If you have ever been to Thailand for any decent stretch of time you will have surely noticed that the Thai’s are a very religious people. There are symbols and shrines to Buddhism literally everywhere you look.
For every religion that believes in a good side, there is also a dark side as the opposition. Some of the dark influences in Buddhism are spirits and ghosts. Thai’s are terrified of ghosts to the point that if there is one around they will make offerings to it to keep it appeased or will have the area blessed by Monks.
When a vast majority of the population is terrified of ghosts the last thing that you would think anyone would want to do is to let one in the house especially the spirit of an infant.
This is Thailand however and that is exactly what happens in this case. Kuman Thong is a spirit often found in Thai homes on their altars. Typically the item containing the spirit is gifted around from person to person that needs them and can take different shapes. Some are cute little smiling porcelain children dolls, others are marble statues of foetuses.
These items with the spirit Kuman Thong inside of them are cared for while they are being held. Offerings such as red Fanta soda, incense, and even toys are given frequently to keep the spirit happy with the belief that it will help you financially. Also, the offerings are to keep the spirit from throwing a temper tantrum. It is a child after all.
Many stories are told about Kuman Thong that gets angry when you do not “play with them” or keep them with something new to stay entertained. Whenever something crazy or erratic happens around a house where Kuman Thong stays, it is time for a new toy car to hopefully settle down the spirit.
While it may sound like a sweet innocent child ghost, the origin of Kuman Thongs is rife with black magic and enchantments. The ghost wasn’t always only inside of a porcelain or marble toy.
Original Kuman Thongs were made by taking the unborn foetus of a baby (that’s right, it has to be surgically removed) and slow roasting it over a fire. As this is happening a Thai necromancer would perform the rituals that would bind the soul to the doll. It would then be dried out and covered with a clear coat and golden foil.
Though the majority of Kuman Thong is now symbolized with statues and terrifyingly enough some in baby dolls, there is still a twisted market of collectors out there because people get caught from time to time with stillborn baby foetuses dipped wrapped in gold leaf.
If you have a Kuman Thong, take care of it. Speak to it and keep it entertained or it may get mischevious on you. Do not try to throw it away unless you want a really pissed off spirit on your hands. The best way to dispose of one if you no longer need or want it is to take it to the temple and get relieved of the responsibility of caring for it from a monk.
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