Phong (ghost)

Phong, also locally known as Phi Phong or Phi Pong (Thai: ผีโพง,^[1] ผีโป่ง^[2]), is a Thai ghost of Northern folk beliefs. It is also known as Phi Phao (ผีเป้า) in Isan region.^[1]

Those who're Phi Phong are beginning of black magic and can't control of subjects in themselves, or force of planted a species. It's called "Wan Phi Phong" (ว่านผีโพง; lit: "ghost herb"), which has a white, hot flavor and make a light in the dark like luminous woodlouse.^[1][2]

In the day, Phi Phong appears as a normal person, but at night turns into a ghost. With the light of fire in its nostrils, it searches for filthy foods such as frogs, dung, dead bodies or placenta like Phi Krasue, Phi Krahang or Phi Pop, but it disappears if someone gets close.

Typically, Phi Phong don't harm humans unless threatened, whereby Phi Phong will throw banana stalks cut from the widow's water carrying pole over the roof of the victim's house. The families of those who're live there will find many plagues.

Phi Phong can die if someone correctly identifies its human form as Phi Phong.

Phi Phong can be transmitted to another person, from being spit by Phi Phong or ingest its saliva accidentally.^[1]

At Phlapphla Subdistrict, Chok Chai District, Nakhon Ratchasima Province. There's a village named "Ban Nong Phi Lok" (บ้านหนองผีหลอก, " Spooky Marsh Village") about 5 km (3.1 mi) away from the district centre. Most of the condition is cassava and paddy fields. This is due to the rumors that have been around for hundreds of years. In the past there were about 100 rais (about 1/3 acres) of wetland adjacent to the dirt road. In the evening, Phi Phong often foraging, therefore no one dares to pass by at night. Until now, this village hasn't been officially promoted as a village.^[3]

Early morning around 05:00 am on Sunday, October 29, 2023, falls on the end of Buddhist Lent. In front of a house in Thep Sathit District, Chaiyaphum Province, a 17-year-old girl, daughter of a homeowner, was able to record motion picture of strange lights floating in front of her house. It just floated into the area of the house. Then it separated into two lights, before rising up to the top of the tree and went through the fields and into the wild. When she checked the CCTV, she also saw strange lights. The locals believed that it was the light of Phi Phong.^[4]

Phi Phong appears in horror anthology film Lhorn (หลอน) in 2003.

• Thai ghosts