The Sacred Shrine of the Nine Emperor Gods
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The stairway leading upwards to the sacred shrine. The black flag deflects the forces of impurity.
At the background, veiled by a screen, is out of bounds to all except the organizing committee. At the inner sanctum is the sacred container, containing the spirits of the Nine Emperor Gods. It contains the items scooped from the waterway where the invitation ceremony is conducted.
The nine seats for the Nine Emperor Gods.
In Chinese religious practice, there is this element of purity that precedes all worship ceremonies. In this case, before one enters the sacred sanctum enshrining the Nine Emperor Gods, the worshiper cleanses himself by waving burning gold joss paper from the top of his head to the bottom of his feet.
Praying at the Sacred Shrine
The surrounding at the sacred shrine is calming and quiet, a stark contrast to the hustle and bustle downstairs. Indeed, this is where the Emperors are, and this is the mannerism as expected. One prays at one's own sweet time. Minus the outward disturbances :)
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