Thailand is a beautiful country that many visit for peace and serenity. Buddhism is practiced as a religion in Thailand and surrounding countries like Cambodia. But what most are unaware of is that black magic prevails in most parts of this beautiful country.

You would be shocked to read that many rituals, beliefs, and black magic spells have existed in this country since its formation in the early years. The first concept that you can realize about the beliefs that people of Thailand have is the existence of Pret, or what we term ghost. Most of this belief is shared with other bordering countries or Buddhist mythology. Below is a list of the legends that are believed to be ghosts found in and around Thailand.

• Chao Kam Nai Wen is believed to be a soul sitting on the rear of a person.
• Krahang – believed to be a male impression that can fly at night.
• Krasue – believed as a woman’s head with her internal organs hanging down from her neckline.
• Mae Nak – is believed to be a female ghost who perished at the time of delivery and can extend her arms.
• Mae Sue is considered a protector goddess or a female ghost of newborns and toddlers.
• Nang Takian is believed to be a tree spirit dwelling in Hopea odorata trees.
• Nang Tani is believed to be a young woman haunting definite masses of banana trees that appear at night during the full moon.
• – believed to be a spirit that sits on a person’s chest during the night
• Phi Hua Khat – is considered a headless male soul that carries his head
• Phi Phraya – believed to be a female ghost living in the water similar to an Undine
• Phi Phong is considered a vindictive male spirit with a nasty smell. It lives in dark places under the trees or vegetation.
• Phi Pop is an unkind female soul that gobbles human intestines.
• Phi Song Nang – believed to be a female spirit that first traps or tempts and then attacks and murders young men.
• Phi Tai Hong – is believed to be a person’s soul that suffered a sudden, violent, or cruel death.
• Phi Tai Thong Klom – is believed to be the angry ghost of a woman who has committed suicide after being made pregnant and subsequently betrayed and abandoned by her lover.
• Phi Thale is believed to be a spirit of the sea. It manifests itself in different ways, including St. Elmo’s fire, among other mysterious sensations experienced by sailors and fishermen while on boats.
• Pret – is believed to be an extremely tall, hungry ghost in Buddhist legends. It looks like a very tall, thin man with a tiny mouth.
• Phi Dip Chin is believed to be a jumping ghost based on Chinese legends. He is dressed in an antediluvian outfit and has a written paper in front of his façade.
• Phi Kong Koi is believed to be a jungle vampire with one leg.
• Kuman Thong is believed to be a spirit that looks like a young boy robed in ancient clothing.
• Rak-Yom is believed to appear to be two young boys similar to Kuman Thong.
• Phi Tabo is believed to be a blind soul with hollow eyes.
• Phi Ka is believed to be a greedy spirit.
• Phi Tai Ha is believed to be the spirit of persons who have died in an accident.
• Phi Ma Bong is believed to be a female ghost from Northern Thailand, similar to a centaur or Kelpie.
• Pu Som Fao Sap is believed to be a male spirit who guards treasures, appearing like an honored older man.
• Khamot is believed to be a glowing soul.
• Phi Phong – is believed to be a male ghost from Northern Thailand and is related to frogs.
• Phi Phuthao is believed to have an impression of appearing like a significantly older man.
• Phi Lang Khluang – is believed to be a spirit from Southern Thailand with a massive wound in the rear.
• Phi Tuai Khaeo is believed to be the ghost that makes the upside-down goblet move.
• Phi Pluak – believed in the spirit of the termites.
• Suea Sa Ming is believed to be a male or female who converted into a tiger due to the power of black magic.
• Kwai Thanu, also known as Vo Thanu, is believed to be a mystic bull or aquatic buffalo.
• Hun Pha Yon is believed to be a fake human or non-human.
• Phi Ngu, also known as Phraya Ngu, or Ngueak Ngu – is believed to be a spirit linked with snakes or that may appear in snake form, human form, or in an amalgamation of both states.

The practice of black magic in Thailand revolves around these ghosts or spirits or souls, and spell casters will enchant black magic spells to lure these spirits, capture them, or please them to help the person in need. It is also assumed that the spell caster and the owner must keep them pleased for their help towards the person.

One such theory of pleasing spirits for their help is used when someone wants to own a Kuman thong. It is believed that the owner who possesses Kuman thong will have luck and fortune and will never be defeated by their enemies. To own a spirit, known as kuman thong, rituals are performed. This requires the developing fetus from the mother’s womb, and it is observed that the spirit from the fetus is then captured in a wooden or clay statue and kept in a secure place with the owner of a Kuman thong.

Creating Kuman Thong Through Ancient Thai Rituals

Once the fetus is removed, the child’s body is taken to a cemetery, where rituals are performed, and the body is roasted. The statue was created to capture Kuman Thong, also known as the Hong Pray. The practice of making Kuman Thong statues is mainly practiced in Siam.

According to some ancient Thai documents and scriptures, the actual method of acquiring a Kuman thong starts when a baby dies in its mother’s womb. After that, the baby is removed from the womb, painted with a coat of Ya Lak, covered with gold leaves or petals, and then roasted until completely dry. This ritual should be performed in a cemetery and should finish before dawn.

Since this was the actual method of obtaining the spirit, it was named KUMAN THONG, meaning golden baby or golden boy, as KUMAN in Thai means baby boy and THONG means gold. This spirit also gives us an overview of the legend of Khun Chang Khun Phaen, who first made KUMAN THONG by removing his unborn baby from his wife’s womb so that the spirit of his unborn can help him succeed over his enemies.

Thailand is also famous for its black magic, used in amulets or statues. Black magic spells are performed to stimulate these spiritual powers and then relocate these powers in various matters like diagrams (mainly geometrical shapes) on clothes or even on the body as a form of tattoos. The objects in which these powers are stored are often called the YAN.

The YAN is used for different purposes by the owners of those mystical powers, like protection, luck, or money. At times, the Yan is even inserted under the skin. In Thailand, ghosts and black magic are so familiar that markets sell black magic and spiritual items. One of the oldest markets can be found in Yogyakarta’s Beringharjo market.

Penangal Balak and Mae Nak Thailand’s Protective Spells and Charms

Black magic in Thailand is also used to block bad spirits. Since people in Thailand believe so much in spirits and ghosts, they use black magic spells and cast rituals to ensure that evil spirits are away from them. One such spell used is Penangal Balak, which is used to block harmful spells cast on someone or stop evil spirits from causing harm.

The use of different types of oil is also linked to black magic in Thailand since oil is considered not only for healing and cure but also for fighting the bad aspects of black magic. Another interesting concept related to black magic in Thailand is the “black magic woman.”

Black magic woman, or what is known as the MAE NAK, can be found in Wat Mahabhut, where the tabernacle houses the body or statue of the black magic woman or Mae Nak. People of Thailand who have problems in their marital lives or have sex-related problems visit this place and offer presents to get their blessings. Mae Nak is also considered to bless people in love and stay with each other only for their lifetime.

Black magic in Thailand ends with spirits, ghosts, souls, or talismans and extends to the use and practice of voodoo known as Barang. Though they are considered illegal but still practiced by many black magic spell casters. Another form of magic performed in Isan, the northeast part of Thailand, is YA SANG. Ya Sang is an old concept of black magic where poisonous plants exist, triggering abdominal disorders, bodily pain, intoxication, and even bringing death to the victim.