The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1895-04-06
A CHINESE JOSS HOUSE.
The Beautiful Temple or the Gods
In Los Angeles.
Kwnn Kung, the God OF War, and Ms
Exalted Position Among the ceies-
tiai Deities--Interesting Eea-
lures of the Worship.

u
and Is the property of the Kung Chow
company. The entrance of the build
ing bears the Chinese inscription: 'sPu-
rify myself by fasting and sclf-denial. I"
On the FIRST floor, says the New York
Herald, Is the assembly room, or guild
hall Of the company. over the door of
which Is n gilt inscription, reading:
"Ilonesty is the bond of association"
The proper place Of worship Is on the
second floor, constantly guarded by an
old gray-haired Tao priest. On the
veranda. over the door, is n red tablet,
bearing the inscription: "Leet Shing
Kung," or, Pantheon of the Holy Gods.
Worship offered at this temple Is ac-
cepted by all the gods. On either side
of the door are three red tablets, with
gilt inscriptions. One chandelier and
two lanterns Of enormous size hang
from the ceiling In a corner stands the
furnace where paper money and other
sacrifices are burned.
Entering the temple from the veranda
we come TO an isolated folded door,
that is never opened except when the
idol IA carried forth in procession.
Over the door hangs magnificent
monumental gateway piece OF carved
and gilded woodwork. IL is a most
artistic composition of miniature tenn
pies, festooned with flowers, amid
which are throned the principal gods
and goddcsscs Of the Chinese Pantheon.
Behind the folded doors are two affairs,
bearing the utensils of sacrifices, the
joss sticks and the Eve sacred imple-
ments, consisting Of an urn, two can
dlesticl5s and two vases. The fronts OF
the affairs are set with elaborate carved
work, representing scenes of fcudal
times, the pageantry OF royal courts or
figures of sages and kings, illustrious
generals and statesmen, mingled with
gorgeous peacoclSs and fabulous birds.
The walls are adorned with bright
colored tablets bearing eulogistic in
scriptions TO the gods. One in crimson
reads: "Thy grace abounds like ocean
waves" A purple tablet says: "Thc
breath of tho gods fills Heaven and
earth"
A Chinese temple has no fixed time
for religious services. The worshipcr
comes when he has something TO prny
about. Family sickness, adverse for
taking drives him 10 the oracle. AS he
enters he lights his candles and In
cense, knecls upon mat In front OF
the altar, and calls upon the god by
name three times. Tho priest then
takes up two scmi-oval blocks of wood
called Yum Young Puey, bows toward
the idol, says his litany and losses
them up The success of his supplica-
tions depends upon the position in
which these blocks fall. If they both
fall in the same position the god is not
Mt home or IL In n bad mood. III the
blocks fall one with the fiat side
turned up and the other with the fiat
surface turned down, the god Is sup
posed 10 be ready TO listen. The wor-
shiper now knocks his head three
times three upon the floor and offers
up his petitions. This done, the priest
takes cylindrical bamboo pot contain
ing bamboo slips about fifteen inches
in length. each marked with number.
These are called sticks OF fate, and are
shaken together with the ends turned
TO the idol. till one Is jostlcd out The
priest or temple keeper looks at the
number, consults his books, and hunts
up the answer given To the mans
prayer. The drum beats and the bell
tolls.
OF all the rods worshipcd by the Can
toncse In America Kwan Kung Is the
most popular lie Is the hero OF their
ballads. novels and dramas, the embod-
imcnt OF Chinese patriotism. In life he
was distinguished general, who, dnr-
ing the reign OF Emperor Lau Pcy, con-
ouered the various tribes then inhabit-
ing the country, and welded them into
one great Chinese empire, called the
Middle Flowery Kingdom. IL was
not until eight hundred years after
his denth. however, that he be-
came n god. The occasion OF his canon
ization Is said TO have been the drying
up OF the salt wells In the province OF
Shan 81, n calamity that caused wide
spread misery. The emperor and his
ministers are said 90 have prepared
written prayers, which were burned
and conveyed TO Heaven In the smoke.
An hour had scarcely elapsed when, as
the legend says, Kwan Kung, riding
his red charger, appeared In the mid
heaven. and informed his majesty that
his petitions could not be granted till a
temple was erected to his honor. No
time was lost; hundreds of masons were
act 60 work, and when tho top stone
was set In It's place tho wells once more
yielded their supplies.
IL Is said that during the rebellion OF
1856 the hero appeared TO the com
mandcr I'm chief OF the imperial forces,
directing the plan for the campaign
and assisting In the battle that led to
the overthrow Of the rcbclsat Marking.
Grateful for this lnterposition, the en-
peror. Iiica Tppg, placed him on the
same rank with Gopfucius In the ma
tional psntheon. and Kwan lfnng was
henccforth known as the god OF war,
whose full apotheosis title is the Faith
ful. Brave and All Compassionate
pit. K,van Kunp. tho god OF war