They can be found everywhere in Cambodia, in front of wooden houses on stilts in the countryside or on the facades of buildings in Phnom Penh. They are colourful and come in a multitude of shapes and styles.
Generally speaking, spirit houses are shrines dedicated to the protective spirit of a place. They are also found in other South-East Asian countries, notably Burma, Laos and Thailand.
In Cambodia, most homes and businesses have a spirit house placed in them, usually in the form of a miniature house or small temple, usually mounted on a pillar or dais. Spirit houses range from simple structures costing a few dozen dollars to elaborate edifices costing up to $5,000.
Many people claim that these small structures are the abodes of spirits and gods, and that their fundamental mission is to make these supernatural beings happy and comfortable. In exchange, the benevolent spirits keep the human inhabitants of the house safe from danger and out of reach of evil spirits. It's a mutually beneficial relationship: the people build the spirits' house to house the deities, and the spirits protect the occupants.
Another function of these pretty little structures, more in the Buddhist tradition, is to show respect to the recently deceased. The devotees believe that placing offerings in the spirit houses brings good luck to the recently deceased who are awaiting reincarnation. Offerings include flower garlands, food (rice, fruit and Khmer cakes) and incense sticks.
In the remotest parts of Cambodia, some indigenous communities believe that plants and animals have spirits. For them, this miniature structure plays a much more important role in daily life. According to their beliefs, the dead must exist as spirits in the forests until they are reincarnated. These minorities ensure that the spirits living in the forest are happy by making daily offerings.
There is one final function that spirit houses fulfil in our time, as an ornament, a decorative object designed to embellish the garden or the entrance and arouse the admiration of neighbours and passers-by.
Spirit houses can be divided into two categories. The term ‘neak ta’ refers to those built for and by the community. Their role is communal, as they are supposed to bring good luck to all their neighbours and keep threatening spirits at bay. Spirit houses built for an individual family are generally called ‘tevada’ and are the most common in Phnom Penh or Siem Reap. In Phnom Penh, the standard is a ready-made spirit house: a small gilded temple atop a platform.
But in the Cambodian countryside, there are many variations: a simple bamboo pole split at the top to receive offerings and decorated with ribbons, or a few stones placed on the ground.
Historians generally agree that the practice of building spirit houses predates the Angkorian period (802-1431) and already existed as an expression of animism. Spirit houses probably played a very important role for the people of that period. Some researchers claim that they were regarded as a source of advice and assistance in the event of problems. They were believed to have magical qualities: they could alter the weather, cure illnesses and help find lost objects. They were an important part of the judicial system: suspects had to swear an oath before the House of Spirits.
Although the spirit house no longer plays such an important role in the community, it is still respected and needed, and has given rise to a thriving craft industry. On the capital's main roads, you will frequently come across workshops specialising in this ornamental and religious object, with hundreds of spirit houses of all sizes neatly lined up.
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