Spirit Houses - San Phra Phum

One of the more obvious aspects of Thai Culture are Spirit Houses, San Phra Phum, sometimes known as San Jao Tii that can be seen in the gardens of homes, and outside offices, shops and restaurants all over Thailand. Thailand may or may not be the Land of Smiles but it is certainly the Land of Contradictions, not more so than when it comes to the religious beliefs of its people.

Thailand is a Buddhist Country (94%) with its roots steeped firmly in Animism and with a great love and reverence for many of the Hindu Gods. Thai Spirit Houses owe their origin to the ancient animist beliefs that Spirits of all kinds are everywhere with some of them inhabiting trees, buildings and the very ground we stand on. Whenever a new building is constructed, some of these Spirits will be disturbed. Thai people will go to great lengths to appease these Spirits and will have a special house constructed to house the displaced Spirit. These Spirit Houses which can vary in grandeur from the simple to the spectacular, are called San Phra Phum from the Sanskrit which means Guardian Spirit of the Land, and not to be confused with another type of Spirit House, the San Phra Phrom which, although it can sometimes look similar to a San Phra Phum, serves an entirely different purpose. The Spirit House will frequently be decorated with small figurines of animals and more often than not will also have figurines of an old man and an old woman which represent the guardians of the land.

Like many of Thailand’s ancient rituals, the rules for installing a San Phra Phum Spirit House are complex so most Thai people will employ a Brahmin Priest or Ajarn (never a Buddhist Monk) to ensure the situation of the Spirit House will please the spirits. Among the many considerations are the direction the Spirit House will face, whether the Spirit House will ever fall in the shade of the main building, and what will the Spirit House overlook. When all these matters have been attended to satisfactorily, a small ceremony will be carried out to invite the Spirit to the new dwelling.

Spirits can be fickle and at times downright mischievous so Thai people will make offerings of flowers, incense sticks, food and drinks etc to the Spirit. These will be placed on a small platform in front of the San Phra Phum. This ritual should be, although is not always, carried out on a daily basis and is often accompanied by the recitation of a Buddhist prayer or Mantra. In return, the house holders hope the Spirit will watch over their property and give protection to all those who dwell in it. This ritual offering is known as Wai Jao Tii.

At one time, although much less common today, it was usual for visitors to a house to pay their respects at the householders San Phra Phum and ask the Guardian Spirit for permission to enter.

If this was not carried out properly, the visitor would often be denied entry. Whilst many Westerners may find a Thai’s belief in Spirits hard to come to grips with, to a Thai, Spirit Houses are most sacred objects and visitors should treat them with respect. Many people, including some foreigners, move into houses where there is already a San Phra Phum. These should not just be demolished and thrown away but, as with the erection of a new Spirit House, a proper ceremony should be carried out before moving the San Phra Phum. Throughout Thailand you will come across many places with vast numbers of San Phra Phum, like a Spirit House graveyard, where all the unused Spirit Houses are placed. A better alternative may be to leave the old Spirit House in place and erect a new one.