2010

A ritual master

A Splendid Send Off for the Emperor – the final day of the Nine Emperor Gods Festival in Ampang

October 17, 2010

The rains finally came to Ampang today and, poetically, it’s nice to think of it as the Emperor saying goodbye. The cosmos has regained an order, yin and yang are properly in balance and prayers for peace and prosperity have…

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Women praying with incense

Balancing in the Final Two Days of Nine Emperor Gods Festival

October 15, 2010

The week has gone by so quickly! Here we are with only two days remaining in the festival. It’s an interesting time to be at the temple – the energy is high and there’s a lot to do, but a…

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Fire walking

Firewalking Ceremony at the Nine Emperor Gods Festival Ampang

October 14, 2010

The firewalking ceremony at the Nine Emperor Gods Temple in Ampang is the culmination of the festival and brings the world into balance. Huge crowds turn out to witness hundreds of men cross the firepit as this is the most…

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Yellow Dragon

Yellow

October 12, 2010

Yellow is the colour of sunshine. And, more importantly for us here, it is the colour of the Nine Emperor Gods Festival. Yellow is the oldest sacred colour of China and therefore appropriate for a ritual festival, steeped in secrets…

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Bridge

Water and Fire on Oct 15 and 16, 2010

October 12, 2010

The Nine Emperor Gods Festival in Ampang is well underway – today is the 5th Day of the Ninth Moon. Last evening the festival seemed quiet, but that is compared to the crowds and chaos of the weekend. It was…

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Beggars on the street

The Yellow Curtain

October 9, 2010

I dreamt last night of yellow and streaks of light in the night sky and so am glad of a day of distraction from the temple to give my imagination a rest! A couple of things happened yesterday to prompt…

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Beggars on the street

It Begs the Question

October 8, 2010

  The Nine Emperor Gods Festival in Ampang is a cacophony of visual stimuli. That’s why I enjoy it so much – the combination of the sacred and profane, the commercial and the spiritual, the dark and the light, and,…

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Kids letting out birds

Releasing the Birds

October 8, 2010

One of my favourite happenings at the Nine Emperor Gods Festival each year (and at Chinese festivals in general) is the releasing of small birds. I don’t like to see them caged, but the act of releasing them is lovely.…

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A ritual performance by the street

Make plans for Saturday, October 9th and the next procession

October 8, 2010

Welcome to the Ninth Moon and the Nine Emperor Gods Festival!! The vendors are set up, the street food is fresh and delicious, the opera troupe is in place and the scene at the temple is smoky, smoky, smoky. Let’s…

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A man writing on a lantern

Lim of the Lanterns

October 7, 2010

Mr Lim has been painting lanterns at the Nine Emperor Gods Temple in Ampang since he was 19 years old – more than 50 years! He has seen a lot of changes and is proud to be part of the…

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