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  Cantonese Assembly Hall

 

Vietnam

The patio of the Assembly Hall of the Cantonese Chinese Congregation in Hoi An, which is also simply referred to as the Cantonese Assembly Hall, has an elaborate dragon fountain made from terracotta.

 

This historical temple was established in 1885 AD by Cantonese merchants who emigrated from China. Behind an altar with Chinese ancestral tablets (fig.) is a mural depicting a Xian, i.e. a Taoist Immortal, flying on a crane (fig.).

 

  Cantonese Assembly Hall

 

  Cantonese Assembly Hall

 

It was initially built to worship Mazu (fig.) and Confucius (fig.), yet as of 1911 also Kuan U (fig.) and Cantonese ancestors became worshipped here. As is often the case in temples throughout Vietnam, also here stand two wooden horses at the doorway of the second hall, one painted white and intended to welcome believers, the other one painted brown and aimed to chase away evil spirits.

 

The back garden has a statue reminiscent of the courtyard's dragon, yet here it represents the Nine Dragons (fig.), while the back wall of the second hall is decorated with the ‘Three Humble Visits to the Thatched Cottage’ episode from the Romance of the Three Kingdoms (fig.).

 

  Cantonese Assembly Hall

 

  Cantonese Assembly Hall

 

In the far back of the garden is a white statue of some goats, reminiscent of the Year of the Goat in the Chinese zodiac.

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