Flesh Eating Giants

They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart.” Ephesians 4:18, RSV.

Around this time every year in Chiang Mai, a water buffalo is sacrificed at the foot of a small rise called Doi Kham. The reason dates back to around the time the Thai people began their southern migration down from Yunnan, and the Mon people established their kingdom of Hariphunchai (Lamphun). It comes from a time when the northern area of Thailand was inhabited by a people known as Lawa. As the migrations occurred, however, and the more “civilized” Thais encountered the Lawa, they began to call them yak, usually translated into English as giant. Perhaps a better term, though, is savage or head-hunter; a term which the Lawa acquired legitimately since they practiced cannibalism.(1)

As the story goes, a family of three “giants” lived at Doi Kham. Pu Sae was the father. Ya Sae was the mother, and Wasuthep was the son. They frequently raided the local village capturing and eating both animals and humans alike. During this time, the Buddha was traveling around northern Thailand with some of his disciples when one day he came to Doi Kham. According to legend, “when they saw the Lord Buddha approaching together with his disciples, they were intent on capturing and eating them as was their custom.”(2) The Buddha, however, knew their intentions and was able to overcome them through the power of his great merit. The Buddha saw that their present lowly state was because of past misdeeds, but that in the future, they would follow his teachings. So, he preached to them, and they greatly desired to follow his teachings.

Pu Sae and Ya Sae had difficulty following the five precepts, though, because they still greatly desired to eat meat. So they asked permission from the Buddha to eat flesh just once a year. The story reports that “the Buddha granted the request but only on the condition that it was the flesh of an animal, not a human being.”(3) For this reason, to this day, every year a water buffalo is sacrificed at the foot of Doi Kham. The ceremony consists of slaying a water buffalo, and then a representative invites the spirit of the now deceased giants to reside within him. Once this is complete, the possessed representative proceeds to eat the water buffalo raw.

Throughout this process, a lengthy invocation is given naming every item of offering , and the giants are asked to accept them. In return, the people ask for rain, good crops, protection from enemies and sickness, etc.; yet, nowhere is there any kind of admission of sin. Their faithfulness in fulfilling this ceremony seems to be enough to prove their worthiness. After naming all the articles of offering and the lengthy requests, the invocation is ended with, “Let all of our requests be granted. So be it!”(4) In a 1967 article on this ritual, the author stated his belief that this ceremony would “soon pass as the University brings modern learning to the coming generations.”(5) That was many years ago and, in spite of modern education, the ceremony continues.

Pray that:

Spiritual strongholds seen in the lives of the Northern Thai will give way to the power of God as the Gospel is proclaimed.

Northern Thai will understand that it is God who gives rain and crops, not rituals and ancient traditions.

God will soften the hearts of Northern Thai to hear and receive the Gospel.

Pacific Rim is a region of the International Mission Board, SBC.