Thai Buddhist Amulets

Thai Buddhist amulets are a big part of Thai society. From an early age and onward, Thai boys wear magical objects known as amulets to protect them from accidents, witchcraft and disease. The Thai Buddhist amulets grow in importance when boys reach adolescence. The most popular type of Thai amulet is the image of a Buddha, usually worn on a chain and cast around the neck.

Thai Buddhist amulets are commonly made of five different types of material:

The plastic variety of Thai amulets has become quite popular in recent years. Most Buddhist amulets range in size from 2-7 centimeters in length and 1-5 centimeters in width. Protective Thai amulets are not just made on a factory assembly line. Instead most amulets from Thailand are made by long-time monks, who use their experience to cast spells, make sacred scripts (included in the amulet) and create magical pictures for them.

One of the lesser-known facts about Thai Buddhist amulets is that the monks use the ashes of old and sacred handwritten books as part of their magical ingredients. Another type of Buddhist amulet is the protective medallion, which typically depicts the face of a venerated monk or sage on one side and sacred writings on the other. The most popular Thai medallions are those containing a picture of the King or a monk known for his magical powers.