Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1895-03-15
PRINCE KWAN KUNG
THE CHINESE GOD OF WAR IN THE
TEMPLE At LOS ANGELES.

a Beautiful oOSshouse VIII Many s1ouS ana
Inscriptions-Forms of Worship That
Look Silly to an American-Thc Story OF
Prince Kwan Kung.
One of the finest Chinese temples in
America is # found in tho city Of Los An
geles, the metropolis of southern Califor.
mia. 1t is tho property of the Kung Chow
company. The entrance of the building
hears the, Chinese inscription, Purify
thyself by fasting and self denial"
On the first floor is the assembly room,
or guild hall, of the company, over the
door of which is a gilt inscription reading,
Honesty is the bono 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 in.
scription, ''Lcet Shing Kung," Or Pan
thcon of the Holy Gods" Worship offered
at this temple is accepted by all tho gods.
On either side of the door are three RED
tablets, with gilt Inscriptions. One chan.
dclier and two lanterns of enormous size
hang from the ceiling. In a corner stand
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 car
ried forth in procession. Over the doo,
hangs a magnificent monumental gateway
piece of carved and gilded woodwork. Ii
Is a most artistic composition Of miniature
temples, festooned with flowers, amid
which are throned the principal gods and
goddesses of the Chinese pantheon. Be.
hind tho folded doors are two affairs bear.
ing the utensils of sacrifices, the joss sticks
and the five sacred implements, consisting
of IN urn, two candlesticks and two vases.
The front of the affairs is set with ejabo.
rate 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.
After passing the two affairs, with their
costly service of urns, censers, bowls and
vases, we stand III front of the high altar,
which contains five images, the highest
being kwan Kung, the god Of war. The
four images below him are Ju Chong,
his bodyguard and grand executive; Iu
Tung, his grand secretary, who records all
the doings of men, and two lieutenants.
This shrine is of beautifully carved wood,
decorated with embroidered draperies and
tinseled ornaments. Before the shrine i
flame is always burning, and bits of light
ed punk make q pleasant aroma. Two
halberds, about 10 feet long, stand
front of the high altar. There is a.
stand of miniature battletlags Of so
colors. In a corner is another st aalit
tanning a bass drum and hea.e and, CT
to wake the god or call his : >yTnell, IL:
worshipers are present. t~sGntion wi
The walls are adornc
ored tablets bearing Il with bright {
lions to the gods. r %tsulogistic. inscl
THY grace ahoun Luse in crimson rea
purple tablet s. is like ocean waves. "
gods fills heav' 4ys, The breath of
A Chinese sn:and earth"
religious s tetnple has no fixed tin
when he <xwlces. The worshiper col
Family hRs something to pray abe
risky sickness, adverse fortune or 81
the business undertaking drives hin
d.. orsscle. AS he enters he lights his C
.es and incense, kneels upon a mat
frpnt of the altar and calls upon the
by name three times. The priest Il
N takes up two semioval blocks Of W
: called yum yueng puey, bows toward
idol, says his litany and losses them
m The success of his supplications dope
# upon the position in which these bio
nj fall. If they both fall in the same p
n ton, the god Is not at home or is in a
mood. If the blocks fall one with the
h side turned up and and the other with
Ia fat surface turned down, the god is S
er posed to be ready to listen. The worshi
now knocks his head three times tt
upon the floor and offers up his petite
ri This done, the priest takes a cylindr
ia bamboo pot containing bamboo slips ali
n, Is inches in length, each marked wit
number. These are called sticks of
IN and are shaken together, with the g
10 turned to the idol, till one is jostled
The priest or temple keeper looks at
~ number, consults his books and hunts
g.. the answer given to the mans pra
IL The drum beats, and the bell tolls.
~ Offerings of imitation paper money
CIV burned in the furnace and are miracult
T. ly changed by the fire into spiritual q
1t takes only about ten Minutes to b
he candles, incense and paper money, say
prayers, cast his lot and be on his
,tv home.
til OF all the gods w%orshiped by the Can
nv ese in America Kwan Kung is the Il
ne popular. He is the hero of their ball
novels and dramas. the embodiment,