Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1895-04-10
A CHINESE JOSS HOUSE
The Be autiful Temple of the Gods
in Los Angeles.
Kwan Kung, the God of War, and his
Exalted Position Among the Celes-
tial Deities--Interesting Fea-
lures of the Worship.

One Of the finest Chinese temples in
America is found in the city of Los An
geles, the metropolis of southern Cali
fornia. 1t was erected three years age
and is the property of the Kung Chow
company. The entrance of the build.
ing bears the Chinese inscription: ''Pu
rify myself by fasting and self-denial.'
On the first floor, says the New Yor':
Herald, is the assembly room, or guild
hall of the company, over the door OF
which is gilt inscription, reading
Honesty is. the bond of association.
The proper place Of worship is on the
second floor, constantly guarded by an
old g1ay-hairea Tao priest. On the
veranda, over the door, is 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 doot are three red tablets, with
gilt inscriptions. One chandelier and
two lanterns of enormous size hang
from the ceiling. In 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 is carried forth in procession.
Over the door hangs a magnificent
monumental gateway piece of carved
and gilded woodwork. 1t is most
artistic composition of miniature tenn
IL
which are throned the principal gods
and goddesses of the Chinese Pantheon.
Behind the folded doors are two affairs,
bearing the utensils of sacrifices, the
joss sticks and the five sacred imple-
ments, consisting of an urn, two can
dlesticks and two vases. The fronts of
the affairs are set with elaborate carved
work, representing scenes of feudal
times, the pageantry of royal courts or
figures of sages and kings, illustrious
generals and statesmen, mingled with
gorgeous peacocks 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: ''The
breath of the gods fills Heaven and
earth"
A Chinese temple has no fixed time
for religious services. The worshiper
comes when he has something to pra7
about. Family sickness, adverse for
tune or some risky business under
taking drives him to the oracle. AS he
enters he lights his candles and in.
cense, kneels upon mat in front of
the altar, and calls upon the god by
name three times. The priest then
takes up two semi-oval blocks OF wood
called Yum Yeung Puey, bows toward
the idol, says his litany and losses
them up. The success of his supplica-
tons depends upon the position in
which these blocks fall. If they both
fall in the same position the god is not
at home or is in a bad mood If the
blocks fall one with the fiat side
turned up and the other with the flat
surface turned down, the god is sup
posed to be ready to listen. The wor
shipper now knocks his head three
times three upon the floor and offers
up his petitions. This done, the priest
takes a cylindrical bamboo pot contain
ing bamboo slips about fifteen inches
in length, each marked with a number
These are called sticks Of fate, and are
shaken together with the ends turned
to the idol, till one is jostled 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 gods worshiped by the Can
tonese in America Kwan Kung is the
most popular. He is the hero Of their
ballads, novels and dramas, the embod-
iment Of Chinese patriotism. In life he
WAS distinguished general, who, dnr-