Tradition: Thai Mythology
Alternative Names: Phi Tani, Phrai Tani, Lady of Tani
Category: Ghost
The Myth
Nang Tani is a female spirit who inhabits wild banana trees known as Kluai Tani. She appears as a beautiful young woman wearing a traditional Thai green costume, with a greenish complexion that blends into the surrounding foliage. Her lips are red like the ripe fruit of the ivy gourd, and her abundant black hair hangs loose around her shoulders. She usually stands with her feet hovering slightly above the ground, never quite touching the earth. In some depictions, the lower half of her body becomes immaterial, with her clothing fading into a wisp that emerges from the banana tree’s trunk.
Most of the time, Nang Tani remains hidden within her tree, but she may emerge and become visible, especially on nights when the moon is full. She belongs to the group of female tree spirits known as Nang Mai, or Ladies of the Wood. The wild banana trees she inhabits are considered uncanny and are generally avoided near homes and village compounds. Although they resemble ordinary banana plants, their fruit is inedible, and they are more commonly found along roadsides, at the edges of cultivated fields, and near the outskirts of villages.
Nang Tani is generally regarded as a gentle and benevolent spirit, though she can become dangerous to men who have mistreated women. She may punish those who have wronged women, but she is also known for kindness, including offering food to passing Buddhist monks. People show respect for her by leaving sweets, flowers, and incense as offerings. They may also tie colourful satin or silk around the trunk of a banana tree believed to be her home. Cutting down a tree inhabited by Nang Tani is considered a bad omen, and people avoid disturbing her dwelling. Amulets depicting the spirit are also popular, reflecting the mixture of reverence, fear, and affection with which she is regarded.
Sources
“Nang Tani.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Accessed October 15, 2026. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nang_Tani