In Thailand, it seems like every business and home has one: a spirit house. Few are this large, but all are inhabited by protective spirits who are honored with offerings. Inside, figurines represent deities, demigods, or ancestors. On the landscape, they illustrate syncretism: the absorption of animist and Hindu traditions by followers of the Buddha. [2011]
These temples fascinate me. They were featured on an episode of "The Amazing Race" this season, and the detail that most of these temples, no matter how small, seem to include is fascinating. The colors, statues, and decor seem to be random to the untrained observer, but they are steeped in symbolism and tradition.
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