It will be noticed that the stone pillars of the central edifice are remarkable for grotesque yet beautiful designs, where the dragon, the national emblem of China, is seen to be the leading figure. This dragon has been cut in high relief round each pillar, and made by this means to appear as if sustaining the temple; the same reptile may be discovered carved in low relief on the blocks of stone between the steps, and supporting also the ornament which forms the apex of the roof above. The dragon wields a potent influence over the people of the Empire; it forms one of the fundamental principles of their system of geomancy, and is supposed to exist in every mountain and stream throughout the land : its control is as firmly believed in by the Chinese masses as are the benign effects of the sunshine upon the earth. The dread of disturbing the repose of the dragon spirit as he broods over the soil of China, forms one of the chief obstacles to the advance of Western science, to the opening of mines, and to the construction of railroads and telegraphs across the interior of the country. It will be seen that the pillars of the temple here shown have no capitals, and that they are furnished by way of substitute with ornamental brackets made so as to throw the weight of the massive roofs down the centre of the shafts. Brackets such as these are in common use, and are applied to a variety of purposes. The central roof, for example, is supported by a system of ornamental triple brackets, which combine great strength with lightness and elegance of design. They are strong enough to prop up the heavy superstructure, by which a cool shade is obtained, and, at the same time, sufficiently open to admit light and air into the inner hall. It is impossible to describe in detail the fitness and charm of such a building as this. I must rather allow the picture to speak for itself, and conclude with a few remarks on guilds.
There is no country in which the benefits of union and combination are better understood than in China. Here, first of all, we find the principle of unity in the government of the land, the officers being chosen from the people, and owing their positions solely to their knowledge and high attainments. In the same way every profession or trade has its guild or union, governed by men distinguished for their wisdom and high standing in their several crafts; and every individual member of each trade, if he desires peace and prosperity, must subscribe to the rules laid down for the common interest of the whole. These unions have each their temple or guild hall in every city or village, and are under the protection of some local god. In these temples they hold their gatherings, frame their rules, and enjoy their feasts.
There are masters' guilds, where, at stated times, the current prices of products and manufactures are fixed, and there arc servants' guilds, where, in like manner, the wages of labour arc regulated. Judging from the great antiquity of some of these guild houses, trades unions and combinations, which are of recent development in our own land, have been in operation in China for many centuries.
The Fukien Temple was originally founded during the twelfth century. It was at different times destroyed and rebuilt, and was finally raised to its present magnificent proportions about the beginning of the eighteenth century.
