Votive tablets began as sacred mementos of visits to holy places, but over time went through a process of change, acquiring, in the minds of believers, the ability to protect. In...

Votive tablets began as sacred mementos of visits to holy places, but over time went through a process of change, acquiring, in the minds of believers, the ability to protect. In the streets around Wat Mahathat in Bangkok, close to the Grand Palace, pavement stalls sell amulets, which are essentially votive Buddhist tablets to which are ascribed specific powers. More that this, some half a dozen Thai collectors magazines, and even a dealers web site, specialize in amulets. Amulet collection in Thailand is now a significant besides, with the rarest items changing hands for more than a million baht spice.