🕯️Khemjira Must Know - a post that you might need - EP 1 🕯️
A collaboration project between Ella (moonrabbit1702) and me to research and compile details about Thai culture and beliefs shown in both Khemjira the novel and Khemjira the series! If you see a similar thread out there on X, this is an extended version of it. Shout out to @visualtaehyun and her language posts that also helped inspired this idea 💖
EP 2 , EP 3 here!
Disclaimer: Since both of us are not Thai & English native speakers, this is done in a more learning & sharing spirit. We have no intentions to spread misinformation or state ours as facts and we make sure to have a source for anything we present. If there are any mistakes, we sincerely apologize. We welcome everyone to correct any wrong information and contribute new ones as we’re sure that we might have missed as interfans! Let’s make the experience of watching Khemjira both fun and informative together.
The information in orange is from the official English translation of the novel. Any media or Tumblr post will be linked directly while other sources can be found in this References Google Docs.
🕯️A short introduction on Isan.
Northeast Thailand or Isan (อีสาน) (also as Isaan, Isarn, Issarn, Issan, Esan, Esarn) borders with Laos and Cambodia, consists of 20 provinces with a population of 22 million [1].
Map of Thailand showing the regions and provinces (redrawn after FAO 2008) [2, p. 10].
More info about all Thai regions can be read from this blog post: “Info for writer in Thai series fandom: Cultural differences in each area .” of @recentadultburnout [3]. I also found this photo from there. Please also check out their "Thai language and culture" index, it's really helpful and informative.
Isan is Thailand's largest region and takes up almost a third of Thailand’s land mass, yet, many of its provinces are still in poverty, have limited access to water and education [4]. Agriculture is the main sector of Isan’s economy [5].
The people of Isan are a mixture of Lao, Vietnamese, Khmer, Mon, Cham, and other Tai groups. It is also the origin of classic dishes like som tum (green papaya salad) and larb (ground meat salad) [6]. Isan is also famous for the production of the Queen of Thai silk - phrae wa (แพรวา) silk of the Phu Tai community [7]. More on phrae wa here.
In Isan, there are 12 Heet -14 Kong or Heet 12 - Kong 14. Heet 12 refers to the 12 traditional festivals or cultural practices followed each lunar month, reflecting Isan people’s belief in Buddhism, ancestors, and protective spirits. Kong 14 refers to 14 social norms that Isan people are expected to observe and be punished if violated (not through legal system from what I understand). It is important to note that some of the 12 Heet are celebrated all around Thailand, not limited to Isan only [8, p. 97–98].
The 12 Heet (ฮีตสิบสอง) are summarized [53][54] in this table by me, inspired by the table from “Heet-Kong Isaan (Isaan Tradition and Government): Problems and Potential of Natural Resources and Environment, Economy, Society and Local Wisdom of Isaan, Thailand” [56, p.4397]:
The 14 Kong are divided into 3 types depending on social statuses: (1) Administrators, Prince, Kings; (2) Buddhist monks; (3) Ordinary citizens. The 14 Kong for ordinary citizens, quote directly from “An Application of Isan Local Indigenous Knowledge in Suppression of Social Disputes” [55, p. 183], are:
1. Crops and foods after harvest should not be consumed immediately. The harvest should first be offered to the Buddhist Monks to make merit. 2. Do not be greedy and avid. Do not commit fraud, be selfish or be rude. 3. The community should build temple walls together and help each other build walls for each house. Towers of worship should be built on all four corners of the village and at each household. 4. A person's feet should be cleaned before entering the house. 5. When it is a Buddhist Sabbath day which is on the lunar calendar of 7-8-14-15 day, the people must pay homage to the house's Khon Sao (furnace), ladder and door. 6. A person's body and feed should be cleaned, bathed and properly dressed before sleep. 7. When it is Buddhist Sabbath day, the people should make offerings of flowers and incense to Buddhist monks. Wives should pay respect to their husbands. 8. When it is the 15th day of the lunar calendar, the people should invite Buddhist monks to their house to perform merit ceremony and receive food offerings from the host. 9. When providing food offerings to Buddhist Monks, the people should not keep the monks in waiting. During offerings the people should not be wearing shoes or sandles, should not be carrying umbrellas or wear head cloths. They should not be carrying children or carry any types of weapons or touch the monk's food vessel. 10. When Buddhist are confined to temples and monestary's during resentment period, the people should provide offerings of flowers, incense and candles. 11. When Buddhist monk's are about to pass, the people should kneel and pay their respects and homage before engaging in conversation 12. Do not step on the shadows of Buddhist monks. 13. Do not provide leftovers to Buddhist Monks and to husbands. If this crime is committed, then the guilty will be committing great sin in this life and the next. 14. When it is Buddhist Lent day, Oog Pansa, Songran, the people should refrain from intercourse or else their children will become stubborn and hard to teach.
The 4 major cities of Isan are Khorat, Khon Kaen, Udon Thani and Ubon Ratchathani - the setting of the story.
🕯️Khatha
They are all incanting khatha.
Khatha (คาถา) is sacred Pali prayers, mantras and other magical incantations. Tham script is said to be what khatha is written and spoken in [9, p. 34].
Three major traditional scripts in Isan are: Tham, Thainoi, and Khom.
The Khom script: from the ancient Khmer script, primarily used in stone inscriptions and Buddhist texts.
The Tham script: the script of Dharma - Buddha’s teachings, from the ancient Mon script; is used to inscribe Buddhist texts.
The Thainoi script: from the Sukhothai script, administrative texts and secular literature.
[10, p. 63-64]
🕯️Por Kru
The series chose to translate the title Por Kru as Grand Master.
Por Kru (พ่อครู) is a title given to a magic master. Por (พ่อ) is father [11] and Kru (ครู) is teacher [12].
The concept of kru in Thailand is not really straightforward as just teachers, especially in Isan where village culture remains prominent. In “Village Life Culture and Transition in Thailand's Northeast”, before modern schooling systems were built in these villages, boys were educated at temples. They learnt to write and read in Tham script, khatha, magic, and even expertise like carpentry, crafting,...from abbots and monks [9, p. 33-38]. This paragraph really summarized kru hundreds times better than we can.
“Khru is an essential concept in traditional village culture. [...] a khru is not simply a person who has passed knowledge to his disciples. Rather, a khru personifies the whole process of the passing of wisdom, knowledge and skills th[r]ough the generations. Before performing any important act, villagers will remind themselves of their khru in an act of recognition and gratitude, and with a declaration of faith in the values received. The khru symbolises the line of life and the spirit of tradition. People who are khru not only 'teach', in the modern sense of the word, telling, advising and explaining to their disciple, and providing knowhow, but also disseminate a 'spirit', a knowledge incorporating values and spirit, life, energy, and other forces. In fact, everything that the khru has and is, is given to the disciple. One might say that khru give their 'life' to their acolytes.” [9, p. 58]
>> Updated: Por can be understood as a gender indicator.
🕯️Khemjira’s name
Khemjira means "to forever be safe".
Khem (เขม) means เกษม “happiness” [13], ความสบายใจ "comfortableness" [14] and ความพ้นภัย - being out of danger [15][16]. It comes from the Pali khema and Sanskrit kṣema (क्षेम) [17, p. 383].
Jira (จิรา) is from Pali cira [17, p. 418] "lasting long" [18] and Sanskrit cira (चिर) "lasting a long time" [19].
We could not figure out why it’s a girl’s name. However, we think it’s related to the Buddhist bhikkhuni (nun) Khema, with the same Pali and Sanskrit root as Khem (เขม), and was one of the top female disciples of the Buddha [20]. Also the meaning of the name is happiness, safety, which maybe could be typically for girls rather than for boys in Thai culture, that’s just a guess.
🕯️Takrut (Khem)
In the series, they referred to it as amulets, there are many types of Thai amulets and Khem’s is a takrut. In the novel, it is specifically a tiger leather takrut.
Takrut (ตะกรุด) is a type of tubular amulet that originated from Thailand.
A long hollow cylinder with varying length and thickness, made from metal like gold, red gold, silver, copper, tin or lead, inscribed on the metal itself or a small piece of paper with Yantra (ยันต์). It can be worn with a gold or silver chain, usually as a necklace, a chain over the right shoulder, an armlet or a girdle [21][22][23]. There are 4 classes of magical amulets in Thai culture and takrut belongs to the class kruang pluk sek (เครื่องปลุกุเสก เครื่องปลุกเสก) - pluk sek means “to arouse the potency of a person or an object by the use of a spell or incantation”, in a sense “a consecration, a blessedness” [23].
🕯️Amulets (Villagers)
The amulet Chai is using here, I believe it’s khruang rang.
Thailand charms and amulets are called khong khlang (ของขลัง) - “sacred, potent objects or talismans” [23, p. 171-172] and can be divided into 4 major types or classes [51]:
(1) Khruang rang (เครื่องราง): Material substances turned into stone or copper charms. For protection. Usually wear on the body or mouth.
(2) Phra khruang (พระเครื่อง): Small Buddha figurines either by clay, votive tablets, casting or carving. Protection for people or homes or to fulfill a vow.
(3) Khruang pluk sek (เครื่องปลุกุเสก): Extremely powerful charms activated through spells or incantations.
(4) Wan ya (ว่านยา): Folk medicine. Medicinal plants and roots used by shamans to treat illness or heal and protect against spirits.
🕯️Yantra (ยันต์)
Yantra (ยันต์) is a sacred geometrical, animal, and deity design accompanied by Pali phrases that are said to offer the bearer power, protection, fortune, charisma, and other benefits. It is often written on cloth and also adorns the human body in the shape of spiritual tattoos known as sak yant or yantra tattoos [24].
I could not find any source on this scene so this is my personal interpretation: The talisman Jet gave Khem might be a piece of cloth or a paper with yantra on it. It burned, not necessarily because the ghost burned it, more like its power was spent protecting Khem.
>> Correction: It is ผ้ายันต์ /phaa yan/ = Yantra cloth
🕯️Luang Por
Both Jet and Khem referred to Khem’s father as Luang Por.
Luang Por (หลวงพ่อ) is a title given to a Thai male monk whose age is around that of the speaker's father. Luang (หลวง) could mean "royal; of the court; superior; official; great" [25]. Por (พ่อ) is father [11]. It refers to a Buddhist Monk and can be understood as 'venerable monk' ‘Reverend Father’, or ‘Main Father’ [26][27].
🕯️Khemjira prostrated to the floor before leaving his father.
In the novel, Khemjira was also described to be prostrating on the floor 3 times when meeting his father. We think this is the krap (กราบ) where one has to kneel down and bowing to the floor in reverence.
It can be described as kneeling with your heels under you, hands in a “budding lotus.” Lift them to your forehead, then place your right hand on the floor, then the left, leaving space between. Bow your forehead to the gap, return, and repeat three times slowly. Another way is to place both palms down at once [28, p. 14-18]. This is a free book published by the Fine Arts Department of Thailand on not just the krap but the wai, and their description, variations, meanings and even cultural significance in Thai, accompanied with images.
This is a video of someone doing the krap paying respect to Buddha [29].
🕯️Holy thread & Holy water
When Jet came to Paran, he was in the middle of a ritual where he was chanting khatha and pouring water on a woman with a white thread on her head.
Holy thread, or sai sin (สายสิญจน์), is a long white thread that monks hold while praying and chanting prayers. People believe it can protect against dangers, e.g., ghosts, spirits, demons and is auspicious [30]. It is used in many ceremonies in Thailand like weddings and funerals or as bracelets [31].
In a Monk Blessing Ceremony (Tor Ar Yu), a length of cotton thread is held by nine monks, connected with the congregation through ceremonial candles, a Buddhist altar, and a golden bowl of holy water. The prayers and ceremony last about thirty minutes. Afterward, the holy thread is then left with the family as the monks leave and the elders in the group cut pieces of the thread to make string bracelets [32].
Holy water (น้ำมนต์ / น้ำมนตร์) is combined of Water (น้ำม) and Mantra/ Incantation/ Magic (มนต์/มนตร์) [33] and the making of holy water in Thailand is originated from Buddhism [34, p. 313-314]. Holy water can be used for blessing; purifying; cure people from evil forces, black magic or illness; massage women during difficult childbirth, etc… [9, p. 26].
There are different ways to make holy water.
Seri Phongphit and Kevin Hewison described how a Maw nam mon (holy water healers) in Northeast Thailand’s villages make holy water: They prepare a bowl of clean water (usually rain water), a pair of candles and incense sticks, a pair of flowers, a small sum of money. The Maw lights a candle, chants khatha, and lets the candle wax fall into the water [9, p. 61-62].
"close up of Buddhist monk's hand pouring melt candle tears to the water for making blessing water in Thai wedd." - 📷: Gunnerleng
Holy items like magical substances or amulets can also empower water. If immersing amulets in Holy water while chanting, both the Holy water and the amulet are said to be even more powerful. Another method is to let magic candles drop wax into the water and “using the ritual knife (mitmor), or ritual dagger (Grich/Keris), to stir the water whilst performing incantations” [35].
Suggesting holy water for Ice Bucket Challenge, Banthoon Lamsam - the Kasikornbank Chairman and CEO - said true holy water should have candle wax floating on it [36]. (It's not like he is a holy water expert, I just find the thought of using holy water for this is so funny so I have to share LOL)
🕯️Karmic enemy
Technically, what he said here is “karmic enemy”.
Karmic enemy (เจ้ากรรมนายเวร) is a vengeful spirit whom a person hurt in the previous life; as a consequence, it is seeking revenge in the person's current life.
From เจ้า (jâao, “chief, lord, master; owner”) + กรรม (gam, “karma; retribution; sin”) + นาย (naai, “chief, lord, master”) + เวร (ween, “sin; revenge, vengeance”) [37]. It could also in the present life, as in the past, you may have done something bad to someone and they want to seek revenge now or in the future. It could be a person or animal, not necessarily a spirit [38].
It can also be used to “refer to people who we don't like but keep having to meet and interact with” i.e Pat calls Pran in Bad Buddy, from “Info for writer in Thai series fandom: Superstitions, beliefs and ghosts.” [39].
🕯️Kumanthong
The 2 little mischievous boys on Paran’s altar are called kumanthong.
Kuman thong (กุมารทอง) means “golden little boy”, originated from ancient Thai manuscripts of black magic, where the practitioner took still born fetuses, performed rituals to invite the child’s spirit and coated them with a gold leaf lacquer. This kind of method is illegal in Thailand, yet, there was a reported case in 2012. [40]
Nowadays, Kuman thong often exists in the shape of a child, like statues, dolls, almost like amulets [41]. People adopted and raised Kuman thong as their children, including taking care of them, feeding them, and worshipping them. They can bring luck, wealth or cause harm, depending on the worshipper’s request. They can protect the owner and their family from harm, support business, provide warnings of danger, guard the home, watching for thieves or enemies and prevent them from entering. [42]
🕯️Anguished spirit - Phi tai hong
The tunnel that bus was stuck in is full of Phi tai hong (ผีตายโหง).
It is the vengeful and restless spirit of a person who suddenly suffered a violent or cruel death. Tai hong means "to die an unnatural and violent death, such as being murdered or drowning" and Phi tai hong means the ghost of a person who died in such a manner.
This is also how all the male descendants before Khem died before their 21st birthday.
🕯️Paran’s tattoo
● Yantra Tattooing / Sak Yant (สักยันต์)
With sak (สัก) means “to tattoo”, sak yant could be understood as “magical or sacred tattoo” protect the bearer from various kinds of harm such as knives, swords and bullets [43]. It was originally used by warriors to protect themselves from arrows in the battlefield [42]. While tattooing, the master “murmurs Buddhist chants to imbue the tattoo with special powers [...] the person receiving the tattoo should say prayers, which will add to the powers of the tattoo.” [44, p. 5]
These tattoos are normally given by a Buddhist Monk or Brahmin Priest but can also be performed by a layman, traditionally using a long bamboo stick with a split sharpened point like a quill (mai sak) or a long metal spike (khem sak) [45]. Angelina Jolie came to Thailand to get her sak yant [46].
Sak yant can also be made from plant oils and it will be invisible after healing [39], which is how the series is going to present Paran’s chest tattoo. According to the author Cali, it will only be visible when he is using his power [47].
● Sarika Kuu Dok Bua tattoo
It is described in Chapter 6 of the novel that Paran got a Sarika Kuu Dok Bua tattoo from his chest to Adam’s apple. You can see it glowed up on the screenshot above.
It is a tattoo helps with love life and popularity. It consists of 2 elements: Salika Birds (นกสาลิกา/สาลิกา) and Lotus (Dok Bua).
Salika (สาลิกา) could means either magpie (Corvinae family) or myna/ mynah (Sturnidae family) [48]. In Thai folktales, it is able to imitate sounds and sweet-talk [49], and as a pair of love birds, bring mystical power of love, attraction and improving relationships [50]. A salika is a tiny takrut that can be kept between the teeth and will allow the user to become a very persuasive talker [51].
📷: เกื้อกูล ปลีหะจินดา [52]
Addition info and corrections (updated) by Bella 💖.
