everyone jumps because it’s just so scary to them.
BUDDHIST MONKS and BLACK MAGIC
Thailand black magic is practiced by monks and lay people. Often times the ascetic, Lersi, who was not actually a monk, but was a master of the spirit world, guides black magic spells and rituals. Spell casting is done by lay-people. Buddhist monks have also got into the practice here in Thailand. Though, as you know, black magic and witchcraft, Thai voodoo – barang, has nothing at all to do with Theravada Buddhism, Thais have integrated it into their belief system and most cannot distinguish between the two. Monks make elaborate demonstrations of their “supernatural” power by boiling oil in a large vat, and then sitting inside it on some banana leaves – emerging unburned. Monks create elaborate magical takrud amulets, and long staffs with snakes, naga, serpents, or other animals.
BLACK MAGIC AMULETS
One of the most noticeable forms of black magic in Thailand would probably be amulets. These are believed to provide the wearer with good luck and protection. Some amulets are fairly large, and it is not uncommon for people to wear many of them at the same time – this means that they can be quite noticeable. The level of magic power that an amulet holds varies, and this will be reflected in its monetary value. Those pieces that have a proven record can be worth millions of Baht. Some people are willing to pay more for this lucky charm than they will for any other possession including their homes. These days it isn’t only Thai people who are interested in purchasing these powerful objects – it has become a worldwide phenomena. Here are a couple of black magic amulets
- Kuman Thong Waterproof Amulet
- Brass Kuman Thong with gold plated case
- Rahu – Demon eating the Sun amulet
- Demon with curled hat
- Kuman Thong – (pronounced koo-mun tong) In Thai language, “boy gold.” An unborn male child demon or spirit that is very popular in Thailand. The boy is typically smiling and is a little chubby. Statues and amulets, if kept, must be taken care of or the owner will suffer the wrath of the child spirit. The boy’s appetite needs to be satisfied for various vices, including red Fanta, cigarettes, sweets with sugar and chocolate, milk, and sweet beverages. Many Thais take this to an extreme and talk to their Kuman Thong on a schedule throughout the day as well as make multiple offerings. If bad luck happens thoughout the day, Thais believing in Kuman Thong will make more offerings to try to appease a demanding Kuman Thong. The original Kuman Thong baby died in-utero and was roasted golden brown by his father who wanted to use the unborn soul of his son to help him defeat all enemies and obstacles.
Kuman Thong amulets feature a baby spirit enclosed in a plastic, airtight container with oil and some other liquids. The liquids of original Kuman Thong may include blood, and other fluids from fetuses or the mother. The power associated with Kuman Thong amulets is said to be exceptionally strong, and Thais do not look at them lightly. We are not allowed to keep them in our home – grandma has told us on a number of occasions. Bone, blood, teeth, hair, skin, and other items are often found in the genuine Kumon Thong amulets made by monks at the temples. We do have special amulets made from the ground dirt of seven different burial grounds, in a Black Magic Amulet from Wat Tum Sua Temple.
YAN – YANT – YANTRA
A yant (yan, yantra) is a magical phrase or spell used to imbue something with supernatural power. This practice originated in Cambodia (Thais say “Gamboosha”). Often times Pali language symbols are used. Pali is the language used during the Buddha’s time in Northern India. There are Sak Yan tattoos, yant flags, yants on takrud amulets, and yants on the back of Jatukam Ramathep amulets from Nakhon Si Thammarat, and many other amulets. Yants can consist of any combination of Thai and Pa