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🕯️Khemjira Must Know - a post that you might need - EP 2 🕯️

A collaboration project with Ella (moonrabbit1702) 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 Twitter, this is an extended version of it.

Check out EP 1 post if you missed it!!! Sorry for the late post, a lot of things have been piled up in my life and unfortunately as an adult, I need to prioritize them 😔 I'm on a little vacation too so if there is any formatting or grammar errors, it's probably my 4-hour sleep kicking in, I apologize 🙏🏻

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.

1. Black magic practitioner (หมอสายดํา) - White magic practitioner (หมอสายขาว)

In “Buddhism and the spirit cults in North-east Thailand”, Dr. Tambiah mentioned the general purposes of both types of magic.

White magic: beneficial purposes; invoking the appearance of deities; pursuit of ultimate liberation.

Black magic: often for nefarious purposes; calling and commanding lower spiritual beings.

[1, p. 325]

As mentioned in the EP 1 thread, children in Northeast villages used to learn their knowledge in temples, from abbots or monks. S. Phongphit and K. Hewison also mentioned some of them would also be taught folk arts, known as vija, “the 'magic' arts of self-defence and the curing of illnesses”. [2, p. 37]

White magic: all those vija that are not harmful or are beneficial to the person who has it, and to others.

Black magic: the vija learned and performed in order to harm other persons.

[2, p.40]

Black magic is supposed to be for self-defence and is instructed to not be misused by the masters. Yet, it’s difficult to make sure the disciples will not exploit it for their own personal gains, whether it be envy, revenge or getting rid of their enemies. [2, p.60]

Black magic could range from oils, cutting a straw or bamboo figurine of the victim to poisonous herbs and substances, objects with sacred formulas in the victim’s food. The results are also varied: the victim might go crazy, be wounded or suffer and die. [2, p. 40]

Por kru Sek performing black magic - blood magic

Blood magic is said to be an esoteric practice grounded in the ancient belief that blood represents the “water of life,” the vital essence that sustains the body. Because of its symbolic value, blood is considered a powerful offering, with the sacrifice of human or animal blood regarded as a high price appropriate to the desired outcome. In ritual contexts, blood may be used to purify or consecrate objects, to empower tools or inscriptions, to form protective circles, or as the required cost for high-intensity spells such as conjurations. It is also employed in divinatory practices like scrying.

More broadly, blood magic reflects a system of sacrifice, where bodily matter or life-energy is exchanged for esoteric effects. While blood is the most common medium, other forms of sacrifice, such as life, death, or material hardship… are also recognized. However, the practice is understood to involve significant risks: the use of one’s own blood may weaken the practitioner, while reliance on the blood of others can incur serious spiritual consequences or moral debts. [3]

EP 2: Por kru Sek used his blood

EP 1: When he met Khem, he had already gotten the bandages.

2. Shaman - Mor tham (หมอธรรม)

"lol let's break this joke down im dying: หมอธรรม (mor tham): shaman หมอ (mor): doctor ทำ (tham): do (verb) => doctor do = mor tham = shaman (in that logic)"

Translation: moonrabbit1702

As Keng said, his character - Paran, is a mor tham.

A mor tham (หมอธรรม) is often referred to as a spiritual healer or exorcist in rural Isan culture. Mor tham are respected figures in the community who can ward off evil, treat illnesses, and perform protective rites. [4]

Cultural Role and Definition

Mor tham, literally meaning “doctor of Dharma”, are often laypersons or former monks who study the Dharma - Buddha’s teachings. They perform rituals, heal illnesses believed to be caused by spirits or curses, and help people in spiritual and ritual matters. There are a variety of healing methods: sacred formula, water, herbal medicine, oils,...[2, p. 79] They often have learnt their skills while ordaining as monks, from relatives or from kru. To maintain their skills and power, rules and prescriptions must be strictly observed, or else it may cause them trouble and weaken their abilities, for example: they must not sit on stairs, not go under banana trees, not eat snake meat,...[2, p. 78]

Mor tham act as folk mediators between the material and spiritual realms, responding to afflictions from restless spirits or malevolent forces.

📷: Thairath

Social and Cultural Significance [5]

Psychological support: offering mental resilience and spiritual comfort.

Social control: fostering moral norms both internally (via conscience) and externally (through ritual sanctions or guidance).

Their influence extends across the community, economy, and local governance through ritual networks and teacher–disciple relationships.

Mor tham in villages often have high moral integrity and will make personal sacrifices for the community if needed, as they feel it is their duty and responsibility. Therefore, they are well respected by the villagers and considered an important support for the community. [2, p. 61]

3. In the novel: How Paran reached Rampheung - Kasina

“Paran’s pitch black eyes focused on the candle’s flame, using fire kasina to prevent it from flickering in the wind. Once his concentration was ready, he clasped his hands in prayer and began to recite a khatha. [...] His spirit split and went off in search of the malevolent soul that was Khemjira’s karmic enemy - a woman from four centuries ago dressed in the garb of a slave from that era.”

Kasina is a Pali word, meaning “whole”, “entire”, and “an object for meditation” [6]

Fire Kasina is a meditation practice centered on the element of fire, recognized in both Mahayana and Theravada traditions. Besides “deeper mindfulness and concentration”, practitioners were said to achieve “various magical and mental powers”, control fire, create sparks, and even burn selectively [7].

In Fire Kasina meditation, the meditator focuses on a light source until an afterimage appears. They then focus on that afterimage as the object of meditation, with eyes open or closed, not looking at the light source. A series of internal visual experiences unfolds. When these visual effects fade, they return to the light and repeat the process. [8]

4. Holy threads hanging around Paran’s house

As mentioned in the EP 1 thread, holy thread (สายสิญจน์) - a long white thread that monks hold while praying and chanting prayers - is believed to be able to protect against dangers [9]. In the novel, it is described that Paran himself tied the thread to trunks of trees until they circled the entire house, before Rampheung came with her hordes of spirits. In the series, the thread is seen to be tied to the pegs circling his house.

5. Paran’s invocation

From the novel:

“I, Paran Ruengdet, call upon the power of my revered teachers, all the Buddhas, the Dharma, the Sangha, my parents, my spiritual parents, my spiritual protectors of every birth, my angelic guardians, as well as the great gods, Bodhisattvas, and the great ones in the nineteen levels of heaven, sixteen levels of brahma-loka heaven, fifteen worlds, fourteen realms of Nagas, and twenty-one realms of Phra Mae Thorani, and goddess Ganga. Please protect, guard, keep safe myself, my loved ones, my students, and every life in this village from any harm or danger.”

The series:

“I, Paran Ruengdet, humbly invoke the power of all my revered masters, all Enlightened Buddhas, the Buddha, the Dhamma, the Sangha; my parents in this life and in the spirit realm; the divine beings who have cared for me in every life; the guardian deities who protect me; the great gods; the Great Bodhisattvas; all mighty divine beings in the 19 planes of heaven, the 16 planes of Brahma realm, the 15 planes below the summit of Mount Meru, the 14 planes of the lower realms, and the 21 goddesses of Earth and Water. I seek your divine protection over my life, the lives of those I love, my disciples and followers, and everyone in this village that no harm may come near.”

It is also believed that one must have high merit to be able to perform this chant

*Quick note: In the series, Paran did mention Phra Mae Thorani and goddess Ganga, but the translation is different from the novel

As for the khatha An Invitation to the Devas before that, I will refer to @visualtaehyun 's Khemjira Languages Post because both me and Ella could not identify if it's the same as in the novel 😅

"from the novel, Ch.7: "'Angels Invitation Chanting' (คาถาชุมนุมเทวดา.) It is a khatha that is used to summon all angels to listen to the Buddha's teachings so that they can help protect humans from danger." "

Phra Mae Thorani (พระแม่ธรณี)

📷: Frédéric Gloor

Phra Mae Thorani (Vasundharā) (พระแม่ธรณี) is Mother Earth Goddess in Thailand.

She is often depicted rising up from the earth, wringing water from her hair to symbolize the Buddha's merit and wash away evil [11]. The Metropolitan Waterworks Authority (การประปานครหลวง), Provincial Waterworks Authority (การประปาส่วนภูมิภาค) and the Thailand Democrat Party feature her on their logos [12].

Goddess Ganga (พระแม่คงคา)

🎨: Indra Sharma (via Chitravali)

Goddess Ganga (Phra Mae Khongkha) (พระแม่คงคา) is the personification of the river Ganges, also known as the Thai Goddess of water.

She is described as “a fair, beautiful woman, riding a divine crocodile-like creature called the makara” and her power is of purification as well as forgiveness of sins [13]. With the critical role of water in agriculture, transportation and daily life, Thai people float small boats of offerings as a way to thank her and ask forgiveness for polluting or misusing water during the annual Loy Krathong festival [14].

Bonus: Phra Pirun (พระพิรุณ)

📷: Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives (Thailand) (via Wikipedia)

Phra Pirun (Varuna) is the Thai God of Water and Rain. He is usually shown holding a sword upright in one hand, walking on a naga whose mouth releases flowing water [36]. There is a belief that if you drink “an oath of allegiance” and you betray it, you will be punished by Pra Pirun as he loves justice and deeply despises lying and breaking promises [37]. He is featured on the logo of the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives [38].

He was not explicitly mentioned in the invocation but he was in the novel so I want to include him. Plus, a KengNamping fan went to the NCT Dream concert posted this viral post (ft. New's quote). It was raining heavily and fans were drenched. Many joked that it was because he heard Paran from the series so he made it rain as requested 😆 Ex: (1) (2) (3) (4)

6. The way Khem, Jet, and the villagers sit in front of Paran

In Thailand, the head is considered to be the highest and most sacred part of the body. Subsequently, the feet are considered to be the lowest, dirtiest and least sacred body parts [15].

The word kra-mom (กระหม่อม) is the 1st person pronoun addressing the royalty [16] while also meaning the top part of your head [17]. Fa bat / fa phra ba (ฝ่าบาท / ฝ่าพระบาท) is the 2nd person pronoun for royalty [16] and refers to the sole of one’s feet or "the soles of your holy feet" [18]. Using these, it “implies the speaker is basically addressing only the lowest part of a royal('s body) while placing himself (and the highest part of his own body) lower than that still.” [19] (once again, thank you Bella @visualtaehyun for helping me finding these posts T-T)

It is good manners to lower your head when walking past an elder or senior [20]. Based on the person you’re interacting with, you should not be higher than their head if they are more respected and/or have a higher social status than you. It would imply social seniority and be seen as rude. When talking to a monk, Thai people also have their heads lower than his head. [21] Since in Thai village culture, a shaman holds a crucial role and is extremely respected, it is highly likely that some etiquette regarding monks apply to shamans as well.

Similarly, you have to sit in a way that avoids touching or pointing the soles of your feet towards others, especially people with higher social status [22].

We could not find this specific sitting posture, but here is a digital book on multiple Thai etiquette, including sitting, sitting on the chair, salutation, giving and receiving,... The closest I can find it’s this posture called nang phap phiap (นั่งพับเพียบ). [23, p. 122]

📷: Thai Etiquette, Etiquette in Society - Department of Cultural Promotion

7. Ghost Cover Eyes / Ghosts Blocking the Eyes (ผีบังตา)

On the way to Rae's house, Jet and Khem drove in circles.

This is phii bang ta (ผีบังตา), which could be translated literally as Ghosts Blocking the Eyes - a phenomenon when you are unable to see or find the thing or the people you want to find and it is believed a ghost has hidden it [24]. It could happen when “anyone who insults or damages the forest might get punished by making them lost in the forest by hiding the offender from other people” from @recentadultburnout 's "Info for writer in Thai series fandom: Superstitions, beliefs and ghosts" post [25].

Thai news about people allegedly experienced this: [26] [27]

A Japanese fan said it’s similar to ��隠し(kamikakushi) means hidden by god. [28]

Vietnam also has Ghost Hiding (Ma giấu) - hiding people or objects for a long time before being found, if ever. Additionally, Ghost Leading (Ma dắt) - people going around in one place without knowing or being led to a place not their destination.

In Chinese folklore, Ghost Cover Eyes (鬼遮眼) is “ghosts invade the bodies of those with low vitality and deliberately obscure their visual nerves, causing them to overlook obvious dangers (such as fast-moving vehicles, cliff edges, deep ponds, etc.), and stepping into potentially deadly situations” [29]. Thus, that person’s spirit might replace the ghost to haunt that place, in turn, said ghost is free. Ghost Build a Wall (鬼打墙) is similar, in which people going in circles as if a ghost “built walls to block his intended path” [30]. These two situations happened a lot in Chinese novels with spiritual and mystical themes.

8. Jet can see spirits if Paran lets him

In EP1, Thong and Ek asked Pharan to remove the spell so Jett could see them. In EP2, Jett asked Paran to let him see spirits again and Paran responded that Jett’s parents would not be pleased with it. This might imply he used to be able to see spirits and that ability was limited by Paran himself.

We theorized this unique ability may be Dibba-cakkhu or ทิพยจักษุ (thippayachak / ทิพย-จักษุ) in Thai, a Buddhist / Pali term. It is referred to as ‘divine eye’ “one of the 6 higher powers abhiññā, and one of the three kinds of knowledge tevijjā” [31], meaning the ability to see other realms, heavens, hells, and spirits, see everything from all sides and distances. [32] [33] This is just a theory, there is no explanation on why Jet can see spirits in the novel🙏🏻

9. Beliefs about Ghosts & Spirits in Isan

In Isan, ghosts / spirits - phii (ผี) can be divided into 2 categories: good phii and evil phii. [2, p. 53-54]

Good phii: including good gods, angels and guardian spirits of the community and nature like rice fields, water, family, forest,...

Evil phii: free-floating, malevolent and harmful to people, like entering people for nourishment.

The deceased, the ancestors are also believed to become phii, “according to the past deeds of the deceased during his or her lifetime” [2, p. 28]. They are not supposed to wander the human world, but they may return sometimes to “visit” their family [2, p. 52].

In the article “A Folk Taxonomy of Terms for Ghosts and Spirits in Thai”, Manasikarn and Amara gave a more detailed and technical approach to these terms. Phii (ผี) (1), then, is ultimately composed of both ghost and spirit, meaning “A supernatural being manifested in any form, which may be visible or invisible.” Under that category, we got, quote:

“phii (ผี) (2) ‘ghost’ A supernatural being transformed from a deceased person or animal. It is visible and touchable and can appear in any shape. (opposite to winyaan ‘spirit’) winyaan (วิญญาณ) ‘spirit’ A spirit, which is intangible, invisible and has no identifiable form. (opposite to phii(2) ‘ghost’)” [34]

I highly recommend checking out that entire article. It's extremely helpful to understand the supernatural beings in Thai culture. Since there is no official definition for these spirits and ghosts, this article highlighted their differences and make it easier to digest.

From: M. Hengsuwan and A. Prasithrathsint, “A Folk Taxonomy of Terms for Ghosts and Spirits in Thai,” MANUSYA, vol. 17, no. 2, pp. 29–49, 2014, doi: 10.1163/26659077-01702003.

10. Being Possessed & Exorcism

There are quite a few exorcism processes; however, most exorcisms are performed using magical incantations by a shaman specializing in ghost exorcism. [35]

It sometimes involves a kind of shock therapy like threatening, shaking, kicking or drawing blood of the alleged victim [1, p. 328].

#khemjira the series #khemjira #khemjira info #khemjira must survive #thai culture #thai language #namping napatsakorn #kengnamping #firstone wannakorn #tle matimun #domundi #hinblogging #i told ella that this is our newborn baby #gotta single-handedly increase that birth rate by birthing 10 more children

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