The Temple on the Corner

On the way back from the mall, we passed a corner shrine that was very active, so we stopped to watch. This was sponsored by some corporation, or maybe the adjacent hotel. It’s hard to tell when you not only don’t understand the language, you don’t even recognize the alphabet.

This was an open air affair, about the size of a typical suburban front yard – maybe 100 x 100 ft. There was a fence around it separating it from the sidewalk, and at the back side (relative to where you come in) there were women in traditional costumes who were singing and dancing to accompaniment.

In the center was a gold statue in an ornate shelter that was open on all sides. We later learned this was called the “Buddha of the Four Faces”, because it had a face that looked out of each side.

Street vendors were outside the fence to sell things used in the ceremony – principally incense and flowers. Worshipers would light their incense and candles from burners located at the corners of the central area, take off their shoes, kneel to the Buddha and then pray for a bit after putting the incense in the holders that surrounded the central space and placing their flowers with the others.

Some would buy small cages of birds that looked a lot like sparrows, place them in front of the alter and then release the birds after they prayed. We were told that by releasing the birds, worshipers acquired merit for having freed a confined creature and this could ultimately contribute to a long life for themselves.

Of course, we didn’t bring the video camera, so you just have to take our word for it on all of this!