Hanlu Temple · Ten halls

Halls

The compound has thirty-two buildings. Ten of them you can walk into, sit down in, and use — bow, count beads, or draw a lot. Each page below explains who the hall is for, what is inside, and where you would find the same figure in a real temple.

• Guandi Shrine A general promoted to god-emperor, then to protector of the dharma.
• Mahavira Hall The main hall, and the module the whole compound is measured against.
• Mazu Hall The sea goddess, inland and out of place — deliberately.
• Wenquxing Hall The fourth star of the Big Dipper, and the patron of examinations.
• Medicine King Hall A Tang physician, and the hall that admits its own limit.
• Dragon King Hall Rain, rivers and the second day of the second month.
• Yuelao Shrine The old man with the register and the red thread.
• Wealth Hall Not one god of money, but a small committee of them.
• Earth God Shrine The god of one patch of ground, and the most common shrine in China.
• Kitchen God Hall The household god with an annual report to file.

Enter the courtyard Read the eighty lots →

The courtyard opens with its controls in English when you come in from this page. The lots are Chinese verse — each one comes with a short reading in English.