Eggsquisitely Mythical #17: Thailand
- Wera Niyom
- Apr 3
- 13 min read
Hello, fellow eggs and mythology lovers!
For our next Eggsquisitely Mythical issue, we are doing a deep dive on the myths and legends of Thailand.
BACKGROUND
Thailand is a country in Southeast Asia, historically known as Siam but officially known as the Kingdom of Thailand. The capital is Bangkok. The official language is Thai, but other spoken languages include Isan, Kam Mueang, Pak Tai, and Malay.
DEITIES
Before we begin, it should be noted that Thai mythology share many of the same gods and/or beliefs as India, Cambodia, and many other Asian countries.
Ananta Thewi is the goddess of good fortune.
Kala Acana is goddess of mystery.
Khrut is the god of the sun.
Kuman Thong is the household god that brings luck and fortune.
Matchanu is a guardian spirit.
Nang Kwak is a goddess that brings luck to business owners by attracting customers. She is also considered the patron of traders and shopkeepers.
Phi Fa / Phi Thaen is an ancient god.
Phosop is the rice goddess.
Phra Angkarn is the god of war.
Phra Athit is the god of the sun.
Phra In is the god of war.
Phra Isuan is the god of destruction.
Phra Lak is the goddess of mystery.
Phra Narai is a supreme god.
Phra Ram is a supreme god.
Phra Sao is the god of misfortune.
Phra Witsawakam is the god of creation.
Sukreep is the son of the Kala Acana and Phra Athit.
Suvannamaccha is the golden fish goddess and mermaid daughter of Thotsakan.
Thotsakan is the demon of war and the king of the demons.
MYTHICAL CREATURES: ANIMALS, DEMONS, & GHOSTS
Animals
Asponsi is a half-woman, half-lion creature. The male counterpart is Thepnorasi.
Gajasimha is a mythical hybrid that is a lion with the head or trunk of an elephant.
Hatsadiling is a mythical bird said to be the size of a house with the head and body of a lion, the trunk and tusks of an elephant, the comb of a rooster, and the wings of a bird.
Hemaraj is a combination that is sometimes described as a swan or more of a crocodile and a lion.
Kinnaree are half-bird, half-women creatures. The equivalent for males are called Kinnara.
Makara is a legendary sea creature that is part crocodile, part elephant, and part serpent.
Naga is a serpent creature that act as guardians of temples, shrines, and spiritual places.
Naga-Makara is a half-crocodile, half-snake creature.
Nariphon is a tree that bears fruit in the shape of young females. The maidens grow attached by their head from the tree branches and this tree grows in Himmaphan, a mythical forest where female fruits are enjoyed by the Gandharvas who cut the fruits and take them away.
Norasingh is a man-lion creature, that resembles a sphinx.
Panorn Maruek is a creature that is a combination of a monkey, deer, and lion.
Phaya Naga / Phaya Nak are mythical serpent-like creatures who are believed to living in Mekong river or estuaries.
Demons
Agat-talai is the demoness of order.
Indrachit is a demon of combat.
Phiphek is the general term for a demon.
Sahatsadecha is an ally of the demon king.
Thotsakan is the demon of war and the king of the demons.
Ghosts
Cha Kla / Phi Cha Kla is a ghost that appears as a cat or wild cat. They were believed to be used by sorcerers for attacking their enemies.
Krahang is a male spirit that appears as a shirtless man, wearing a loincloth, who flies in the night.
Krasue is a ghost that typically appears as a woman, with her internal organs hanging down from her neck, trailing below the head.
Mae Nak Phra Khanong is a female ghost.
Nang Ta-khian is a female spirit that appears as a woman and haunts hopea odorata trees. These large trees are known as ta-khian and that's where part of her name comes from.
Nang Tani is a female spirit that appears as a young woman and haunts wild banana trees.
Phi Kong Koi is a jungle ghost that is often described as a phantom with one leg. They move by hopping with one leg and shouting "Koi, koi, koi."
Phi Kong Koi is a ghost that is shaped as a normal person during the day but becomes a ghost at night. It is believed that they are created by a plant called "Wan Phi Phong."
Phi Tai Hong is a vengeful and restless spirit of a person who suffered a cruel and violent death.
Pop is a cannibalistic female spirit.
MYTHS & LEGENDS
THE MERMAID PRINCESS / SUVANNAMACCHA
When Sita is kidnapped, Rama, her husband, asks Hanuman to help rescue her. Hanuman learns that Sita is being held captive on Lanka, an island. He tells Rama, who orders him to build a causeway from India to Sri Lanka so Rama's army can attack.
Hanuman collects the Vanaras and they begin throwing boulders into the sea to make the foundation for the causeway. After a few days, they notice something is amiss and they call Hanuman to report this issue. They inform him that every day they throw rocks into the sea, they disappear the following day.
Hanuman begins asking for volunteers to join him while he instructs others to continue throwing rocks into the sea. Several volunteers step forward and Hanuman leads them into the waves. They find there is a large number of mermaids underwater. They watch a new rock being tossed in and then the mermaids take the rocks and carry them away. Hanuman searches for their leader.
He finds a beautiful mermaid instructing the others, and swims towards her, but she evades him. Every time he begins an attack, it comes to nothing. Hanuman soon finds himself falling in love with the mermaid leader. He changes his tactics and decides to woo her. She responds to him, and they find themselves together at the bottom of the sea. Soon after, Hanuman asks the mermaid why she's stealing rocks. She says she's Suvannamaccha, a daughter of Ravana (the demon who abducted Sita). When Ravana saw the Vanaras building the causeway, he told Suvannamaccha to stop it. Hanuman proceeds to explain why he's building the causeway.
Suvannamaccha, now in love with Hanuman, said she would no longer prevent Hanuman from completing his task. Her mermaids returned all the stolen rocks to the causeway and while they parted as lovers, it wasn't the end for them as Suvannamaccha would later give birth to their son, Macchanu.
THE MOUNTAIN OF THE SLEEPING LADY
A long time ago, there was a princess who married a man, who later abandoned her while she was pregnant with their child. She looked for him everywhere, feeling lonely and betrayed. She walked for several days, and eventually fell to the ground in despair when she realized he left her, and he wasn't returning. She died shortly after, and with her death, her body had become so large that it ended up becoming the mountain range known as Doi Nang Non — or the mountain of the sleeping lady.
Another version says that she married a stable boy, and because of their statuses, their love was forbidden. They ended up fleeing and hiding in a cave to rest. When the boy went to find food for them, the princess' father's army captured and killed him. The princess, full of anguish, died and her blood became part of the water that flowed through the cave. And her body became the surrounding mountains, which look like a sleeping woman.
Doi Nang Non, "Mountain of the Sleeping Lady", is located in Chiang Rai, Thailand.
PHRA LUANG PHOR TUAD, THE MIRACULOUS MONK
Phra Luang Phor Tuad was one of the most respected monks in Thai history. He is known for performing several miracles during his lifetime.
When he was a child, a snake bound its body around him, but didn't bite. Instead, it delivered a pearl by its mouth and departed shortly after. After he became ordained as a monk, he traveled to Ayutthaya by boat, but ended up getting caught in a huge storm. The other individuals on the boat thought he was the source of the storm, so they considered throwing him overboard to calm the stormy waters. However, he proceeded to perform two miracles: calming the seas and turning the water around the boat into drinkable water.
He lived until he was 120 years old. The people of Thailand remember him by wearing amulets that depict him, because they think of it as magic.
KRAI THONG & CHALAWAN
The story of Chalawan begins with a magical kingdom located in an underwater cave where crocodiles live. Inside the cave, a magic crystal ball floats above, shining like sunlight during the daytime. The crocodile who ruled this world was Lord Chalawan. Every crocodile who entered the cave would turn into humans and never needed food. Unlike his grandfather, Lord Chalawan wanted to feast on human flesh.
There were rumors of crocodiles killing humans in the surface world. And one day, two daughters of a wealthy man decide to play in the canal, against their father's warnings of the crocodiles. Chalawan left his cave and fell in love with one of the daughters, Tapao Thong.
He took the daughter into the cave and when she woke up, he tried to make her fall in love with him in his human form. When he did not succeed, he cast a spell on her to make her fall in love with him and agree to be his wife.
When it was discovered the other daughter was injured by another crocodile, he offered a reward to anyone who could defeat the crocodile king and return his other daughter. No one was able to defeat him, until Krai Thong appeared. He was trained to defeat crocodiles, so he volunteered to rescue Tapao Thong. Given a magical spear by his teacher, he set out to Chalawan's home.
Before Krai Thong arrived, Chalawan had prophetic visions of his death. His grandfather warned him to stay in the cave for seven days to escape his fate. However, Krai Thong cast spells to lure the crocodile lord out of his cave. Chalawan is stabbed in the back by Krai Thong's magical spear and retreats to his cave.
When Chalawan's other wives begged for help from his grandfather, there was nothing he could do. Krai Thong invaded his cave, seducing one of Chalawan's wives so that she could take him to Chalawan. Once inside, the battle between Krai Thong and Chalawan began, but Chalawan was killed.
Krai Thong retrieves Tapao Thong and returns her to her father and he was rewarded with many treasures and married to both daughters from that family.
MAE NAK
A beautiful young woman named Mae Nak lived on the banks of Phra Khanong Canal. She was known for her undying love for her husband, Tid Mak. One day, Tid Mak is conscripted and sent to war, while she's pregnant, and he is seriously wounded. While he is nursed back to health in Central Bangkok, Mae Nak and their child die during childbirth. When he returns home, he sees his wife and child waiting for him. The neighbors warn him that they're ghosts.
One day, as Mae Nak is preparing spicy chili sauce, Nam phrik, she drops a lime off the porch. As she retrieves it, she stretches her arm to pick it up from the ground. Tid Mak notices this and realizes his wife is a ghost. He tries to find a way to leave without alarming her. So, later that night, he tells her he has to go downstairs to use the restroom and ends up running away.
Mae Nak pursues him when she discovers he's left. He sees her and conceals himself behind a Blumea balsamifera bush. According to Thai folklore, ghosts are afraid of the Blumea balsamifera's sticky leaves. Tid Mak runs to Wat Mahabut, where a ghost can't enter because it's holy ground.
Out of grief, Mae Nak terrorizes everyone in Phra Khanong, believing they made Tid Mak leave her. However, one day, a powerful exorcist captures her ghost and confines her to a jar, which he then throws into the canal.
There are several versions for the ending of the story. In one, an old couple who moves to Phra Khanong finds the jar while they're fishing. In another version, two fishermen discover the jar and free Mae Nak when they open it. When she's released again, the monk, Somdet Phra Phutthachan (To Phrommarangsi), captures her again and confines her spirit in the bone of her forehead and binds it in his waistband. The legend says that this waistband is in possession of the royal family. Admiral Prince Abhakara Kiartivongse, Prince of Chumphon, also claimed to have had it.
In another version, the monk reassures Mae Nak that she'll be reunited with her husband in another life, which motivates her to leave for the afterlife. There is a shrine dedicated to her at Wat Mahabut. In 1997, it was relocated to Suan Luang District of modern Bangkok.
KRASUE
There is a ghost known as Krasue in Thailand, though she has appeared in other Southeast Asian folklore. There have also been several movies and books that feature her because she is one of the most terrifying ghosts of Southeast Asia.
For those of you who may not know, Krasue is a nocturnal female spirit who appears as a young, beautiful woman. However, the problem with this spirit is that her entrails hang below her neck. As she moves from place to place, her head floats above the ground. Those who claimed to have seen her mention that they can see her heart, stomach, and intestines floating just below the head. She is also known for having vampire-like teeth and being covered in blood.
In this version, her origins come from Thailand. There once was a Khmer princess who was meant to marry a Siamese nobleman after her people were defeated in war. However, she was in love with a man who was of low status. Eventually, she and this man were caught together and sentenced to death by burning, precipitated by the Siamese nobleman she was engaged to. Before the execution, the princess cast a spell over herself so her body would remain unharmed by the fire. But the effect of the spell was delayed, so only her internal organs and head remained.
It is said she deals with a terrible curse - to feast on the blood of animals at night while living as a normal person in a body she stole during the day. Before daybreak, she must rejoin with the body.
There are three ways to kill a Krasue: (1) destroy the body when Krasue is hunting at night and replace it with the wrong body, (2) hide the body so she can't find it when daybreak arrives, or (3) the two parts of her body.
UTHAI THEWI, THE TOAD QUEEN
Uthai Thewi was a product of forbidden love, being the daughter of a serpent (also known as a naga) princess and a male tree nymph. Blessed with magic and beauty, her mother decides to hide her in a toad's beauty to hide her otherworldly beauty and leaves her with humans to care for her. Despite this, she falls in love with a handsome prince, but the prince's mother didn't like her so she secretly arranges her son to marry a princess named Chantana.
Chantana, discovering Uthai Thewi's love for the prince, tries to kill her with black magic but fails. Out of revenge, Uthai Thewi disguises herself as an old hag who made herself known as the best beautician in town so Chantana would call upon her services. And as expected, Chantana calls Uthai Thewi to do her hair, so Uthai Thewi shaves her head and cuts into her skin with a razor. After the haircut, she persuades the princess to wear an 'anchovy hat' so that her hair will grow back more beautiful than ever. But the princess' cuts become infected and she ends up dying seven days later.
After the death of the princess, Uthai Thewi reunites with the prince and lives happily ever after.
GHOSTS
Thailand has rich histories about ghosts and spirits. The following stories have shaped Thai beliefs and influenced some customs and cultural festivals. They are also used to explain some paranormal phenomena.
Pret
These are ghosts that are said to be as tall as a palm tree. They are born from the reincarnation of ungrateful and materialistic people. They have a tiny mouth and are usually incredibly hungry, but their small mouth keeps them from satisfying their hunger. It is believed they earned this mouth from talking back to their parents. They spend their days asking for forgiveness and have their own festival in southern Thailand.
Krahang
It is a male ghost that disguises itself as an ordinary villager and can transform into a monster at night. They usually appear shirtless and with a loincloth draped around its waist. It uses rice baskets as wings and has frequently been blamed for attacks on women.
Phi Pop
They are believed to roam around Isan, the northeastern region, and is a ghost that possesses the bodies of her victims to hunt for raw meat. They'll eat their victims from the inside out. Those possessed by this creature have to undergo an exorcism in the form of a dance to drive the ghost away. This creature is often blamed for deaths in Thailand and Laos.
Nang Tani
She is a beautiful woman in a green traditional dress with red lipstick. She entices men by hiding in banana trees. If they betray her or give their heart to another, she kills them. Strangely enough, she is said to be benevolent, going as far as to feed passing monks.
Phi Am
It is a ghost that sits on the chests of people as they sleep, which can cause discomfort or death. A way to combat them is to wear lipstick because she doesn't attack women. Those who believe will try to trick her by wearing lipstick, but she will see through the guise if you have a beard.
Phi Tai Hong
It is one of the most feared and dangerous ghosts in Thailand. These are ghosts of people who suffered violent deaths. They are often angry and dangerous in their afterlife. The most feared of the Phi Tai Hong are those who died while they were pregnant because the presence of two spirits is especially powerful.
Phi Lang Kluang
These are ghosts in southern Thailand who will join a group and appear normal until they ask someone to scratch their back. Upon doing so, a huge rotting wound is revealed.
Phi Kee
It is a ghost that occupies your toilet and must be consulted before you use it and after a bad dream. If you do so, bad luck will be removed when you use the toilet.
Kuman Thong
Stillborn fetuses are turned into a necromancer, covered with gold foil and placed by a shrine, and are forced to adhere to their master's bidding, if it is kept happy with food and toys. Failure to keep it happy will subject their masters to poltergeist-esque behavior like slamming the door and the sound of eerie laughing. Despite these creatures being replaced with dolls, a 2012 article notes a British businessman of Taiwanese origin was found with six fetuses covered in gold in Bangkok, which proves this practice may not be as dead as some think.
Phi Phong
It is a foul-smelling ghost that appears normal by day. They feed on unpleasant foods like frogs, which forces people to stay indoors if they hear frog noises nearby. It is not particularly dangerous to humans, but they will attack if threatened. If you ingest his saliva, you could end up becoming a Phi Phong.
Phi Kong Koi
It is a one-legged ghost with a protruding proboscis that repeats Kong Koi while hopping around. It lives in forests and sucks blood from the toes of campers sleeping nearby. To avoid being attacked by one while camping, you should cross your legs and sleep with something on your feet.
That concludes today's discussion about Thai myths, folkloric legends, and folktales. We hoped you enjoyed learning about them!
Check out these other articles written by former team members:
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