Kuman Tong and Ruk-Yom: the Fortune Makers Part 1

[dennis yong]

The myth about some talismans is mysterious because they are believed to possess spirits which sometimes show themselves to people in the house or the neighborhood. The said talismans are Kuman Tong and Ruk-Yom which both could bring good luck to your business and add charm to their owners, and protect them in case of danger. The Origin of Kuman Tong Kuman Tong has been a very popular talisman in Thai society. Nowadays we can see the statues of Kuman Tong placed in many stores because the storekeepers believe that he could help them increase the customers in their stores and he could also bring good luck to the owners. The myth of Kuman Tong was first appeared in the classic Thai literature, Kun Chang Kun Pan. Kun Pan, the protagonist of the story, discovered that Boa Klee, one of his wives, planed to poison him. He, therefore, murdered her, took a dead fetus from his wife's womb and decided to make his dead son Kuman Tong. Kum Pan burnt the dead fetus to make the body smaller, covered it with gold leaves, and wrapped him up with a sheet. Besides Fafeun sword and Si Mohk horse, Kuman Tong was one of the sacred things that Kun Pan tried to find all of his life. Kuman Tong was a very significant thing for Kun Pan because he was also his son. Moreover, Kuman Tong was a baby spirit; he could travel with Kun Pan everywhere unlike the other sacred things. Kuman Tong has been classified as a sacred talisman since Ayuttaya Period and he still gains the same reputation in the moment. Yet, we cannot create Kuman Tong in the same way with Kun Pan because it is illegal and immoral.