72
HELGA WERLE
and then a company is contracted to erect the temporary bamboo structures to house performances and ceremonies. The ideal is for the structures to be arranged in a square, the temple facing East and the stage opposite (i.e. West), so that the god is conveniently positioned to get the best view of the stage. The organizers are housed on one or both sides of the temple and on the sides of the square are exhibited the giant-sized dragon-robes, crowns and boots, all elaborately made of paper, which will be burnt and, in this way, sent as a birthday present to the god.
AND RICE TO DONATE TO THE POOR EXHIBITION OF COLLECTED GOODS
FESTIVAL
TEIFLE
COMMITTEE
HALL FOR CEREMONIES TO
APPEASE SOULS
辉花
ROOF TO SHELTER AUDIENCE
(FORMERLY OF NATTING, NOW TIN SHUI WAI)
STAGE
KITCHEN
EXHIBITION OF PAPER DRAGON ROBES
Chiuchow festival square (the layout is almost the same whether it is used for the celebration of god's birthdays pao-tan or for the appeasement of the hungry souls in the 7th month called Yu-lan-p'en).
The interior of the temporary temple is almost completely occupied by a large square table (about 4m x 4m) on which items donated by individuals of the community are displayed before they are auctioned off. Holding a microphone and a gong several auctioneers stand on a table in front of the temple and, competing with the loudspeakers amplifying the opera music, they promise prosperity and good fortune (in the traditional 4-character phrases) to the highest bidder. Bottles of brandy and whiskey, porcelain figures of immortals and deities, and colourful lamps and lanterns go for several hundred or thousands of dollars at a time. Although the successful bidder can take his acquisition home he does not pay the bid until the following festival. And especially if he is poor at the time, he
72
HELGA WERLE
and then a company is contracted to erect the temporary bamboo structures to house performances and ceremonies. The ideal is for the structures to be arranged in a square, the temple facing East and the stage opposite (i.e. West), so that the god is conveniently positioned to get the best view of the stage. The organizers are housed on one or both sides of the temple and on the sides of the square are exhibited the giant-sized dragon-robes, crowns and boots, all elaborately made of paper, which will be burnt and, in this way, sent as a birthday present to the god.
AND RICE TO DONATE TO THE PUOR EXHIBITION OF CULLECTED GOODS
FESTIVAL
TEIFLE
COMMITTEE
HALL POR CHEMONIES TO
APPEASE SOULS
辉花
ROOF TO SHELTER AUDIENCE
(FORMERLY OF NATTING, NOW TIN SHEETIN}}
STAGE
KITCHEN
EXHIBITION OF PAPER DRAGON ROSES
Chiuchow festival square (the layout is almost the same whether it is used for the celebration of god's birthdays pao-tan or for the appease. ment of the hungry souls in the 7th month called Yu-lan-p'en ‚£## ),
.
The interior of the temporary temple is almost completely occu- pied by a large square table (about 4m x 4m) on which items do- nated by individuals of the community are displayed before they are auctioned off. Holding a microphone and a gong several auctioneers stand on a table in front of the temple and, competing with the loud- speakers amplifying the opera music, they promise prosperity and good fortune (in the traditional 4-character phrases) to the highest bidder. Bottles of brandy and whiskey, porcelain figures of im- mortals and deities, and colourful lamps and lanterns go for several hundred or thousands of dollars at a time. Although the successful bidder can take his acquisition home he does not pay the bid until the following festival. And especially if he is poor at the time, he
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