Celebrities Jakkaphan Kansompot and Jakkapong Kansompot are proud of their massive collection of "Kuman Thong", or baby amulets.
PUSHING THEIR LUCK: Left, Jakkapong Kansompot and Jakkaphan Kansompot sit in their prayer room surrounded by statues and talismans. Above left, the pair show off two of their prized 'Kuman Thong'. (Photos by Thanarak Khunton)
In the prayer room at their home in Bangkok, several hundred Kuman Thong in different shapes, colours and sizes are displayed on shelves.
On the other side of the room, a plate containing bottles of water and puddings are placed in front of another collection of larger Kuman Thong, which are arranged in a small shrine.
"They are like our family, brothers and children," Jakkaphan, or Jack, told Spectrum.
"Call me superstitious, but this is part of the traditional belief of Thais," Jakkapong added.
Jakkaphan and Jakkapong, 41, once known as Jack and Jill in their days as famous singing twins, look every bit the modern professionals. Behind the slicked-back hair and designer jeans, they also believe the Kuman Thong have provided them with protection and support.
It started in 1997 when their business was hard hit by the economic crisis. Then teenage boys, the pair did not know what to turn to. Their mother gave them a Kuman Thong which once belonged to their grandfather.
"We were looking for something to hold on to. We prayed for the Kuman Thong's support to help us succeed. And it worked," Jakkapong said.
Today, they have 1,689 Kuman Thong in their collection.
THE LUCKY COUNTRY
Jakkaphan and Jakkapong are among many Thais who believe that possessing lucky charms will help bring them good fortune, security and protection.
For instance, a "Khun Phaen" amulet is believed to make the bearer more charming. People wear "Jaturakham Ramtap" because they believe it protects them from danger. Many shops have a "Nang Kwak", a small woman statue beckoning visitors, because they believe it will increase the number of customers.
The popularity of Kuman Thong can be traced to the Ayutthaya period, and myths and superstitions have followed them throughout the centuries. The most controversial is the belief they were made from the body parts of dead babies.
Kuman Thong were famously mentioned in The Tale of Khun Chang Khun Phaen folklore, set in the late 1500s. In the story, Khun Phaen made an amulet out of his child's foetus by performing a black magic ritual. The unborn child then became a ghost called Kuman Thong, or "golden boy". The folklore said Khun Phaen used the Kuman Thong for his protection on the battlefield.
These days, it is believed the Kuman Thong will bring good fortune.
GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY
Kanakorn Chaijirachod, 26, owns Mahaniyom, a shop which specialises in Kuman Thong, on the fourth floor of Bangkok's Union Mall. A life-sized black baby statue has been place in front, a charm to improve the shop's fortune. One customer asked about the price, but Mr Kanakorn told them, "That one is not for sale."
"Many people place their Kuman Thong in front of the shop because they believe it will help boost their business in the same way as Nang Kwak," he said.
Dutchanee Kuman Thong, or Kuman Thong Index, in the Pantip Ngam Wong Wan mall, is another popular shop that specialises in the lucky charms.
Mr Wuthichai, the 28-year-old owner who did not want his full name revealed, said Kuman Thong prices at his shop ranged from 100 baht to 100,000 baht depending on the materials used, the age of the item and where it was produced.
A Kuman Thong produced in 1942 and blessed by well-known monk Luang Po Tae is among the rarest and most expensive.
Asked where the body parts for producing Kuman Thong were obtained from, Mr Wuthichai said: "It is illegal to obtain body parts. Metal nails from a coffin will work as well."
CLOSE CONNECTIONS
People's belief in the supernatural power of Kuman Thong may have something to do with the psychological and emotional bond between mother and child.
"A mother's love is the most powerful of all. After all, the women's ability to give birth is the source of Thai fascination in Nang Nak, the most iconic ghost in Thailand, who died while giving birth," Jakkapong said.
"And Kuman Thong is like a child who needs care and proper attention. If we constantly make merit for them, we will receive good things in return."
Mr Kanakorn said, "We may have one-way relationship with other supernatural beings, such as God, when we pray to them. But for Kuman Thong, it is like we have a child or something that belongs to us only."
The Thai fascination with Kuman Thong also reflects people's curiosity about life after death. "Kuman Thong are believed to be ghosts waiting to be reincarnated. The more the owner does good deeds, the better the place Kuman Thong will be born into in the next life," Jakkaphan said.
Walailuk University School of Management assistant professor Siwarit Pongsakornrungsilp and University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce lecturer Theeranuch Pusaksrikit wrote a research paper called "Beliefs and Behaviours of Thai Amulet Consumers". They found that Thai consumers who possess such amulets share their views and exchange their experiences among a community of like-minded people, many of them discussing their beliefs on websites.
The research showed the consumers are eager to share their experience to enjoy a sense of community. The "shared consumer experience" gives the purchasers a sense of contentment, and they gain a sense of satisfaction from possessing hard-to-find items.
There are many websites devoted to topics relating to Kuman Thong, such as the Kuman Thong Lovers Club website. There, members share their experiences and detail where to find genuine Kuman Thong statues and amulets.
The "Kumarnthong Club" Facebook page has more than 1,000 members, who are planning a meeting of people who are passionate about Kuman Thong in January. Another Facebook page called "Kumanthong Thailand" shows pictures of people making merit to Kuman Thong and provides information about antique Kuman Thong amulets.
CONTROVERSIAL MATERIALS
Kuman Thong are controversial because of the materials used in the amulets' production. Two years ago, Thai police arrested a Briton of Taiwanese descent for illegally procuring six foetuses. It is believed that the foetuses, found stuffed inside a suitcase, were meant to produce Kuman Thong.
Pol Col Wiwat Kamchamnan, who oversaw the case, told Spectrum that some people smuggle body parts for their collection and to produce talismans or amulets, especially Kuman Thong. They often steal body parts from hospitals. In other cases, undertakers sold anonymous foetuses or body parts to the black market.
Despite the threat of penalties of up to one-year imprisonment and a 2,000-baht fine, people continue to steal body parts for the black market. "They believe that a talisman with body parts will bring them fortune," Pol Col Wiwat said.
Asked where thieves can find body parts of the infants, Pol Col Wiwat said, "There are news incidents about abandoned infants and foetuses from unready mothers almost every day. Some of these may find their way to the procurer.
"I want to tell the hospitals and the morgues to take good care of the bodies in their care to prevent such incidents from happening again."
A photo of two preserved foetuses, which were used in the past to make Kuman Thong.