Yak

Large statues of giants that are placed in front of Thai temples. Their function is to scare away spirits and protect the statues of Buddha inside the temple. The main weapon of the Yak is the club or mace (Thai กระบอง, krabong).

The most famous statues are located at the Wat Phra Kaew, the Royal Temple, in Bangkok. They guard the Emerald Buddha, which is made of jade. The jade is said to have come from a mountain once inhabited by the Yak.