The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-03-20
ERECTED To JOSS
The Be autiful Temple Of the Gods
in Los Angeles.
AVIAN Kung. the God of War, and HIS
Exalted Position Among the Ceies-
tial Deities-Interesting fea-
lures Of the Worship.


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 inscriptions: "Pu-
rify thyself 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 a gilt inscription, reading:
Honesty 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 red tablet,
bearing the inscription: 'Leet Shlng
Kung. or. Pantheon of the Holy Gods"
Worship offered at this temple is ac-
copied 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 is carried forth in procession.
Over the door hangs magnificent
monumental gateway piece of carved
and gilded woodwork. 1t is a most
artistic composition of miniature tenn
pies. festooned 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 lnple-
ments. consisting of an urn, two can
dlesticks and two vases. The fronts or
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"
4 Chinese temple has NO fixed time
for religious services The worshlper
comes when he has something To pray
about Family sickness, adverse Tor
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 Oh
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 litany and losses
them up. The success of his suppIica-
tions depends upon the position in
which these blocks fall. If they botf
fall in the same position the god is not
at home or is In bad mood If the
blocks fall one with the fat side
turned up and the other with the fat
surface turned down. the god Is sup
posed 20 be ready to listen The wor-
sinner 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. eonsults his books, and hunts
up the answer given 70 the mans
PRAYER. The drum beats and the bell
tolls.
OF all the gods worshiped by the Can
toncse in America Kwan kung is the
most popular He is the hero of their
ballads. novels and dramas, the embod-
inent of Chinese patriotism. In life he
was distinguished general, who, dnr-
ing the reign of Emperor Lau Pey. con-
olered the various tribes then inhabit-
inc the country. and welded them into
one great Chinese empire, called the
Middle Flowcry 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 drying
ND of the salt wells la the province of
Shan 81, 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 ID 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 ma leSty that
his petitions could not be granted till q
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 its place the wells once more
yielded their supplies.
II is said that during the rebellion OF
1853 the hero appeared to the com
mandcr 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.
Grateful for this interpoSition, the en-
peror Hen Tupg, placed him on the
same rank with Confucius IL the ma
tionai pantheon, and kwan KING was
henceforth known as the god Of war.
whose full apotheosis title IS the Faith
ful. Brave and All Compassionate
Prince Kwan Kung, the god of war.
Ono Advantage.
Perhaps ii may seem strange that Mr..
Oolan, who had prosDered well in his