Most Common Thai Mythical Creatures and gods are:
- The Naga Serpent
- The Garuda
- The Kinnari
- The Apsonsi
- The Hongsa
- The Yaksha
- The Makara
- The Erewan
- The Singha
- The Khochasi
The culture in Thailand is often associated with legends and myths of the past, which are common themes throughout the country’s art. The mythical creatures found in Thailand can be interpreted as symbols that represent the great kingdom itself or those who inhabit it- meaning there may be more to these images than meets the eye! There are around 500,000 different statues and sculptures in Thailand depicting a diverse range of mythical creatures and gods.
Thailand is a country steeped in myth and legend, with a storied history of ancient kingdoms, terrifying ghosts and national icons. 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 regarding death rituals and the importance of offerings. An important figure in Thai folk religion is the mo phi or shaman who would also conduct rituals. A class of priests they were specialists in communication with their personal angels and gods in general. Using trances, sacred objects instilled with supernatural power and rituals like, the shaman is often consulted during times of trouble, hauntings, and illness or other misfortune that might be caused by malevolent or unhappy spirits. They are also usually present during religious festivals.
Monkey god Hanuman in giant form kneeling
(Thai Ramayana mural)
Hanuman is the son of a monkey princess and the Wind God. This makes him the nephew of the green and red monkey kings of the forest. Hanuman is educated by the god Siva, who makes Hanuman invincible and able to transform himself into different forms. Sometimes he outmaneuvers his enemies by becoming a huge giant; sometimes he makes himself so small he can sneak past them unnoticed or even enter their bodies. Hanuman’s mother told him when he was young that his destiny would be to aid Rama, an incarnation of the god Vishnu, when Rama appeared on the earth. Hanuman was able to do this by providing Rama with the monkey armies he needs to storm the demon island of Lanka and retrieve his kidnapped wife Sita from the demon king Ravana.
Weird and wild monsters in the ocean’s dark depths
The Mahajanaka Jataka is one of the last Ten Birth Tales of the Buddha, which are popular themes in Thai mural and manuscript painting. In Thai folding books (samut khoi), the Ten Birth Tales are often used to illustrate a text with the title Mahabuddhaguna describing the Great Qualities of the Buddha (paramita). The Mahajanaka Jataka symbolises perseverance. The Mahajanaka Jataka tells the story of Prince Mahajanaka whose father was killed in battle and lost his kingdom before the prince was born. When he discovered the truth of his ancestry the prince vowed to regain his father’s kingdom.
He set out on a seafaring voyage with the aim of building a fortune in a distant land so he could use the wealth to set up a powerful army. However, the ship sank in the middle of the ocean and everyone on board drowned or was killed by ferocious sea creatures – except the prince. He drifted in the ocean for seven days without food, but survived through the sheer strength of his determination and perseverance. Although he refused to implore the gods for help, a goddess named Manimekhala lifted him from the waters and flew him to the royal park of Mithila in his father’s kingdom, which he finally regained in an unusual way. Thereafter, he discovered the truths of life and left his kingdom to pursue spiritual attainment. It is the story of one who would rather perish than give up.
Thai folklore is a diverse set of mythology and traditional beliefs held by the Thai people. Most Thai folklore has a regional background for it originated in rural Thailand. With the passing of time, and through the influence of the media, large parts of Thai folklore have become interwoven with the wider popular Thai culture. The core of Thai folklore is rooted in folk religion. Until they were recorded, folk beliefs were handed down from one generation to the next.
FIVE SPOOKY MYTHS OR LEGENDS OF POPULAR BELIEF IN THAILAND
Thailand is a country blessed with rich culture, traditions, and practices. Being an ancient land, Thailand has all kinds of stories to tell. Taking a leaf from its vast history, we bring you the legendary stories that continue to haunt the locals even now. Belief in ghosts in Thai culture is both popular and enduring. In the history of Thailand Buddhist popular beliefs intermingled with the legends about the spirits or ghosts of the local folklore.
Haunting Ghost of Krasue
Some of the ghosts of Thai culture are shared with neighboring cultures. Krasue, for example is part of the Cambodian, Lao and Malay culture as well In Thailand, the krasue is the spirit of a beautiful young woman that manifests as a floating head with internal organs trailing below the neck. An eerie glow accompanies the krasue as it floats up and down the countryside, searching for blood to drink or raw flesh to consume. According to Thai folklore, krasues pose a real danger to pregnant women. Tales speak of floating heads that attempt to slay babies within the womb or devour expelled placentas. If there aren’t any pregnant women around, a krasue might feast on cattle, chicken, or even feces.
Thailand, myths and legends: the Nagas
Is it a dragon? Is it a snake? Well, it’s both, and much, much more. Whether on the roof of a temple or in the depths of a river, you’re bound to have encountered a Naga during your travels around Thailand — here’s more about them. In Thai Temples, a certain snake-like statue attract attention of onlookers. However, they are neither snakes nor dragon – they are underworld deities or semi-divine entities mentioned in both Hindu and Buddhist scriptures. The Thai believe that the locals inhabit the Mekong River. They are not to be feared though; the Naga are good souls that are assigned the task of warding off evil spirits. Swimmers, however, have to be cautious when entering into the waters of Mekong River. You might have noticed statues at Thai temples that look similar to a snake or dragon, but in fact they are neither; they are Naga. Semi-divine beings that feature in both Buddhism and Hinduism, Naga are believed by locals to live in the Mekong river. More interestingly, they’re thought to be the cause of the Naga fireball phenomenon, which sees fireballs rise from the supposedly-inhabited Mekong river high into the air. Not to worry, though; Naga are guardian-type figures who keep away bad spirits, so they’re worth having around — just be careful if you’re going for a swim in the Mekong.
Mae Nak – The Wife Turned Ghost
They say true love never dies, well at least the story of Mae Nak says so. It so happened that once upon a time, a woman named Mae Nak lived with her husband in a certain village in Thailand. As fate would have it, Nak’s husband went away to fight a war leaving her pregnant. However, Nak died during childbirth along with her unborn infant. Her deep-rooted attachment, however, turned her into a ghost. So, when her husband returned home from the war, he found Nak waiting for him at home with their baby. One day, Mak was aghast to see his wife Nak retrieving with her enlarged hands a lemon that had fallen off the porch. Under the reign of King Mongkut, Nak and Mak, gave perfect love.
She was pregnant by the time her husband was called to war and while Mak was in battle, her wife died in childbirth, as did the child. Without knowing anything about the drama, Mak returned home and found his wife and child at home, without doubt that they were their ghosts. The husband was however troubled by his wife’s pallor and strange appearance. He understood the truth when he saw his wife stretching his arm out of measure to pick up a lemon that had fallen to the ground. He fled and his wife was exorcised twice. On the second occasion, she was allegedly imprisoned in the belt of a monk. This belt would still be in the possession of members of the royal family.
Krahang – The Shirtless Sorcerer
A man known as Krahang when alive practiced black magic and sorcery. He continued to inflict harm on people even after his death. Reportedly, he wanders through Thai villages in his shirtless avatar (and no, he was by no means a Salman Khan fan). Endowed with the power to fly due to the twin rice baskets he employs as wings and the wooden pestle he uses for riding in the air, Krahang is infamous for attacking women in faraway hamlets. Krahang is a type of nocturnal ghost that is said to haunt the same areas as Krasue, a female spirit of the Thai village folklore, thus these two spirits are often mentioned or represented together. Another Thai ghost story, Krahang was said to be a sorcerer involved in black magic who now manifests himself as a shirtless man who roams through the Thai countryside. He’s granted powers of flight thanks to two rice baskets he uses as wings, and rides with a long wooden pestle between his legs. Well-known by virtually every Thai, Krahang has been blamed for attacks on women in remote villages.
PHRA LUANG PHOR TUAD, THE MIRACULOUS MONK
One of the most revered and respected monks in Thai history, Phra Luang Phor Tuad first caught national attention as a child when a snake constricted him, yet it didn’t bite; instead, it gave him a pearl from its mouth and left. After becoming ordained as a monk, he left for Ayutthaya by boat, which was then caught in a huge storm. Fearing that the monk was the cause, the others on the boat considered throwing him overboard, until he performed two miracles — calming the seas and turning the water around the boat into drinking water. He later cemented his fame by solving a puzzle that nobody else could.
Mountain of the jilted princess – Doi Nang Non
Doi Nang Non, “Mountain of the Sleeping Lady”, is an unusual land feature of the Thai highlands located in Chiang Rai Province, Thailand. It is a karstic formation part of the southern end of the Daen Lao Range with numerous waterfalls and caves. Long ago, a pretty princess got married to a man who abandoned her while she was expecting their baby. Lonely and betrayed, the damsel looked for him everywhere but in vain. She walked hither and thither for many days and came to a point when she cried out in distress and fell on the ground. Thus she breathed her last. After her death, the body of the princess grew so large that it ended up taking the form of a mountain range called Doi Nang Non — or the mountain of the sleeping lady.
MOUNTAIN OF THE SLEEPING LADY
According to legend, the mountain of Doi Nang Non in Chiang Rai takes its unusual shape from that of a sleeping lady. A beautiful princess was betrothed to a man who ran away, leaving her pregnant and alone. She waited for him, and went out looking for him, fearing he was lost. After walking for several days, she collapsed to the ground and, realising he had left her, cried out in despair before dying. As her ghost left her body, it grew to a large size and eventually become a mountain range, that’s today called Doi Nang Non — or the mountain of the sleeping lady.
RICE GODDESS
Rice in Thailand is a big deal, standing as the world’s second-biggest exporter providing plenty of jobs and income to the country. As a result, many people involved in the industry routinely pray to or make offerings to Phosop, aka ‘the Rice Goddess’. This is done at every stage of the cultivation of grain, and it’s thought that Phosop will ensure that everyone has enough to eat. Thailand’s Queen Sirikit also acknowledges the practice, and it’s common for a woman to play the role of Phosop during rice festivals and celebrations.
GARUDA
The Garuda is a giant mythical bird-like creature that appears in both Hindu and Buddhist mythology. Its somewhat surreal but curious shape you could say is perceived as a half-man and half-bird. The story of Garuda’s origins, accomplishments and exploits are told in the first book of the great epic Mahabharata. Examples of these ferocious figureheads you can see on the brow of the gun barge at the Royal Barge Museum in Bangkok as well as other fine specimens at various temple complexes around the country.
KINNARI
The Kinnari appears in the form of a half-woman and half-bird. You will find some of these mythological figurines in small coves on the second level of the central prang at Wat Arun located beside the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok.
APSONSI
The Apsonsi takes on the shape of that of a half-woman and half-lion. Some of these graceful gilded figures you can view on the upper terrace at the temple of Wat Phra Kaew in Bangkok.
HONGSA
The Hongsa (or Hong) is a swan-like figure of which, and an excellent example you can view at the Royal Barge Museum in Nonthaburi Bangkok. Not only is there a Hongsa figure perched proudly on the brow of the king’s barge, but these mythical creatures you can also see perched on the apexes of temple roofs in various other parts of the kingdom.
YAKSHA
The Yaksha takes the shape of a grimacing giant statue often sporting brightly coloured faces. These spectacularly crafted figures tower above the entrances to a great many of the temple compounds in Thailand, of which some superb examples you can see at the Grand Palace Complex and Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok.
MAKARA
The Makara is an aquatic monster made up of part crocodile, part elephant and part serpent. This servant symbolises rainfall and several temples depict these creatures on balustrades.
EREWAN
The Erawan is a three-headed elephant of which one of the biblical proportions you can find in the almost fifty metres tall Erawan Museum in the town of Samut Prakan south of Bangkok. Other exceptional examples of these mythical creatures you can view at the Sanctuary of Truth in Pattaya. Another example you are displayed on the central tower of Wat Arun in Bangkok and also in Chiang Mai in northern Thailand.
SINGHA
The Singha (Singh) takes on the appearance of a lion-like figure whose primary function is to guard temples. Larger ones grace temple entrances while other smaller ones sit atop gateposts. The marble temple at Wat Benchamabophit in Bangkok has a number of these giant mythical creatures gracing the compound.
KHOCHASI
The Khochasi is a blend of elephant and lion. Taking on the elephant’s head (signifying wisdom) and the lion’s body (signifying strength). These sculptures and statues are quite common in the north of Thailand are and said to protect the sacred temples in which they are featured.
Folklore, Legends, and Other Tales
Thai art – mythology creatures
INDIGENOUS PEOPLES OF THAILAND
WHO ARE THE HILL TRIBES OF THAILAND ?
Who are the hill tribes of Thailand? They are ethnic minority groups who migrated from Laos, China, Myanmar and came to settle in northern Thailand, several hundred years ago. They settled in the highlands and hilly areas, hence the term ‘hill tribes’. Traditionally the hill tribes are subsistence farmers who grow rice and crops. Their major source of income was growing opium, until it was outlawed in the 1960’s. With the help of the royal project which helped the hill tribes switch from Opium cultivation to growing cash crops such as coffee and strawberries.
Captivating Hill Tribes of Thailand
HILL TRIBE GROUPS OF NORTHERN THAILAND
There are around 7 major hill tribes of Thailand, the different groups are; Karen, Akha, Hmong, Mien, Lahu, Lisu and Palaung. Each has their own unique culture, customs and language and each has their own subgroups.
KAREN HILL TRIBE
The Karen are the largest hill tribe group in Thailand, with an estimated population of around 1,000,000. The Karen people are believed to have originated from Tibet, moving south to Myanmar and northern Thailand. Today, they live in proximity to areas alongside the Thai-Myanmar border such as; Mae Hong Son, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai and some in central Thailand. To read more about the Karen Hill Tribe click here.
AKHA HILL TRIBE
The Akha hill tribe originate from Tibet, the majority live in Yunnan province in south west China. However they can also be found in Laos, Myanmar and northern Thailand in Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai provinces. The Akha migrated to Thailand at the beginning of the 20th Century and now approximately 80,000 live in Thailand. They have no traditional written language and literacy amongst older generations is virtually nil. One of the best ways to learn about the Akha and their fascinating culture is through a visit to the Community Based Tourism village – Ban Lorcha located in Chiang Rai province. This is a project set up by the PDA Population & Community Development Association that aims to create a sustainable tourism strategy for hill tribe villages. One of the ways of doing this, is by giving control of tourism activities to the villagers.
The Akha are a highly superstitious group , holding strong beliefs about the spirit world. Most notably, their villages are known for their unusual spirit gates which demarcate the border between the spirit world and physical world. These gates are so sacred that, they should not be touched by humans at any cost. The Akha believe that this will disturb the spirits and bring bad luck upon the whole village. The other unique feature at the village entrance, are the almost life-sized wooden sculptures of a male and female figures that symbolise the human world. For more information about the Akha hill tribe click here.
HMONG HILL TRIBE
The Hmong hill tribe (sometimes called ‘Meo’) are the second largest hill tribe group in Thailand. They originated from China, today they can be found in large numbers in Laos, Vietnam and Myanmar. They share a lot of the same beliefs and traditions as the Han Chinese, for example – a strong belief in ancestral worship. The are mostly known for their production of hemp textiles, batik techniques and colourful embroidery. The Hmong are the most commercially astute and business savvy of all the hill tribes of Thailand. As a result they are the most wealthy of groups. Traditionally their villages can be instantly recognised by their ground level wooden houses (unlike raised stilt bamboo houses of other tribes). This could be because, they originate from the southern China where temperatures are cooler thus favouring ground level living.
LAWA HILL TRIBE
The Lawa due to their long history in Thailand, have been largely absorbed into Thai society and much of their heritage lost over time. In fact there is evidence to suggest that the Lawa people inhabited the northern plateaus long before the Siamese people from central Thailand migrated up to the north. Other groups such as the; Lisu, Lahu, Hmong, Mien and Akha, who mostly reside in Chiang Rai province originate from southern China arriving in the early 20th Century. Then there are many refugee hill tribes who fled later on, from political turmoil and communist uprisings in neighbouring Laos and Burma. To read more about the Lawa Hill Tribe click here.
LAHU HILL TRIBE (MUSER)
The Lahu hill tribe otherwise known as the ‘Muser’, is a Burmese word meaning ‘hunter’ because they are renowned for their superior hunting skills. There are around five main sub-groups of Lahu;
– Red Lahu
– Yellow Lahu
– Black Lahu
– White Lahu
– Lahu Sheleh
The most common group in Thailand are the Black Lahu who make up 80% of the Lahu population. They are mainly located in Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai. The Lahu can be recognised by their distinct traditional costume. Lahu women wear black and red jackets and shirts whilst the men wear baggy green or blue pants.
LISU HILL TRIBE
The Lisu hill tribe are believe to originate from Tibet, and like many other hill tribes migrated through to southern China. Today the Lisu can be found in Myanmar, India and Thailand. They make up 4.5% of the total hilltribe population in Thailand. There are 2 subgroups of Lisu:
– The Flowery Lisu (Hua Lisu)
– The Black Lisu (He Lisu)
Most of the Lisu in Thailand are the Flowery Lisu . The women of this group wear multi-coloured knee length tunics of red, blue or green with a wide black belt and blue or black pants. Lisu men wear baggy pants and shirts made of felt with long sleeves and an inside lining. Silver buttons are sewn on the shirt, the more the better. They also wear a red sash around the waist and a shoulder bag. As with most of the other hill tribes, the Lisu have no written language of their own. Over the years Christian missionaries helped them to romanise their language, using the English alphabet to transliterate the sounds. As a result a large majority of Lisu’s today are Christian, practicing traditional beliefs in animism and ancestral worship in parallel.
PALAUNG HILL TRIBE
The Palaung are the most recent hill tribe to settle in Thailand. Originating from Tibet, the Palaug in Thailand today have moved from Myanmar, fleeing persecution from the Burmese military. The main group in Thailand are the Pale or Silver Palaung. Traditional female dress is very distinctive, and includes a bright red skirt, worn like a sarong. They also wear silver hoops around their waist which is believed to be a a form of protection. Tradtionally, they have practiced a mixture of Animism and Buddhism. However today some have been converted to Christianity. One of the most famous Palaung villages in northern Thailand is Ban Khop Dong in Doi Angkhang. It’s location along the Thai- Myanmar border, means that the Doi Angkhang mountain range has a lot of Palaung settled there.
The Lua people (IPA: [luaʔ]) are a minority ethnic group native to Laos, although there is now a sizable community living in Thailand. Lua’ is their preferred autonym (self-designation), while their Lao neighbours tend to call them Thin, T’in or Htin (Lao: ຖິ່ນ, Lao pronunciation: [tʰin]). The Lua speak Mal and Phai, closely related, but not mutually intelligible languages, belonging to the Khmuic branch of the Austroasiatic languages. Their home region is in the provinces of Sainyabuli (Hongsa and Phiang districts) and Bokeo (Pak Tha District) In Thailand.
What are the Most Spoken Thailand Languages?
Known as the “Land of Smiles”, the language of the warm locals of Thailand has a major contribution to this uniqueness and the country Thailand does not disappoint the world – whether it is the travel experience or the uniqueness they can represent.
There are almost 73 living languages in Thailand!
Thai is not a monolith as there are different dialects of the Thai language spoken throughout the country. As Thai is a tonal language where the meaning changes depending on one’s tone, the tone and consonants’ fine differences make it incomprehensible for different dialect users.
Phu Thai, Shan, Southern Thai, Nyaw, Northern Thai, Song, Isan, Phuan, and Lu are included in regional Thai dialects.
Other foreign loanwords are also included in Thai, for instance – Chinese, Sanskrit, Khmer, Pāli, Portuguese, and more.
World Mythology 