The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1895-03-29
A CHINESE JOSS HOUSE.
The Beautiful Temple of the Gods
in Los Angeles.
Kwan Kung. tho God of War, and His
Exalted Position Among tho Celcs-
tial Deit,es-Interesting Fca-
tures OF the Worship.

One of the finest Chinese temples in
America is found in the city of Los An
gcles, the metropolis of southern Cali
fornia, 1t was erected three years ago
and is the property of the Kung Chow
company. The entrance of the build
ing bears the Chinese inscription: "Pu-
rify tbysclf by fasting and self-denial."
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:
Honesty is the bond of association"
The proper place of worship is on the
second floor, constantly guarded by IN
old gray-haircd Tao priest. On the
veranda, over the door, is red tablet,
bearing the inscription: "Lcet 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 arc 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
that is never opened except when the
idol is carried forth in procession.
Over the door hangs magnificent
monumental gateway piece of carved
and gildcd woodwork. 1t is most
artistic composition of miniature tenn
pies, fcstooned with flowers, amid,
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-
mcnts, consisting of an urn, two can
dlesticlls 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 peacoclls 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 the gods fills Heaven and
earth"
\ Chinese temple has no fixed time
for religious services. The worshipcr
comes when he has something to pray
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
censc, l<nccls upon n 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 Young Puey, bows toward
the idol, says his ltany 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
at home or is in a bad mood. If tho
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-i
shipper 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 ut the
number, consults his books, ard 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 Iung is the
most popular. He 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 Pey, con-
quered the various tribes then inhabit-
ing the country, and welded them into
one great Chinese empire, called the
Middle Flowery Kingdom. 1t was
not until eight hundred years after
his death, however, that he be-
came god. The occasion of his canon
iZation is said to have been the driving
up OF the salt wells in the province of
Shan ST, a calamity that caused wide
spread misery The emperor and his
ministers are said to 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
temple was erected to his honor. No
time was lost; hundreds Of masons were
set to work, and when the top stone
was set in it's place the wells once moro
yielded their supplies.
1t is said that during the rebellion Of
1855 the hero appeared to the COM
mander in chief of the imperial forces,
directing the plan for the campaign
and assisting in the battle that led to
the overthrow of the rebelsat Marking.