Are you in need of some luck, need something to boost your love life, or protection from evil spirits, fatal accidents or black magic? Well if you’re in Thailand, you are in the right place! The solution to your problems may be found in the form of small Buddhist amulets we call “Phra Kreung”. These amulets come in many shapes and forms, from the most popular ones depicting Lord Buddha, to famous guru monks, animals, or even phalluses. Amulet collecting is very popular here in Thailand and neighboring countries such as Singapore, Malaysia, and Hong Kong. Serious collectors can have several hundreds or thousand of pieces in their collection (such as my father in-law). I have a couple of amulets myself (no, not the phallus)….hey! I’ll take all the luck and protection I can get, it’s a “dog-eat-dog” world out there!

You can call us what you like, but the belief in the power of these amulets is no joke to us. It’s serious stuff and serious business here nowadays. It’s estimated that the amulet trade is worth some 1 billion USD, with entrepreneurs taking the trade online, making these amulets available to the rest of the world via eBay and retail websites.
The prices of these amulets can range anywhere from a mere 40 Baht to a whopping 40 Million Baht! Only a serious collector with acute knowledge and deep pockets would be able to fork out this much cash.

These “high-end” amulets are usually owned by businessmen, politicians or “tough guys” in need of extra luck or protection. An amulet commanding high prices are those that are hard to come by and are blessed by highly revered monks. An example is a “Somdej” of Wat Rakang (Rakang Temple) which was made and blessed by Somdej Phra Phutacharn Toh (one of Thailand’s greatest guru monk) around 1857. Somdej Toh gave these amulets to his disciples and lay people alike when he was invited for a meal or merit making ceremony. Due to the small numbers made and miraculous accounts around this amulet, it is very much sought after nowadays. It’s been reported that this amulet can be had for about 10 to 40 million Baht, if you’re lucky enough to find a seller with a genuine piece!

With so much money involved, you can bet there are counterfeits out there, and with that a whole profession has evolved around identifying the genuine from the fakes. These people are known as “Sien Phra” or amulet gurus, they pride themselves in being a history expert, knowing when, where, how and whom made the amulet. They’re keen on intricate details of the real pieces and are able to make an identification based on imperfections, materials used and other distinctions. There are many magazines here dedicated to amulet collecting, providing education on identification of genuine pieces, showcasing extremely rare amulets, and of course advertisements of amulets for sales.

For a glimpse of what this is all about, you need to check out Tah Prachan, the biggest and most famous amulet trading area. It’s located right along the Chao Phraya River near the Grand Palace (Wat Phra Keo), just head towards to the water. There, you will find the sidewalk lined with men squatting over their goods that are spread on the ground. People with a passion for amulet from all over the world congregate in this area daily. They are there to buy, sell, discuss and share some of their expert knowledge. You’ll see some people intently examining an amulet with their magnification glass while others are intensely negotiating the price. It’s a lively and bizarre atmosphere being surrounded by so many interesting looking amulets, mixed with the endless food carts selling noodles and grilled chicken. It’s definitely a good place to experience something new, have some noodles, and perhaps buy some luck for yourself…have fun and enjoy!

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