Golden Boy

**Also known as:** Ghost Boy; Guman Thong; Kumanthong

**Origin:** Thailand

Golden Boy refers to a spirit, to an amulet intended to house this spirit and to a class of enslaved child spirits. The first documented reference to a Golden Boy amulet occurs in a nineteenth- century Thai literary classic, Khun Chang Khun Phan (“Mr. Chang and Mr. Phan”), based on historic events of the fifteenth century. Mr. Phan, the “hero” of the saga, was exiled to the hinterlands because of the treachery of his nemesis, Mr. Chang. Phan, a military hero renowned for his occult knowledge and his way with women, sought three things that he believed would give him ultimate protection: a magical sword, a magical horse, and a Golden Boy spirit child.

Phan met a brigand’s beautiful daughter and magically charmed her father into giving permission for their marriage. She conceived and Phan plotted to kill her and transform their child into Golden Boy. Phan manipulated her into dedicating her child to him, enabling him to control the baby’s soul. The hero waited until his wife was sleeping before stabbing her to death. Phan then removed the male fetus, taking it to a remote, deserted monastery, where he performed the rituals required to transform an ordinary fetus into Golden Boy, spirit ally and servant. He roasted his son on a spit, turning it constantly so that the flesh would dry evenly meanwhile chanting magical mantras intended to empower Golden Boy. Phan’s son was the first recorded Golden Boy amulet but not the last.

The Golden Boy spirit exists independently of amulets. No need to roast fetuses. There is an archetypal Golden Boy spirit whose blessings may be accessed via petitions or mass-produced statues and amulets. This archetypal Golden Boy is no one’s slave, however. He is petitioned in the same manner one petitions other spirits and he chooses whether to bestow his blessings.

This type of spirit, however, is not what sorcerers who wish to completely command and control Golden Boy seek. Golden Boy thus also names a class of spirits individually captured and commanded by sorcerers. Souls of dead infants or young children are lured into amulets where they may be commanded. Golden Boy is the prototype spirit, but the name is also used to refer to any of these individual enslaved baby souls. Three types of Golden Boy amulets exist:

1. Actual fetuses that are transformed into Golden Boy via specific rituals, ceremonies, and spells required to activate the spirit. This type of Golden Boy amulet has long been outlawed by Thai legal code but allegedly still exists.
2. A fetus is not required for a Golden Boy amulet. A child’s soul may also be magically lured into a bone or into images crafted from wood or sacred materials like those salvaged from abandoned or demolished temples. (Star gooseberry wood is favoured, as is wood from dead trees.) Magical mantras and incantations are chanted as the image is painted gold. Spells in Khmer script, which allegedly possesses runic, magical properties, are written over the image.
3. Mass-produced, inexpensive statues that are easily and inexpensively obtained serve as altar images and focus for veneration; they allegedly possess magical powers of their own to attract prosperity, luck, and better business. They may be used to contact the archetypal Golden Boy, but they may not actually house a distinct spirit. These images may be crafted of metal, resin, or other materials.

The first two types of amulet, whether formed from wood or flesh, can only be prepared by Buddhist monks possessing arcane, esoteric knowledge. Unlike other amulets, Golden Boy cannot just be worn as jewellery or placed on a shelf to radiate power. A Golden Boy amulet is the equivalent of adopting a child. The amulet associated with Golden Boy is extremely labour- intensive. Golden Boy must be fed daily and often must be verbally coaxed to eat, like a child.

* When travelling or otherwise away from home, either invite Golden Boy to join you or direct him to stay home and guard the property.
* You must tell Golden Boy where you’re going and when to expect your return.
* If you’re delayed, you should probably call home and leave a message on the answering machine for him with an explanation.
* If you take him with you, Golden Boy can’t be packed into a suitcase or bag but must be carried like a child.
* Golden Boy must be formally introduced to all family members.
* Any children in the family are expected to treat him as a favourite sibling.

When going on vacation or otherwise away from home, either take Golden Boy with you so that he can he cared for, or explicitly tell or show him where the food is kept. Graciously invite him to serve himself.

Golden Boy is an active, vital presence. To be in possession of a Golden Boy amulet is the equivalent of housing a demanding, mischievous, tricky, but spiritually very powerful little boy. Golden Boy demands attention. He can be very sweet, but he can throw tantrums, too. Golden Boy may or may not be a benevolent spirit, depending on the intent of the sorcerer who commands him. Although often associated with nefarious goals, Golden Boy can just as easily be put to honorable purposes.

Golden Boy is an oracular spirit. He reveals the future and provides winning lottery numbers. Golden Boy speaks to devotees in dreams although some claim to hear his voice while conscious and awake, too. His voice is experienced as if someone were whispering in your ear. Golden Boy protects against danger.

* He attracts wealth, luck, and better business.
* Golden Boy serves as a home guardian.
* He transmits messages of love, typically from men to women.

Golden Boy is a favourite spirit of smugglers or those travelling with false documents because he can distract airport security, customs officials, and other bureaucrats. He is an ally of exorcists, who send him into a victim’s body to drive out possessing spirits.

Should you take pity on what is essentially an enslaved soul, Golden Boy may be released and liberated by Mae Khongka (Mother of the Waters) or Mae Thoranee (Earth Mother). He may be brought to their shrines, buried in Earth, or gently placed in water accompanied by offerings of flowers and incense and Thai Buddhist prayer and ritual.

**Favoured people:** Golden Boy tends to be considered a man’s amulet or spirit helper. He is also associated with specific professions: images of Golden Boy are ubiquitous on the home altars of spirit mediums, palmists, tattoo artists, as well as monks who specialize in the occult.

Golden Boy also has a less well-known sister with whom he shares his altar. Her name is Golden Gumaree, Gumareethong, or Kumara.

**Iconography:** Various mass-produced images exist. Golden Boy is portrayed as a child with his hair in a topknot, wearing traditional Thai trousers. He may have only one testicle, which is intended to symbolize profound reservoirs of magical and sexual energy. Golden Boy is sometimes depicted in the arms of his father, who rides a rooster indicating his virility and power.

**Attribute:** Moneybag (Statues incorporating moneybags are believed best for attracting better business and prosperity.)

**Offerings:** Incense; flowers, especially roses; also whatever you would give a little boy: toys, snacks, sweets

**See Also:** Khun Paen; Mae Thoranee

## Information Source

Encyclopedia of Spirits: The Ultimate Guide to the Magic of Fairies, Genies, Demons, Ghosts, Gods & Goddesses by Judika Illes