Thai Buddha amulet

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A Thai Buddha amulet (Thai: พระเครื่อง; RTGS: phrakhrueang), often referred to academically as a "votive tablet", is a type of Thai Buddhist blessed item. It is used to raise funds to help a temple's operations. A Thai Buddhist monk will give an amulet to Buddhists as a "gift" after they donate money or offerings to the temple. The amulets are then no longer considered a "gift" but a "tool" to enhance luck in different aspects of life. ^[1] Local people also use amulets to improve their marriage, wealth, health, love, and relationships.

It is the Thai tradition to place amulets under a stupa or other temple structure during its construction. When the structure collapses, many amulets can be found, with some amulets being centuries old .^[2][3]

Almost every Thai Buddhist has at least one amulet. It is common to see both young and elderly people wear at least one amulet around the neck to feel closer to Buddha.

Amulets are made using the Buddha image, an image of a famous monk, and sometimes even an image of the monks who made the amulets. Amulets vary in size, shape, and materials such as plaster, bone, wood, or metal. They may include ash from incense or old temple structures or hair from a famous monk to add protective power to the amulets.^[4][5] After the amulets are made, the maker will then ask the monks who live in the temple, or monks from other temples, to congregate in order to chant, pray, and bless the amulets. This process can take anywhere from a week to more than three years to complete.

When a new amulet is freshly made from plaster, its raw appearance may not be very attractive. By adding a protective casing, the appearance of the amulet is enhanced and, at the same time, the amulet inside is protected. The price of an amulet not only depends on its appearance, but also on its scarcity, its maker, its age, and its divine powers.

Famous markets for amulets include the Tha Phrachan Market next to Thammasat University.^[6] However, many amulets at the market are considered to be fake replicas that have not been blessed by a monk ^{[contradictory]}. Genuine amulets are rarely found at the Tha Phrachan Market. Many collectors and devotees keep a trusted dealer of authentic amulets. The study and authentication of real amulets is as complex a matter as is to be found in the antique trade, or in similar niches such as stamp collecting.

Forgeries are rife, and it takes decades of study and experience to develop the skills needed to recognize authentic amulets. There are millions of editions from thousands of temples, spanning centuries, and it is not possible for one person to have the necessary knowledge to authenticate every single edition. Hence, each expert has their own chosen line of amulets, of a particular type, temple, or artisan, which they choose as their personal field of expertise.