H20.639

1872
8.5 in HIGH x 3.5 in WIDE
(21.59 cm HIGH x 8.89 cm WIDE)
China
Gift of Mrs. Don Mon Wong
H20.639

Early California Art and History, Science Special Gallery, December 2007 - September 2009

Temple fortune telling set. Date 1872. Container carved from bamboo. Sticks of split bamboo, pair of "answers"of teakwood. From the History Information Station: A person with a problem went to a Joss house, or house of worship, and used these sticks to ask one of the gods for guidance. Each god watched over a particular aspect of life, such as health, wealth or agriculture. In the Joss house, the petitioner made an offering, lit a candle and burned some incense at the shrine of the god he wished to address. He then picked up the container of sticks and shook it, pointing it toward the shrine. When one stick fell out, the keeper of the shrine noted its number. Each number directed the petitioner to a passage in a book of spiritual teachings, which he then consulted. Joss Houses in California In early California, Chinese immigrants had no places of worship. They were afraid to erect any temples because they feared vandalism by non-Chinese settlers. In time they began to set aside rooms for worship in commercial and residential buildings. As time went on, they were able to build houses of worship, sometimes even full-scale temples. These buildings were called Joss houses. Many think the word "Joss" comes from the Chinese pronunciation of "Deos," the Portuguese word for God. Usually Joss houses had shrines for several gods, which were protected by full-time attendants. In the Joss houses, people practiced their religion individually. Sometimes they meditated, for spiritual rejuvenation. Sometimes they consulted certain gods on the solution to a family problem. Gods were also asked to bless babies and crops, and to watch over perilous journeys and commercial ventures.

Used: temple

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