Thai Spirit Houses

While spending time in Thailand, one can't but help to notice the beautiful and plentiful "mini temples" seen everywhere.  They are in front of places of business, homes, seemingly everywhere.  These are called spirit houses - and serve an important function in Thai culture.

The origins of the spirit house are older than the Buddhist religion practiced in Thailand.  They originate from the practice of animism, which is the very ancient belief that spirits, or souls, reside not only in humans, but in animals, plants, mountains, rivers and other inanimate objects.  However, no Thai would place a spirit house without first conferring with a monk about placement and the correct "auspicious" day to erect the spirit house.  A sprit house cannot be placed in the shadow of the main house or building, and once properly placed, it assures good blessings for the building or home.  Thai people believe that the spirit of the land must be appeased through offerings made to the spirits who reside in the spirit house.  Spirit houses are usually made of concrete or wood and can be ornately decorated and painted.



The spirit houses are mounted on a pedestal or pillar, high enough to show respect, but low enough for offerings to be easily placed to show respect.  The Thai people believe that the spirits can cause problems if not appeased properly.  One is likely to see a spirit house at the sight of traffic accidents, placed in an attempt to create a safe area in a previously dangerous place!

The spirit houses look like a miniature temple.  In many places one might see two spirit houses, the larger spirit house is for the protective spirit of the land, and the smaller one is a shrine for previous or ancient inhabitants of the land.  A Thai person would likely tell you that the smaller one is for the grandmothers and grandfathers who lived before the previous owners, otherwise known as the spirits of the land.  Offerings made at the spirit houses include drinks, sweets, rice, flowers, incense and small objects for the spirits to use.  Elephants, horses and donkeys are provided so the spirits will have transportation.  Small figures represent servants and dancers, who provide entertainment for the spirits.  Offerings must be made daily to help ensure the families or business' continued prosperity.  If a house or business is sold, demolished or rumored to be a place of bad luck, the spirit house is removed and usually delivered to a Buddhist temple, where it can do no more harm, and a new spirit house will be installed in a ceremony, designed to transfer the spirit from the old house to the new one.

One other interesting belief is that spirits also reside in very old trees.  Brightly colored ribbons tied around the base of the tree indicates that the tree is a "spirit tree", and the ribbons are a way to pay respect and honor the spirit of the tree.