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superstitious minds (Part 2)
And so enters the class divide, with higher classes now
looking down on people like the construction workers
whose tattoos advertise to all what they do for a living.
But there can be problems with the potency of even
the one tattoo. If the tattooist doesn’t believe that his
customer is worthy, he may introduce a slight error or
variation in the design, which, unknown to its’ wearer,
will destroy the tattoos’ power. Whether insurance
companies in Thailand check for fraudulent accident
claims on the grounds of insufficient tattoo protection
isn’t clear.
Traditional superstitions and talismans also suffer
from increasing westernisation. Those figures of the
beckoning lady - or ‘nang kwak’ - usually placed on
or near shop counters are one of the devices used by
businesses to encourage customers to spend. Not to be
confused with the larger figures of ladies ‘wai-ing’ by the
entrances to shops etc, the nang kwak beckons with one
hand held out in the polite palm down gesture. Which is
fine in places like HuaHin, where tourists expect to see
quaint old fashioned things. But in some of the trendier
shops, particularly in Bangkok, modern versions of the
‘Maneki Neko’ talisman are used instead. This cat with
the waving paw is a common sight in Chinese restaurants
and shops all over the place, but is believed to have been
introduced to Thailand from Japan when they became
trading buddies. The cat also has the advantage of being
lower maintenance than the beckoning lady, requiring
fewe ȁ