Thailand Magic Amulets and Their Multimillion Baht Demand

Abstract

This paper seeks to explore and understand the making of Thai magic amulets and whether they are worth the value that makes their believers sometimes pay millions of baht for them, especially when there are many counterfeits. Looking at some of the most sought-after amulets, we learn why these magic amulets have an especially strong following among the Thai and even from visitors overseas. For the collectors of these amulets, there is this innate belief that they are made by powerful monks, who bless them and give the amulets magical powers, which are then transferred to the owner, thus giving them supernatural power, good fortune and protecting them from harm. This is what makes the amulets so desirable, but it is this same desire that make them so highly sought after and results in a huge commercial market where there is a great demand for the genuine amulets, which, in turn, creates opportunities for counterfeiters, who capitalise on this same demand. It is often difficult to identify the genuine from the counterfeit and this paper also seeks to evaluate why this is something that must be addressed, as magic amulets are possibly something innately Thai and have cultural value.

Finally the paper will evaluate whether the genuine amulets could be protected and authenticated, and by this process, with the legitimisation of the genuine amulet industry, it may be an area that may serve to contribute positively to the Thai economy, which is currently facinga difficult reset in these challenging post Covid-19 times.