| Kuman thong กุมารทอง | |
|---|---|
 Kuman thong figures at a shrine inRatchaburi Province | |
| Venerated in | Thai folklore |
| Associated deities | Hong phrai |
Akuman thong (Thai:กุมารทอง) is ahousehold deity ofThaifolk religion. It is believed to bring luck, fortune and wealth[1] to the owner if properly revered.kuman, orkumara (Pali) means 'young boy' (femalekumari);thong means 'golden'.
These beings are often worshipped to obey their worshippers for personal gains, protection, wealth and harm in some cases. It is believed to have consequences to each request.
The veneration ofkuman thong is not part of mainstreamBuddhist practices, but it is popular inThailand. Mainstream Buddhism does not recognize such practice. However, due to the widespread belief in animism in Thailand,kuman thong adopted Buddhist beliefs and mixed the two together.
The authentickuman thong originated in a practice ofnecromancy. They were obtained from the desiccated fetuses of children who had died whilst still in their mothers' womb. Thewitch doctors were said to have the power to invoke these stillborn babies, adopt them as their children, and use them to help them in their endeavours.
According to ancient Thai manuscripts used by practitioners ofblack magic (Thai:ไสยศาสตร์Saiyasat), first the unborn fetus was surgically removed from the womb of its mother. Then the body of the child would be taken to a cemetery for the conduction of the proper ceremonial ritual to invoke akuman thong. The body was roasted until dry whilst thewitch doctor chanted incantations of magical script. Once the rite was completed, the dry-roasted Kuman was painted with Ya Lak (a kind of lacquer used to coveramulets andTakrut with gold leaf). Thus this effigy received the name of“kuman thong”, meaning “Golden Little Boy”.
Some Kuman effigies were soaked inNam Man Prai,[2] a kind of oil extracted by burning a candle close to the chin of a dead child or a person who died in violent circumstances or an unnatural death. This is much less common now, because this practice is now illegal if using fat from human babies for the consecrating oil. Occasionally there are still some amulets obtained through the authentic methods appearing in the market. Some years ago a famous monk was expelled from the BuddhistSangha for roasting a baby. He was convicted, but later continued to make magic as a layperson after his release.[3]
In the case of a female spirit child, the effigy is not calledkuman thong, butKuman Nee.[citation needed]
Thekuman thong is mentioned in the Thai legend ofKhun Chang Khun Phaen, where the character Khun Phaen made one by removing the stillborn baby from the stomach of his wife, whom he had killed.[4]
A 2024 Filipino full-lengthhorror film with this name was directed byXian Lim and starsCindy Miranda as Clara, Thai actors Max Nattapol Diloknawarit as Sai Chon and Jariya Therakaosal as Namfon and child star Althea Ruedas as Katie. Filmed inThailand, it is inspired by Thaimythology.[5]
Khemjira, a 2025 Thai romantic supernatural drama television series featured Thong (Udon Chayanon Akaradumrongdej) and Ek (Ryuji Nachawakorn Sirirak) as twin boy Kuman thong.
On May 18, 2012 a 28-year-old British citizen of Hong Kong origin, Chow Hok Kuen, was arrested in a Bangkok hotel room with six male fetuses that had been roasted and covered in gold. Police reported that Kuen intended to sell the fetuses in Taiwan for about 6,300 USD each.[6][7][8]
In 2011, a case was reported in Laos of a man murdering his pregnant wife, so as to use the fetus as a "Louk Lord" under village shaman direction.[9]
Hyper-realistic dolls of children (but not made out of real children), "Luk Thep" or "Look Thep" ("child angel"),[10] have recently (2015) become popular inThailand.[11][12][13][14][15] Some people believe the dolls can be injected with the spirit of a child after being blessed by a Buddhist monk. Their owners provide such care as food, water and clothes "in the hope of receiving good fortune in return", and some companies offer owners of the dolls the option to reserve them their own seats and services.[16]
On 27 February 2021, a Vietnamese YouTuber,Thơ Nguyễn [vi] posted a video on asking for intelligence from akuman thong. This video was posted onTikTok. After being posted, Thơ Nguyễn's video immediately encountered a wave of strong protests from parents. She was summoned by the Internal Political Security Department under theMinistry of Public Security, citing anti-superstition laws. On 16 March, she was finedVND 7.5 million for providing and sharing information that promotes superstition.[17][18]
Media related toKuman Thong at Wikimedia Commons