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Mae Nak Phra Khanong
Thailand's most beloved ghost story. Nak died in childbirth waiting for her soldier husband. When he returned, he didn't realize his wife and baby were ghosts—until he dropped a lime through the floorboards and she reached down to get it.
1850 - Present
Bangkok, Thailand
10000+ witnesses
Mae Nak Phra Khanong is the most famous ghost story in Thailand—a tale of love beyond death.
The Legend
According to documented folklore:
Mae Nak:
- Was a young wife named Nak
- Died in childbirth
- While husband Mak was at war
- When he returned, she appeared alive
- He didn’t know she was dead
The Story
The tale unfolds:
- Mak returns from military service
- Finds wife and baby waiting
- Villagers try to warn him
- She kills anyone who tells
- He lives with ghosts unknowingly
The Revelation
The truth revealed:
- Mak drops a lime through floorboards
- Nak stretches her arm down to get it
- He realizes she’s not human
- Flees to the temple
- She cannot follow onto sacred ground
The Resolution
Different endings tell:
- A monk captures her spirit in a jar
- Or binds her to a tree
- Or she’s freed by his love
- Her forehead bone is worn as amulet
- She guards the temple now
The Shrine
Today in Bangkok:
- Mae Nak Shrine at Wat Mahabut
- Heavily visited
- Offerings left daily
- Prayers for love and fertility
- Lottery numbers sought
Cultural Impact
Mae Nak has inspired:
- Over 20 film adaptations
- TV series
- Plays and musicals
- One of Thailand’s most enduring stories
- Symbol of eternal love