Thai amulets: Symbol of the practice of multi-faiths and cultures

Abstract

Buddhism is the religion of the majority of Thai people. But in Thai life, people’s beliefs reflect multiple faiths and cultures. The value of amulets is an example of the influence of different faiths in Thailand. When the Thais feel insecure because of economic worries or instability in their lives, amulets are one source of solace for them to bring back their confidence. Some receive positive outcomes from worshipping such amulets, and their popularity has greatly increased which adds value to such amulets. The economy and society have at times been strongly influenced by the amulet phenomenon, and they are considered of great interest and attractive to many people. Temples are known to lend amulets (in fact ever selling them) as a way of making money. According to Buddhist beliefs, however, this is a form of ignorance and is not acceptable. In terms of syntactic structure of the amulets’ names, a noun phrase (NP) structure (a phrase which has a noun as its head) is the most frequently found. Power and prosperity have the same highest frequency, mercy and fertility have the second highest, protection is the third, and happiness and luck are the least frequent. It reflects that Thai people who believe in amulets need their help for more power and prosperity which are difficult to do by one’s own capacities. It may take time and effort. If there is a magic power to help them to have more confidence, they may achieve it faster. Indeed, it shows that Thai people depend on superstition more than on their own karma. Since Buddhism is merely the religion of birth for most Thais and not a daily practice, amulets and ignorance remain common in Thai society.