Making Buddhist amulets in Lamphun
Various sizes depict the Buddha, prominent monks, animist spirits, fearsome ghosts, zombies, abstract designs, calligraphy, animals and other imagery.At Lamphun's 14th century Wat Phra Yuen, two white-robed, shaven-headed Buddhist nuns invite visitors to push a wad of clay into a small rubbery mold and make some of their own amulets while visiting -- any day of the week.
"It only take five minutes or so to make an amulet," says Mom Siriporn Phanjana, 62. "But it takes about one month for the clay to dry. The clay comes from many places. People who respect Buddha bring the clay. It has to dry slow, outdoors in the shade. We put them in an oven, to harden the amulets, at the very end.
The amulets are supposed to be deposited at the temple's spired, rectangular stupa, which displays four large, standing Buddha statues on the stupa's four sides and was reportedly built during King Kuna's 1355-1385 reign.
At Lamphun's 14th century Wat Phra Yuen, two white-robed, shaven-headed Buddhist nuns invite visitors to push a wad of clay into a small rubbery mold and make some of their own amulets while visiting -- any day of the week. "It only take five minutes
