Yaksha

Yaksha

Thailand

The Yaksha, with his pointed ears, painted face, fangs, and bulging eyes, is a frightening creature. However, he is a guardian god who keeps away evil spirits. Thai children are familiar with the Yaksha from an early age; they learn that “yau is for yaksha,” like English-speaking youngsters learn that “a is for apple.”

This entity appears in the story “21. Buddhist Defiance”.