Phi Pop: Thailand’s Liver-Eating Ghost

The Phi Pop (ผีปอบ) is one of Thailand’s most feared supernatural entities. This malevolent spirit is believed to possess living humans, particularly women, and compel them to consume raw meat, especially liver and intestines. Belief in Phi Pop remains strong in rural Thailand and has led to social persecution and even violence against accused individuals.

Description

The Phi Pop itself is invisible, but its effects are visible through its host:

The Possessed Person

Those possessed by Phi Pop reportedly:

• Develop insatiable cravings for raw meat
• Seek out livers and entrails specifically
• May be seen sneaking into barns to eat livestock organs
• Sometimes allegedly disinter and consume the dead
• Often appear normal during the day but transform at night
• May have glowing eyes when the spirit is active

The Spirit’s Nature

The Phi Pop is characterized as:

• A malevolent ghost, not a demon
• Created from someone who practiced black magic
• Inherited through family lines
• Capable of leaving the host body at night to hunt
• Attracted to raw flesh, especially internal organs

Origins

Creation

According to Thai folk belief, Phi Pop originates from:

• A person who studied dark magic too deeply
• Someone who made a pact with evil spirits
• An individual cursed by a powerful witch
• A spiritual contamination passed through generations

Transmission

The spirit is believed to transfer:

• From mother to daughter
• Through magical lineage
• Occasionally to those who wrong a Phi Pop carrier
• Upon the death of the current host

The Isaan Connection

Phi Pop belief is strongest in the Isaan region (Northeastern Thailand):

Cultural Context

• Isaan maintains strong traditional beliefs
• Rural communities are more isolated
• Traditional Buddhism blends with animist practices
• The region has its own distinctive culture within Thailand

Historical Persecution

The belief has led to serious social consequences:

• Accused individuals are ostracized
• Families of accused are shunned
• Villages have expelled entire families
• Violence against accused Phi Pop has occurred

Notable Cases

Modern Incidents

Thai media regularly reports on Phi Pop cases:

• Villagers discovering someone eating raw animals
• Accusations leading to family exile
• Communities performing rituals to expel spirits
• Deaths attributed to Phi Pop attacks

Documentary Evidence

• Thai television programs have covered cases
• Anthropologists have documented village reactions
• Medical professionals have examined accused individuals
• The phenomenon continues to be reported in the 21st century

Social Impact

Accusation Consequences

Being accused of carrying Phi Pop:

• Results in complete social exclusion
• Destroys marriage prospects
• Forces families to relocate
• Can lead to violence or death
• Persists across generations

False Accusations

Critics note that accusations often target:

• Socially marginalized individuals
• Those with mental illness
• People with unusual dietary habits
• Families in land or inheritance disputes
• Convenient scapegoats for community problems

Traditional Countermeasures

Protective Practices

Thai communities employ various protections:

• Amulets and tattoos (sak yant)
• Buddhist prayers and blessings
• Consultation with monks and shamans
• Traditional medicine rituals
• Avoiding certain foods and behaviors

Exorcism

When Phi Pop possession is suspected:

• Mor phi (spirit doctors) are consulted
• Elaborate rituals attempt to remove the spirit
• The possessed may be physically restrained
• Offerings are made to appease or expel the entity
• Buddhist monks may be involved

Medical Perspective

Healthcare professionals suggest Phi Pop cases may involve:

Pica

• An eating disorder involving consumption of non-food items
• Sometimes includes craving for raw meat
• Has biological and psychological causes
• Culturally interpreted as possession

Mental Illness

• Schizophrenia or psychosis
• Dissociative disorders
• Conditions causing altered behavior
• Misinterpreted through supernatural framework

Social Factors

• Extreme stress or trauma
• Social marginalization leading to odd behavior
• Community expectations shaping individual actions
• Confirmation bias in observers

Comparison to Other Cultures

Similar entities exist worldwide:

Wendigo (Native American)

• Also associated with cannibalistic urges
• Possesses humans and creates hunger for flesh
• Led to concept of “Wendigo psychosis”

Ghoul (Middle Eastern)

• Creature that feeds on the dead
• Shape-shifts to appear human
• Found in pre-Islamic and Islamic folklore

Strigoi (Romanian)

• Undead that feeds on life force
• Can possess or influence the living
• Similar social persecution of accused

Modern Persistence

Despite modernization, Phi Pop belief continues:

Rural Communities

• Traditional beliefs remain strong
• Limited access to mental healthcare
• Community enforcement of beliefs
• Integration with Buddhist practice

Urban Migration

• Rural migrants bring beliefs to cities
• Traditional practices continue in urban settings
• Thai media perpetuates the narrative
• Horror films and entertainment reinforce belief

Legal Issues

• Accusations have led to lawsuits
• Human rights concerns about persecution
• Government awareness campaigns have limited effect
• Balance between cultural respect and protection

Cultural Significance

The Phi Pop represents:

Social Control

• Enforcement of dietary norms
• Punishment for those who don’t fit in
• Expression of community anxieties
• Boundary-setting between acceptable and taboo

Traditional Knowledge

• Persistence of pre-Buddhist beliefs
• Indigenous Thai supernatural worldview
• Cultural continuity across generations
• Resistance to modernization

Human Fear

• Terror of cannibalism and violation of food taboos
• Fear of possession and loss of control
• Anxiety about hidden evil in the community
• Expression of darker human impulses

Contemporary Status

Today, Phi Pop remains:

• An active belief in rural Thailand
• Subject of ongoing persecution
• Featured in Thai horror cinema
• A topic of anthropological study
• A challenge for public health officials

The Phi Pop demonstrates how supernatural beliefs can have real-world consequences, serving as both cultural tradition and tool of social control in Thai society.