The origins of the Thai Spirit House reach back to the time before Buddhism arrived in the region. The early Tai* people practiced spirit worship or animism and many of the old animistic beliefs still exist in Thailand today. The most obvious of these is the spirit house which is found at every home and business. According to folklore, spirits are everywhere and live in all sorts of places in nature from trees to large rocks, the intersection between two paths to vacant land. Before building on a piece of land it is important to consult with spirits through the intermediation of a Brahmin priest who may offer presents or a sacrifice to the spirits. It's interesting to note that this must be done by a Brahmin priest and not a Buddhist monk. The purpose of the spirit house is to provide an acceptable home for the spirits which are either good or bad. It is important to keep the spirits content and they will in turn help you make money and keep peace and harmony in your home. However, should the spirits feel neglected they are likely to cause some misfortune such as sickness or an accident. The inside of the spirit house is one open room with a veranda in front. Spirits can also be mischievous, so it is important to keep them comfortable and occupied in their home. This can be done by furnishing the spirit house with small figures such as a man and a woman along with an elephant and horse and maybe a dancing woman. There are many types of spirits, but Thais are primarily concerned with the "San Phra Phum" or Guardian Spirits of the Land. It is important to offer a prayer with 3 or 5 sticks of incense and food such as two oranges or two bananas and water or tea to the spirits every morning. In this way they will watch over and protect the home and land. * The term Tai refers to the ethnic group which settled in the Yunnan Province of China, the Shan States of Burma, Laos, northern Vietnam as well as Thailand. The term Thai refers to the nationality and customs of Thailand. May 10, 2002 The Kingdom of Lanna encompassed what are now the northern provinces of Thailand today: Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Lamphun, Lampang, Phrae and Nan. The earliest settlers were the Mon civilization who were related to the Khmers of Cambodia. The Mon culture flourished from the 6th century on and they established their capital at Haripunchai, the present day site of Lamphun. Later, the ethnic group, the Tai Yai, began their migration into Lanna, central Thailand, Burma and Laos from southern China. Today, Chiang Saen is just a small village in the midst of ancient ruins on the banks of the Mekong River, but this was the home of the future King Mengrai who founded the Kingdom of Lanna in the late 13th century. The new king chose Chiang Rai as his capital. He moved on to conquer the Mon capital of Haripunchai and eventually subdued the entire area from the Mekong River to the west to the border of Burma to the west, and south to the Kingdom of Sukhothai. The capital of Lanna was moved to Chiang Mai in 1345 and the city had become a major cultural city by the 15th century. However, due to its location, Lanna was sought after by both the Burmese and the Siamese of central Thailand as a buffer state between the two competing governments and armies. The Burmese occupied Lanna in 1556 and for the next two centuries control passed between the Burmese and the Thais to the south with occasional periods of self-rule. Due to the constant battles with the Burmese, the capital city of Chiang Mai was deserted in 1776 for period of 15 years. After this period the city never regained its former status as a major cultural center. All of Lanna was then annexed by the Siamese government and the last ruler of Chiang Mai was replaced by a governor appointed by Bangkok in 1939. The term Lanna literally means "one million rice fields" and it developed a distinct culture and language which still exist today. After King Mengrai Lanna was ruled by princes who each ruled over a principality or Muang. Even today the people of northern Thailand refer to themselves as "Khon Muang" or the people of the principalities and their language, Kham Muang, can still be heard today, especially in the villages outside the cities. Unfortunately, only a few older monks can read the written language, which has its own script. The mountains and valleys of northern Thailand are the tail end of the mighty Himalayas. As a result the Lanna area today contains a great deal of diversity as each valley developed a distinct accent and the various hill tribe peoples in the mountains each retain their own languages, customs and dress. The Lanna architecture is also distinct from that of the rest of Thailand and shows its Burmese influences. The food is also different with sticky rice being the staple. Today, the northern Thais are proud of their cultural heritage as the people of the principalities as well as people from the Land of Smiles. June 24, 2002
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The Kingdom of Lanna

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 Updated: Thu Feb 2, 2012