Buzz
Travelers may encounter various temples selling small wooden statues portraying a praying boy with a topknot.
Legendary tales of 'sorcery infants' in Thai temples
These figurines represent the kuman thong, meaning 'golden child' in Thailand. Today, modern versions, in the form of dolls, are marketed with prices ranging from 1 to 3 million dong, and some fetching tens of millions.
However, the most valuable baby statues, believed to be carved from wood within Buddhist temples, have been destroyed. Many believe that the temple wood absorbs the sacredness from monks' rituals and prayers within.
The mystical tale of kuman thong was first mentioned by Thai poet Sunthon Phu in the legendary story of Khun Chang, Khun Phaen.
The story unfolds around Khun Phaen, a skilled general in the army of Ayutthaya (a kingdom of the Thai people that thrived from 1351 to 1767). Khun Phaen is adept in both martial arts and magic. He is surrounded by spirits to ward off demons, assist in mystical endeavors, and gather information far and wide. In the legend, Khun Phaen uses dark magic to subdue the soul of his unborn son within the womb of his deceased wife. The spirit of this unborn baby is known as Kuman Thong, following Khun Phaen's destiny.
Despite its fictional origins, the dark magic still flourishes in southern Thailand, with the belief that unfortunate spirits forewarn any danger threatening the homeowner. Ancient texts detail the steps for sorcerers to perform rituals before dawn to create these 'golden babies'.
Currently, the laws of Thailand prohibit the use of products derived from humans. However, numerous shops sell statues and dolls with advertisements claiming to bring luck, giving rise to a bustling black market. Many people have spoken out against this form of superstitious extremism.
According to Bao Ngoc/Vnexpress
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Reference: Travel guide Mytour
MytourApril 23, 2019
