Thai folklore is a diverse set of mythology and traditional beliefs held by theThai people. Most Thaifolklore has a regional background for it originated in ruralThailand. With the passing of time, and through the influence of the media, large parts of Thai folklore have become interwoven with the wider popularThai culture.
Phraya Anuman Rajadhon (1888–1969) was the first Thai scholar to seriously study localfolkloristics. He took copious notes on humble details of his culture such as thecharms used by Thai shopkeepers to attract customers. He also studied in depth theoral literature related to different village spirits andghosts of Thai lore.[1]
The core of Thai folklore is rooted inTai folk religion. Until they were recorded, folk beliefs were handed down from one generation to the next.
Village shamans are known asphram, a word that has its origin in Brahmana. Thephram conducts exorcisms and performs marriages, among other ceremonies.
Another important figure in Thai folk religion is themo phi (หมอผี) or shaman who would also conduct rituals. To invoke spirits of the dead, four sticks are planted at equal distance from each other on the ground near the burial or cremation place. A thread is tied around the sticks forming a protective square and a mat is spread in the middle, where the mo phi sits down. In front of him, outside of the square there is amo khao terracotta jar with ayantra painted on the outside containing the ashes or bones of the dead person. Beside the jar there is also a plate of rice as an offering and a stick or switch to keep the spirits at bay.
In order to be protected against bad luck, charms andamulets for bringing luck or for protection are popular in Thailand. Some of these are tied around the body or worn as anecklace, while others come in the form ofyantra tattooing. The yantra endows the wearer with supernatural protection, love, health, and wealth. In order to bring luck and provide protection, yants are also drawn in the receptions of multinational companies, the entrances of supermarkets, and the interiors of taxis, trucks, and airplanes.[2]
In shops and houses, often next to a shelf with aBuddha statuette, charms for attracting customers are hung. These include printed pieces of cloth of fish-shaped figures, as well as streamers or framed pictures of acrocodile or ofSuvannamaccha, the mermaid character of the Siamese version of theRamayana. Some of these charms have their origin in theculture of theThai Chinese, as Phraya Anuman Rajadhon observed, but they have been adopted by the Thai people, often with changes.[1]
Superstitions of theThai people include:
Spirits or ghosts are known generically asphi (ผี) and they may be found, among other places, in certain trees, burial grounds near Buddhist temples, some houses, as well as mountains and forests. ThePhi Pan Nam Range (ทิวเขาผีปันน้ำ), "The mountain range of the spirits dividing the waters" that divides theMekong from theChao Phrayawatershed, is named after the ancient spirits believed to dwell in the mountains.
Spirit houses, known assan phra phum (ศาลพระภูมิ) inThai language, are small shrines to provide a home for thetutelary spirits of a place. They are common near trees and groves and in urban areas, close to buildings. It is considered a bad omen to neglect these spots and offerings are regularly made by people living nearby.[5]
The local beliefs regarding the nocturnal village spirits of Thailand were studied by Phraya Anuman Rajadhon. Most spirits were traditionally not represented in paintings or drawings, hence they are purely based on stories of theoral tradition.[6]
Thai cinema,Thai television soap operas andThai comics have contributed to popularize the spirits and legends of the folklore of Thailand. Phraya Anuman Rajadhon established that most of the contemporaryiconography of folk ghosts[7][8][9] has its origins in Thai films that have becomeclassics.[10]
Most of the spirits or ghosts are so popular they appear regularly in comic books as well as in films, including theNak animated movie for children. The most well-known are the following:
Some traditional celebrations, including Buddhist festivals, provide an opportunity for the expression of local folk beliefs.
Folk tales and legends in Thailand were used by elders to instill beliefs in the younger generation. Most stories contain moral lessons teaching the importance of following traditions and to display reverence to elders, parents, and superiors. The stories of the spirit world taught children to be cautious, to stay at home at night, and to respect customs regardingdeath rituals and the importance ofofferings.
Many Thaifolk tales are based on the texts ofBuddhism. Also some of the stories of classicalThai literature, such asKhun Chang Khun Phaen (ขุนช้างขุนแผน) andLilit Phra Lo (ลิลิตพระลอ), a story about young lovers with a tragic end,[11] originated in folk tales.Phra Aphai Mani is a Thaiepic poem that has inspired local folklore.
Throughout Thailand there are also local folk stories connected with particular geographic features, such as the story ofDoi Nang Non (ดอยนางนอน), the "Mountain of the Sleeping Lady" and the legend about the formation ofKhao Sam Roi Yot mountains and islands.[12]
TheJataka tales, such as theVessantara Jataka,the Twelve Sisters, andPrince Samuttakote (Samuddaghosa), have provided inspiration to Thai traditional storytellers. These Jatakas have been often retold, abridged, and adapted to fit local culture inSoutheast Asian countries, such as Thailand,Burma,Cambodia,Laos,Malaysia, andIndonesia. As a consequence, they have become so familiar to average people that they fully belong to the folklore of their respective country. Often each country claims the story as its own cultural achievement. Thailand is no exception.[13]
Sang Thong (Suvannasankhajātaka), where the marriage between a man and a woman of different social status is the main subject of the story,[14] andHonwichai and Kawi are also long traditional stories. The "Woodcutter who lost his Axe" is a well-liked Thai tale with a moral lesson promoting honesty.[15]
Sri Thanonchai is a trickster which tricks people with his word.
Many figures of the Buddhist tradition have been fully incorporated into Thai lore, among these are the yaksa (ยักษ์), ogres (yaksha), and ogresses (Pali:Yakkhini), the tall and scaryPrets (เปรต),[16]Ongkhuliman (องคุลิมาล), the violent criminal named after the garland of the fingers of his victims he wore around his neck, as well asNariphon, the mythical tree of Buddhist literature bearing fruits in the shape of young girls.
Vivid descriptions of the torments ofhell,[17] sometimes in the form of garish sculptures, are to be found in someBuddhist temples in Thailand.[18] These representations are so popular that, along with figures of local spirits, they have become a regular feature in present-dayThai comics.[19]
Themynah is featured in some tales for its ability to talk and imitate sounds. The"Hen and her six chicks", explaining the origin of thePleiades, "The White Crows" and tales withelephants such as "The Elephant, the Monkey and the Quail", and "The Elephants and the Bees"[15] are common folk tales, some of which are based on thePanchatantra.[20]
Snakes are part of the Thai popular lore, and depending on the background of the tale or myth, they have different meanings.Nak (นาค),Nagas figure in some stories of local folklore and are represented as well inBuddhist temples as architectural elements. Malelust is often popularly represented as a snake growing on top of the head of the lustful man.[21]Thai folk mythology also includes the idea of a link between snakes and women. Some stories based on snakes have been made into Thai movies.[22]
The articles listed below are an essential part of Thai folklore. Some were articles of daily household use in rural areas.
Thai Buddha amulet (Thai:พระเครื่อง) is a kind ofThaiBuddhist blessed item. It is used for raising funds in order to help the temple producing theamulets. Worshippers can obtain an amulets or Thai Buddhist monk blessing by simply donating money or offering oil to the temple. After the donation, Thai Buddhist monk will give amulet as a gift to them. With the change of time, amulet no longer simply means as a "gift", but a kind of tool to help enhance luck in different aspects, some people use amulets to improve marriage, wealth, health, love and people relationship.
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