Protection and Power in Siam: From Khun Chang Khun Phaen to the Buddha Amulet

Abstract

The main purpose of this article is to argue for the importance of protection as a concept for understanding religion, power, and social structuring in Thai tradition. Protection is a prominent motif in the Thai folk epic, The Tale of Khun Chang Khun Phaen, and the work describes a range of practices and devices sought to provide protection against various sources of danger. The article traces the origins of this "knowledge" and its modern adaptation into the Buddha amulet.