泰国人家门口的小房子，里面住的是这块地的主人

When visiting Thailand, many people notice something: at the entrance of a house or in a hotel courtyard, there is a small house, like a birdhouse, standing on a pillar, with small dolls inside, and flowers, fruits, drinks placed beside it, with some people burning incense every day.

This is called a “spirit house,” and inside lives the original owner of this land, the land god. Thais believe that if you build a house on this land, you are taking someone else’s place, so you must prepare a dwelling for them.

The placement of the spirit house is particular; one must ask a monk or a Brahmin master to choose an auspicious day and determine the direction. It cannot be covered by the shadow of the house, so it is erected on tall pillars, and it also cannot face the toilet.

Every morning, flowers must be changed and food placed; some will also place a cup of red soda, which has become very common in recent years. During holidays and festivals, dancers are also invited to dance to thank the gods, called “vow fulfillment dance.”

If strange things happen in the house, family members will first check whether the spirit house is too old or too dilapidated, and whether offerings have been made on time.

The spirit houses at the entrances of large shopping malls can be three or four meters high, shining gold.

The most famous one is the Four-Faced Buddha in downtown Bangkok, also called the “Erawan Shrine.” In 1956, a hotel was building there, but the project kept having accidents—workers were injured, materials sank into the sea. Later, they invited a master to build a shrine, and only then was the construction completed smoothly. Now, people come here every day to fulfill vows; beside the shrine, there is always a line of dancers in traditional costumes, dancing for those whose wishes have come true.

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