Thai ghost folklore is vivid and taken seriously across all social classes — the entities and traditions explained.
A spirit that possesses people — usually women — causing illness; the belief persists and possessions are treated by spirit doctors (maw phi).
The floating head — a woman's head with luminous floating entrails; a common horror film staple based on actual Thai belief.
The ghost of someone who died suddenly or violently — considered dangerous because they haven't accepted their death; offerings made to placate them.
A hungry ghost that can possess people or animals; the subject of many Thai horror films.
Spirit houses, amulets, and shamanic practices are all responses to the belief in phi — the most educated Thai might have a spirit house and wear an amulet simultaneously.
These beliefs fuel an entire, genuinely popular Thai film genre — horror movies drawing on phi krasue, phi tai hong, and possession stories consistently perform well at the local box office.
These beliefs are treated seriously by many Thais, not as quaint folklore — approaching the topic with genuine curiosity rather than mockery makes for a much better conversation if it comes up.