{"product_id":"por-sala-tan-copy-100","title":"Por Sala Tan","description":"\u003cp\u003ePST08\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch1\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGuman Keow — Guman Teap “Dek Wat”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePor Sala Tan \u003cbr\u003eEarly B.E. 2530 Era\u003cbr\u003e2.5 Inches\u003cbr\u003eMainstream Artifact\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSacred Craftsmanship\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGuman Keow\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e belongs to an early village-made batch created jointly by \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePor Sala Tan and the abbot of Wat Duang Den\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e during the early B.E. 2530 era.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEach artifact was individually cast, wrapped and prepared by hand. Natural differences in casting, surface, sacred thread, cloth, patina and overall form are therefore expected, making every surviving example individually distinct.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePersonal Experiences Shared by Luksits\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOlder devotees remembered these Guman Teap primarily as \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003efriendly and approachable guardians\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, particularly associated with opportunity, Metta and everyday fortune.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTraders and salespeople carried them when meeting customers or conducting business. Feedback commonly centred upon people becoming easier to approach, conversations flowing more naturally and customers appearing more receptive.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSome owners associated their Guman with \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003ereturning customers and unexpected business opportunities\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, particularly during periods when sales had previously been slow.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAnother longstanding association concerns \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eChok Lap and unexpected fortune\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. Owners sometimes carried these pieces when buying lottery tickets, travelling to markets or entering circumstances where an unexpected opportunity might arise.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhat distinguishes many of these accounts is the relationship between the keeper and the Guman. Older followers did not necessarily describe the artifact simply as something from which to demand results. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMerit-making, generosity and dedicating merit back to the Guman\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e formed an important part of maintaining that relationship.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSummary\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGuman Keow \/ Guman Teap\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e is an uncommon early Por Sala Tan village piece associated with \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWat Duang Den and the early B.E. 2530 era\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIts history begins with a landslide that disturbed an old children's burial ground. Following years of difficulties within the surrounding village, Por Sala Tan and the temple abbot became involved in restoring proper ritual order to the site.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eUnidentified remains were respectfully cremated and merit was dedicated to the deceased. Old coffin nails recovered from the burial area were subsequently melted through \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLor Boran\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e and transformed into a small group of Guman guardians.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe resulting figures became associated with the idea of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDek Wat — Temple Children\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e who had received sufficient merit and blessings to move towards a higher spiritual condition.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTraditionally, these pieces are associated with \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eChok Lap, Metta Maha Niyom, customer attraction, business opportunities, fortunate encounters and guardianship\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHistorical Background\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe origins of this batch are connected with a landslide that affected a rural community during the early B.E. 2530s.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePart of an old children's cemetery on the outskirts of the village was disturbed. Burial markers were displaced or lost beneath the earth, leaving some of the remains difficult or impossible for surviving families to identify.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIn the years following the disturbance, villagers experienced poor harvests, financial difficulties and a general decline in local prosperity.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWithin the traditional beliefs of the community, the disturbance of the burial ground was regarded as one possible reason for the imbalance.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePor Sala Tan was eventually invited to assist.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTogether with the abbot of Wat Duang Den and members of the community, arrangements were made to deal respectfully with the disturbed burial area.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhere remains could be recovered, proper rites were performed. Those which could no longer be identified were \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003ecremated with ceremony and merit dedicated to them\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, restoring dignity to individuals whose original resting places had been lost.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRather than allowing the remaining burial materials to be discarded, suitable ritual materials were preserved.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIt was from this community effort that the small group of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGuman Teap\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e eventually emerged.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOrigins of the Materials\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe principal casting material came from \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003ecoffin nails recovered from the damaged burial ground\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOnly after the merit-making and cremation rites had been completed were these old metals gathered for ritual use.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWithin older village wicha, the transformation of such material is significant. Something connected with death and disturbance is not simply reused in its original condition. It passes through \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eceremony, merit-making, blessing and transformation\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e before becoming part of another sacred object.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe coffin nails were therefore melted and recast into the small guardian form.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSacred thread and cloth were subsequently used to wrap the finished figure according to the village practice of the period.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis construction is important to the identity of the piece. It preserves the character of a time when rural sacred-object making still depended heavily upon \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003elocal materials, temple ceremonies, village craftsmen and hand preparation\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRitual\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Guman were created through a traditional \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLor Boran casting ceremony\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA village blacksmith familiar with older metalworking methods was required to melt and cast the prepared metal. Such batches depended upon the opportunity to organise a proper casting ceremony and were consequently very different from later mass-produced pieces.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAfter casting, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePor Sala Tan and the abbot of Wat Duang Den\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e participated in the blessing and ritual preparation.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe spiritual intention remained connected with the earlier cemetery rites.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMerit had first been made for the deceased children. The Guman were subsequently prepared around the understanding that these spirits had received merit and blessings, allowing them to become \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eprotective and helpful Temple Children rather than remaining connected solely with the tragedy of the burial ground\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis is the origin of the name \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGuman Teap\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e within the account surrounding the batch.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOlder villagers also referred to them more affectionately as \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDek Wat\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBlessings and Effects\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe traditional qualities of this Guman centre upon \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003efortune, opportunity, Metta and assistance in everyday affairs\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eChok Lap\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e is one of the strongest associations. Owners traditionally carried such pieces when seeking fortunate opportunities or circumstances in which unexpected luck might be helpful.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMetta Maha Niyom\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e concerns goodwill and favourable treatment from others. This made the Guman particularly relevant to traders, merchants and people whose livelihood depended upon dealing directly with customers.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe business aspect is therefore not understood purely as “bringing money”.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIt is more closely connected with \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003epeople — attracting attention, creating goodwill, encouraging conversation and opening opportunities through human interaction\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Guman is also regarded as a guardian. Within the Temple Child tradition, the relationship is often described as friendly rather than severe, with the Guman accompanying and assisting its keeper in ordinary daily life.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eModern Application\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFor modern owners, the Guman Keow remains particularly suited to \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003esales, retail, entrepreneurship and customer-facing professions\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIt may be carried during work or kept respectfully within a business environment.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThose involved in commission-based work may appreciate its traditional association with \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eapproachability, customer rapport and unexpected opportunities\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCollectors interested in lottery participation and occasional games of chance have also traditionally associated older Guman pieces with Chok Lap. Such associations remain matters of devotional belief rather than guarantees of financial results.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe older practice of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003emaking merit and dedicating merit to the Guman\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e remains particularly appropriate to the history of this batch.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIts origin, after all, lies not simply in the recovered cemetery materials but in the ceremony undertaken to restore dignity and merit to those whose resting places had been disturbed.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePhysical Details\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAn early village-made \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGuman Keow \/ Guman Teap\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, traditionally dated to the early B.E. 2530 era and associated with Por Sala Tan and the abbot of Wat Duang Den. The small guardian figure was cast from reclaimed coffin-nail metal following the cemetery merit-making rites and subsequently wrapped by hand with sacred thread and cloth. The surviving traditional wrapping, aged metal surface and individually prepared construction are characteristic of its rural origin and early period.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRecommended Pairing\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Guman Keow may be kept independently, particularly where the keeper's principal interests are \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMetta, opportunity, customer relationships and Chok Lap\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWithin the wider Por Sala Tan tradition, it can also be paired with a \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLersi or Yant Kru piece\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e where the keeper wishes to introduce greater Baramee and connection with the kru lineage.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSuer\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e or another protection-oriented artifact may complement it where stronger courage, authority and protective qualities are desired.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe principle is one of balance: the Guman supports \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eopportunity and human goodwill\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, while the accompanying artifact provides Baramee, authority or protection.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePersonal Notes\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAmong the Guman-related artifacts associated with Por Sala Tan, these older \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003evillage-made examples are particularly interesting because their history is inseparable from the community that produced them\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThey were not conceived simply as another batch of amulets.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTheir origin began with a damaged burial ground, unidentified remains and a village attempting to restore proper order after a difficult event. The subsequent merit-making, cremation and transformation of the remaining ritual metal into Guman Teap gave the materials an entirely different purpose.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe hand-wrapped construction also preserves something increasingly difficult to find in later pieces.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIt reflects a period when sacred-object making could still involve the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003etemple, villagers, local blacksmith, traditional casting methods and hand preparation within one ceremony\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFor collectors of Por Sala Tan's earlier work, the importance of this piece therefore lies as much in its \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003evillage provenance and ritual history\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e as in the blessings traditionally attributed to the Guman itself.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"OOBThaiAmulets","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48467770179721,"sku":null,"price":377.0,"currency_code":"SGD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0602\/1831\/0793\/files\/Untitled-77_5ca504c5-b374-40dc-82b2-ea160c3862b1.jpg?v=1780199059","url":"https:\/\/oobamulets.com\/products\/por-sala-tan-copy-100","provider":"OOBThaiAmulets","version":"1.0","type":"link"}