•• Maeng Phu ••
There are insects with a sting for weapons like carpenter bees, sawflies and the like. There insects are carved from wood or Ivory. Nowadays, they are even cast from metal or the real insects are stuffed and coated with gold leaf or paint with magic incantation spoken over them. The author came across some Tai Yai and Karen from Myanmar in 2009 who worked in Chiang Mai who had the sacred bee hanging on their necks. And later when conducting a study on the border between Myanmar and China I also saw Red Wa Soldiers and even some sex service workers tie the bees to their necks or braziers. So it is indeed popular among them and it has spread into Thailand. It is believed to protect against danger and evil things and to change the enemy's mind from wanting to hurt one. Most Tai Yai keep 5 bees on the shrine shelf and carry one with them. Gold shops in Shan State or Myanmar put one on a raised tray to prevent robbery.
A Tai Yai relates that King Naresuan of Thailand died in Mueang Hang due to the Burmese king using the kind of empowered insect to attack him.
The wooden carved bee with mercury and a sting put inside it of the Tai Yai had the following abilities:
1. Attracting people to love
2. Bringing good luck and business success
3. Protesting from dangers
4. Counteracting the superstitious methods of attack
5. Keeping robbers away
6. Protecting children from being hurt
7. Protecting from danger l during a journey and making one beloved by people and angels.
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