TEMPLE GODS

Greymouth Evening Star, 1 May 1937, Page 7

TEMPLE GODS

HOW CHINESE TRICK SPIRITS Many a romantic plot for novelists has been provided by the curious temple gods of* China, writes Stanley Powell in the Adelaide ■’Chronicle. Precious gems shed a glorious sheen over the intricate craftsmanship which is seen in Chinese gods. In the older days, a number of adventurous gentlemen thought it very smart to steal tb.e jewels which adorn the temple gods. But the persistent trackingdown of the stealers in foreign lands j show how determined the Chinese are in hounding those 1 who do! lie their sacred gods, Im alone the Westerners who rob the idols ot thcii precious burden. Perhaps the most elaborate idol I have seen in the varied East is the ■ huge warrior god which stands in thej Warrior's Temple near Hangkow. in China, it reaches to a height of 40 feet. Joss sticks burn all through the day and night in a ■ pm ml altar at the base of the god. This image is ot fearsome design to represent :i god of war in action. Beautiful enamel files of soft pastel tones, silver, and pttfi; gold, form tlm materials of the image. Although so terrible in appearance, the idol is really a marvellous piece of work. Made many years ago, it is a typical demonstration of how the Easterner regards the appearance of his gods. The Chinese religion is

oased on the people’s fears. Therefore, their gods are made to assume a frightening appearance so that the people will be in awe ol them! Throughout my travois in China, I found that the mass of the people wore absolutely frightened to death of “devils or demons." I stayed at the home of a well-known merchant inthe heart, of the Chinese quarter ot Hangkow. Around this home the Chinese owner bad erected a fine brick wall of peculiar design. This was to keep out the demons! Those Chinese men who face death daily in many forms, and to whom human lives are of no value, will blubber like little children at the thought, of ’■demons" getting into iheir houses. For this reason the Chinese always make a brave show with their crackers in order to scare off any lurking demons. Another strange thing in China is the tilted roofs of the houses and !temples. It appears that demons like ’straight, paths, and have trouble in ■getting round corners. The Chinese j think to trick them by giving them a islope, to the roof-tips and paths. You [never see a straight path in a garden, i Even the bridges are of mostly a zig'zag pattern to confuse the demon 'vpirit>! Japan and Slam also follow ilhis idea. Contrary to general opinjioii the Chinese people do not worship j their dead. They pay great reverence Ito them, but not. actual worship. i Confucianism is the religion of 'China. It is not so much a religion 1 as it is a “teacher": for the principles > of Confucianism are like a teacher in-

structing a scholar. Even in the Chinese churches I saw small tablets standing along the walls, inscribed with wise sayings of the scholar. I found it highly dangerous to attempt an entry-into some of the intriguing temples in China, and had some narrow shaves from injury as a result. The Chinese people are intensely jealous of their temples and gods, and will commit any sin to appease the wrath of a violated temple god. Many of the temple designs are of the pagoda, type, and consist of a number of quaint tiers rising to a point. An example of this type well known to travellers is the Temple of Heaven near Shanghai. Here again, one sees tho queer tilting up of thV tier-eaves to a point, to ward off possible demons! I was amused to learn that many of the big merchants of tho native quarters will not venture out during the day until a vast quantity of crackers are let off near the gateway. Special servants are employed for this. purpose!