BY STELLA BENSON
❦
⁌ THE TEMPLE OF KWAN-YIN, GODDESS OF MERCY. A wide altar occupiesthe whole of the back of the stage; a long fringe of strips of yellowbrocade hangs from the ceiling to within 3 feet of the floor at eitherend of the altar. In the centre of the altar the seated figure of thegoddess is vaguely visible in the dimness; only the face is definitelyseen—a golden face; the expression is passionless and aloof. A longtable about 12 inches lower than the altar stands in front of it, rightacross the stage. On the table, before the feet of Kwan-yin, is hercarved tablet with her name in golden characters on a red lacquerground. In front of the tablet is a large brass bowl full of joss-sticksthe smoke of which wavers in the air & occasionally obscures the face ofKwan-yin. There are several plates of waxen looking fruit & cakes on thetable & two horn lanterns—these are the only light in the scene. Oneither side of Kwan-yin, between the table and the altar, there is apillar with a gilded wooden dragon twisted round it, head downward. Tothe left, forward, is a large barrel-shaped drum slung on a carvedblackwood stand.
Four priests & two acolytes are seen like shadows before this palely litbackground. One acolyte to the[Pg 4] right of the table beats a little hoarsebell. This he does during the course of the whole scene, in thefollowing rhythm:—7-8-20-7-8-20. He should reach the 105th beat at theend of the second hymn to Kwan-yin. The other acolyte stands by the drumand beats it softly at irregular intervals as indicated. The acolytesare little boys in long blue coats. The four priests stand at the tablewith their faces toward Kwan-yin; their robes are pale dull pink silkwith a length of deeper apricot pink draped about the shoulders.
The priests kneel and kow-tow to Kwan-yin.
The acolytes sing:
First priest—tenor—chants: