Khun Phaen Figure Creating Kuman Thong-10

Khun Phaen Figure Creating Kuman Thong-10 Measure Approx. 12 1/2" tall Materials: Hand carved teak wood statue painted by a Master Amulet Maker, painted and adorned with Sacred Yants and Ritualistic symbols Handcrafted in Thailand  Khun Chang Khun Phaen (Thai: ขุนช้างขุนแผน) is a long Thai epic poem which originated from a legend of Thai folklore, and is one of the most notable works in Thai literature. The work's entire length is over 20,000 couplets. Khun Chang and Khun Phaen are the leading male characters, where at this time in history, the title of "Khun" was a junior feudal title of respect given to male commoners. The story recounts the adventurous and amorous struggles of the three main protagonists, with Nang Phim Philalai as the third protagonist (who later changes her name to Wanthong). Much of their relationship is described as a tempestuous love triangle.  Khun Chang, Phlai Kaeo (who later is given the title, Khun Phaen), and Nang Phim Philalai (who later changes her name to Wanthong) are childhood friends in Suphanburi. Khun Phaen is handsome and intelligent, but poor because the King has executed his Khun Phaen's father and seized their family property. At his mother's insistence, Khun Phaen enters the Monastic Life as a novice to get the best education, and lead him away from poverty. In his studies at Temple, where magic and mysticism were honored and highly skilled practices, he surpassed many other novices with his innate talent and devotion to study. He also excelled at Military Skills and Love Magic. Khun Chang, (in contrast to Khun Phaen) is considered quite ugly and and not very intelligent, but from a family of great wealth and riches and well-connected at the King's Ayutthaya court. By age 15, Nang Phim is the belle and greatest beauty of Suphanburi. She meets Phlai Kaeo (Khun Phaen) when putting food in his almsbowl during Songkran Celebrations (Thai New Year). Sparks between them fly, and they develop a powerful attraction to each other. They have a passionate (and very scandalous) affair, with him shuttling between the Wat (Buddhist Monastery) and her bedroom. Khun Chang is also smitten by Nang Phim. He competes for her attention by using his wealth and status. He even offers to give her mother Nang Phim's weight in gold. Even this blatant attempt does not undermine her relationship with Khun Phaen, and they are soon married. After Phlai Kaeo (Khun Phaen) and Nang Phim are married, Khun Chang manipulates the King to send Khun Phaen on military service, and then later after Khun Phaen has been away, claims that he died in battle. When Khun Phaen finally returns victorious, Khun Chang then plots to have him banished from Ayutthaya for negligence on Government Service. Nang Phim (now Wanthong) resists Khun Chang constant advances during Khun Phaen's absence. But when Khun Phaen returns from war with another wife, they have a jealous quarrel. Wanthong breaks with Khun Phaen, and goes to live with Khun Chang, enjoying his devotion and the comforts afforded by his wealth. When Khun Phaen's second wife, Laothong, is taken into the palace by the King, Khun Phaen regrets abandoning Wanthong. He breaks into Khun Chang's house at the dead of night and convinces Wanthong to spirit away with him. At first she is reluctant to leave her comfortable existence, but the passion rekindles, and they flee to an idyllic but frugal sojourn in the forest. In revenge, Khun Chang now tells the King that Khun Phaen is mounting a rebellion. The King sends an Army detachment, which Khun Phaen defeats, killing two of its Officers. A warrant is then issued for his arrest. When Wanthong becomes pregnant, Khun Phaen decides to leave the forest and give himself up. At the trial, the charges of rebellion are disproved as false, and Khun Chang is heavily fined. However, Khun Phaen angers the King by asking for the release of his second wife, Laothong. The King is furious, and Khun Phaen is jailed, and left in prison for twelve years. After his imprisonment, Khun Chang abducts Wanthong and they again live together in Suphanburi. Wanthong soon gives birth to Phlai Ngam, her son with Khun Phaen. When Phlai Ngam is eight, Khun Chang tries to kill him. Phlai Ngam escapes to live in Kanchanaburi with his grandmother who teaches him from Khun Phaen's library. When the Kings of Ayutthaya and Chiang Mai quarrel over a beautiful daughter of the King of Vientiane, Phlai Ngam (Khun Phaen's son) volunteers to lead an Army to Chiang Mai, and successfully petitions for Khun Phaen's release. They capture the King of Chiang Mai, and return with the Vientiane Princess and a great haul of booty. As a reward, Khun Phaen now gains status as the governor of Kanchanaburi. Phlai Ngam is appointed Phra Wai, an Officer in the Royal Pages. Khun Chang gets drunk at Phra Wai's wedding, and the old rivalry returns. Phra Wai abducts Wanthong from Khun Chang's house, prompting Khun Chang to petition the King for redress. At the subsequent trial, the King demands that Wanthong finally decide between Khun Chang and Khun Phaen. She cannot, and is dumb-struck. In frustration over the ongoing dispute, the King orders her execution. Phra Wai pleads successfully with the King for a reprieve, but the order arrives too late to avoid her execution. The Magical Power of Khun Phaen Amulets and images: 1) Ability to naturally attract the opposite sex. 2) Projecting charm, trust, respect and admiration from others. 3) Inner strength to become indestructible, confident and courageous. 4) Ease in asking for favors and assistance from others. 5) Gain the "upper hand" in business ventures or career opportunities. 6) Strength and power to deflect and defeat one's enemies. 7) The ability to create. To take life's pain and create a positive outcome. 8) Victories in all aspects of life. Khun Phaen in his youth was a disciple of Archan Kong, a powerful Monk Magician who became his Guru, and Khun Phaen excelled in all magical studies and practices. Based on old legends, Khun Phaen was handsome of face and body, and compellingly attractive to ladies. Although he had many wives, still even more ladies fell in love with him despite his marital status. Khun Phaen had magical knowledge that he used during his illustrious military career. He used magic to make himself invulnerable and unseen to enemies, to change the marching track of the enemies to become a labyrinthine field, and to change leaves of the tree to become wasps to sting enemies. Khun Phaen is also a master in mantra or formulas with supernatural power. They are used for such purposes as stunning enemies, transforming his body into other forms, opening locks and chains, putting everyone else to sleep, and converting sheaves of grass into invulnerable spirit warriors. Khun Phaen also uses love formulas to captivate women, and to allay the wrath of the King. Khun Phaen was also the first who created Kuman Thong. When his third wife, Bua Klee died during childbirth, Khun Phaen brought the dead baby out from the womb of the dead Bua Klee. Khun Phaen spirited the remains of his dead child to the nearest Temple chanting hall where the Buddha image is placed. The Temple and it outer area are so sacred place that no mighty ghosts or spirits can enter. Based on the legend descriptions, Khun Phaen was chanting sacred mantras to invoke the spirit of the dead child back to this world while burning the dead baby’s body. The body of the child did not fully burn, and Khun Phaen covered the remains with gold leaf and Sacred Yants and Ritualistic Symbols and Magical Runes. The spirit that then arose from Khun Phaen's magical prowess and powerful ritual magic was reborn as his Spirit Warrior, Kuman Thong. Kuman Thong as Khun Phaen's Son and Spirit Warrior defended him against enemy spirits and dark magic, acted as a spy in gambling rounds to attain Khun Phaen even greater wealth and power, tipped him at cock fights to always choose the winning bird, and transported him at great speeds to any destination Khun Phaen desired. Another powerful Thai Amulet that originated in the story, is that of Khun Chang, as an Amulet for Wealth & Gambling Khun Chang was ugly of appearance and quite unintelligent and ill mannered, but rich and well-connected at the Ayutthaya court. He owned many gambling dens and fresh markets in Ayutthaya. In later Rattanakosin period when the poets made the story of Phra Khun Phaen legendary, his image also became an Amulet for Wealth, Skill in Gambling, and Luck in Cards and New Ventures.