![]() ![]() Once the dry-roasting is complete, the fetus is painted with a special lacquer known as Ya Lak and then covered in gold leaf. Before the sun rises, the fetus is placed on a grill over the fire and roasted until dry, while the witch chants incantations to summon Kuman Thong. According to ancient manuscripts, the little corpse is to be taken to a cemetery where a fire will have been built up. The ritual of creating a Kuman Thong guardian spirit involves preparing and chanting over the fetus that died while it is still in its mother’s womb. This tale features elements of Thai necromancy, a black magic practiced by witchdoctors. Mural in sala on Khao Phra, U Thong, Suphanburi, Thailand. Khun Phaen and Wanthong flee to the forest. Beware the Supernatural Bathroom Spirits, Toilet Deities, and Dung Demons.Malevolent Phantoms, Corpse Brides, and Ancestor Spirits: The Ancient Belief in Ghosts – PART I.Thai Buddhists observe an ancient tradition of honoring the unclaimed dead.At the end of the ceremony, the child became a ghost that could speak with Khun Phaen and act as a guardian spirit. Khun Phaen is so angry that he rips the stillborn fetus from his wife’s womb and casts it into the temple fire. But she cannot go through with it and dies instead. Enraged, the sorcerer pressures his daughter into poisoning Khun Phaen. Not long into their marriage, Khun Phaen and the sorcerer have a huge fight. In the story, Khun Phaen, a high-ranking soldier, marries the daughter of a powerful sorcerer. The notion of a child protector dates back several centuries to the legend of Khun Chang Khun Phaen, the story of a soldier living in the Ayutthaya era. Before the advent of luk thep, Thais would look to Kuman Thong for protection. Superstition and fear of ghosts is very common in Thailand. ( Oddity Central/CC BY NC ND 3.0 ) A Child Protector Most importantly, the small angel is supposed to protect its newfound family from any evil spirits that may be lurking about. But if ignored or mistreated, the luk thep will act like a naughty child and play tricks. If treated well, the luk thep is said to bring good fortune to its owners. It is believed that the doll hosts a wandering spirit who has been invited to reside and animate the doll with a soul. They are usually blessed in a ceremony by a Buddhist monk - the same ceremony held for the blessing of amulets (also very popular in Thailand). Today’s dolls are known as ‘ luk thep ,’ which translates as ‘child angels.’ These lifelike looking toys are believed by some to have supernatural powers. Yet as kooky as it is to think about people buying additional plane seats for their dolls, this fad is only the latest iteration of a centuries old tradition, one that has a gruesome past. Recently, reports of a Thai doll craze have been featured at the end of news hours, a spot typically reserved for pop culture tidbits like hijab wearing Barbies (“hijarbies”) or the birthday of the oldest man/woman alive.
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