Spirit houses are common in Thailand and no doubt you’ve seen them outside homes, hotels, malls and even on farmland.
But what are these spirit houses and why do people have them?
Ask a Thai and the answer you’re likely to get will be something along the lines of “to keep the ghosts happy” – which is accurate but not the whole story.
In this post I dig a little deeper to give us all a better understanding of these miniature temple-like structures and their significance in Thai culture.
Spirit Houses in Thailand
There are two Thai spirit houses commonly seen in Thailand, and usually seen standing next to each other outside of a property. These small shrines, perched on pedestals, house guardian spirits that protect the property and offer good fortune.
Similar spirit houses are also found in neighboring Cambodia, Laos, and Burma.
The first spirit house is the single pillared “San Phra…
