Toyol

A Toyol or Tuyul is a mythical spirit in the Malay mythology of South-East Asia (notably Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore). It is a small child spirit invoked by a bomoh (Malay witch doctor) from a dead human foetus using black magic. It is possible to buy a "toyol" from such a bomoh.

A person who owns a "toyol" uses it mainly to steal things from other people, or to do mischief. According to a well-known superstition, if money or jewellery keeps disappearing mysteriously from your house, a "toyol" might be responsible. One way to ward off a "toyol" is to place some needles under your money, for "toyols" are afraid of being hurt by needles.

Origins

Some say that toyol has its origins from Mecca near the Kaaba (the belief refers to the Pre-Islamic Era where the Arabs used to kill their children and bury them all around Mecca. The Chinese (Cantonese) name for the "toyol" is "guai zai" (literally "ghost child"). The corresponding term in the Hokkien dialect is "kwee kia" with "kwee" meaning "ghost" and "kia" meaning "child".

Appearance

People normally associate the appearance of a toyol with that of a small baby, frequently that of a newly born baby walking in nakedness with a big head, small hands, clouded eyes and usually greyed skin. More accurately, it resembles a goblin. It can be seen by the naked eye without the use of magic, though they are unlikely to be spotted casually.

Invoking a Toyol

Keeping a "toyol" has its price. In essence, the spirit is that of a still-born (or aborted) child, and its temperament reflects this.

According to most Asian practices and beliefs, the afterlife of a person is taken care of by the family, in the form of a tablet. It is usually made of wood, with the name of the deceased engraved. A collection of tablets at an elaborate family altar is a typical item in a large (and often wealthy) family. Following the same principle, the master of the "toyol" keeps its tablet and cares for it. He must feed it with a few drops of his blood everyday, usually through his thumb or big toe. In addition, it requires certain coaxing and attention, along with offerings. Such offerings might include candy and toys, for the "toyol" is essentially a child and must be kept happily entertained. According to other stories, a "toyol" must be fed with blood from a rooster.

Tasks

In old village tales, people keep "toyols" for selfish but petty gains. They use such spirits for theft, sabotage and other minor crimes. Serious crimes, like murder, are usually beyond the capability of these "toyols". A person who suddenly becomes wealthy without explanation might be suspected of keeping a "toyol". The "toyol" is kept in a jar or an urn, and hidden away in a dark place until needed.

What happens at the end of the "contract" is not very clear. It could be that the tablet, along with the urn, is buried in a graveyard (with the relevant rituals), and the spirit is then laid to rest. An alternative method is to dispose them in the sea. Or else, a "toyol" gets passed down in a family through the generations. This seems to suggest that once you obtain a "toyol", not only are you stuck with it for the rest of your life, but all your descendants will also be condemned to own it.

Weaknesses

Although seemingly cunning, toyols are supposedly not very intelligent. It is said that they are easily deceived by marbles and sand and strands of garlic hanging on the door post or placed on certain parts of the house. The toyol will start playing with these items until it forgets its task at the intended victim's house. Money placed under mirrors has the potentcy to ward off toyols due to a phobia of their reflections.

ee also

*Hantu Raya
*Pelesit
*Polong