Phra Sumkor; The Amulet that gave the “Millionaire’s Field” it’s name
They were plowing the soil by hand and by oxen, far from home, hoping to plant vegetables and survive in the quiet city of Kampaengpetch. They were immigrants from China, farmers in search of greener pastures in the Kingdom of Siam. Little did they know they were about to unearth a trove of hidden treasures that would change the city and their lives forever. Hidden in the fields surrounding the city in the vicinity of it’s many ancient temples, the farmers found old pottery flasks and Buddha statues lost for centuries to time. Upon opening and looking through them they found many amulets of a variety not seen within living memory. We now know them as Phra Sumkor (Kampaengpetch). Beautifuly detailed amulets of Lord Buddha in cross-legged sitting pose of the Sukhothai area, some faces are plain while certain rare others depict the Buddha in smiling peaceful contentment.
These original Phra Sumkor Amulets were crafted in the Sukothai era and hidden away around 1257A.D. when, after years of war ravaged the area, two cities Chakangrao and Nakhornchum merged to become one (Kampaengpetch) and many of the temples combined what few followers they had left after the war, leaving many old ones abandoned, with their amulets and artifacts left buried amongst the ruins for centuries to come. The area where they can be found today is known as “Tung Srettee” or Millionaire’s Field in English. Not because they found gold or coins but because of the incredible good fortune bestowed upon the people who found and wore with respect the Phra Sumkor Amulets from there.
The most famous of which, Phra Sumkor (Kampaeng Sumkor), is in the top 5 amulets of Thailand. They were made of a rare holy clay mix and molded in the form of the Buddha in a meditating pose seated on a lotus flower with a intricate relief in the background. There were also some with a plain background and a special round profile called “Pim Kanom Pia” or the “Chinese Moon Cake Print”. Phra Sumkor were made in 3 different sizes, the largest of which has a average size of 20 x 30mm.
Phra Sumkor Amulets are Famous and are believed to be great in all around well being and particularly the keeping of wealth. So well respected and treasured in fact that around 170yrs ago when Phra Somdej Toh was crafting his now famous Phra Somdej Amulets, he often powdered the Ancient remains of broken or worn Phra Sumkor Amulets to add to the mix of holy clays and other rarefied ingredients. For their blessings were so potent and so revered that even crumbling away to the ravages of time, their remains were salvaged to carry on it’s positivity to aid in empowering new Amulets. A sort of spiritual recycling.
