History of Thai Amulets

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History of Thai Amulets

Thai amulets gained tremendous popularity in the 1800s during the reign of King Rama V, but go back centuries. Tribal people probably wore or kept magical talismans, prior to the introduction of Buddhism as there are archaic images found in Thailand that are not Buddhist. When the Thai Kingdom evolved and Buddhism was introduced, the former practices were not erased, as is often the goal of major religions that seek to dominate past practices.

Buddhism is tolerant, and most amulets with pre-Buddhist symbols have been made by monks. A talisman or amulet is believed to counteract bad events, illness, black magic, evil spirits or misfortune such as accidents or assault. Tiny molded Buddha images were often buried in spires with the ashes of famous monks and Royal persons and the older ones have been excavated and used as powerful amulets. Still other votive tablets have been manufactured in temples and given to favored parishioners (usually those who make donations) and are blessed or consecrated--and in this way money is raised for new temple buildings.

These days almost every Thai wears or keeps multiple amulets, sometimes having a large collection kept at home aside from those worn on necklaces and waist cords under the shirt and amulet collecting is a huge national Thai pastime.

Small, clay votive tablets in Thailand date back to the 9C Dvaravati Period when Thailand was a collection of tribes and mini kingdoms and on trade routes between India and the larger kingdom in Cambodia. The earliest clay amulets were mostly Indian-influenced art and may even have been made by Indian artisans. They were not worn, but were sealed in temple spires. It was not till later periods that Thais began to wear these wonderful little tablets as protective amulets.

Votive tablets were mostly clay leading up to the Thai Kingdom of Sukhothai and the Lopburi Period of satellite cities of the Khmer Empire of Angkor Wat in the 12th C, then more began to be made of bronze and gold. Votive tablets became even more widespread in the Ayudhaya Kingdom, about 300 years ago when larger tablets were made at temples and parishioners took them home as sacred souvenirs.

It was in the mid-Rattanakosin Period, mid-1800s that a cult of amulets emerged and people began to wear them for protection or other purposes, and today the collecting and wearing of amulets in Thailand is so widespread that it is no longer a cult practice, but a predominant cultural tradition. Many temple produce amulets for their parishioners as a way to receive donations and some temples, such as the famed Wat Rakang, are reputed to have produced more powerful amulets than others.

Some of the most famous are the Phra Somdej clay tablets, the bronze Kring Buddhas of Wat Suthat that rattle when shaken and the ceramic Khun Paen amulets that are reputed to enhance one's lovelife. Other amulets depict famous monks. Monks images are often seen on the bronze medallion-type amulets that are also very popular in addition to those made of fired clay which often contain secret and sacred ingredients in the clay, such as ashes of a deceased holy person, flowers or herbs. In addition to clay and bronze, one sees amulets made of wood, natural tree sap resin, coconut shell, ivory, bone, glass crystal and stone. The Thais (and myself) often feel that a particular amulet seeks out its rightful caretaker and "speaks" to a person who is considering acquiring it.