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entrance. The right half was in use by soldiers, but a priest at the other entrance assured us we could go in. The entrance contained the usual four gods, though of unusually large size, and the laughing Amida Buddha. The main hall was a great barn-like structure, red on the outside, and a dull undecorated red on the inside. A wide portico sheltered huge dragon and phoenix lanterns. Within the hall was the great Buddha, the iron image, which alone did not perish in the fires of T'aip'ing days. Lohans lined the walls and images of the Thousand-Handed Kuan-Yin and the mother Kuan-Yin stood at the rear. The second hall was more interesting, containing the old altar of the oath, one of two or three in China. This was a stone stage about thirty feet square and four feet high, surrounded on the top by a stone balustrade carved in a cloud pattern. Each side of the stage was divided into five panels, fairly deeply built, and in each panel were three brightly colored mud gods [deletion]s[/deletion] about two feet high. They resembled the judges and other lesser demons usually associated with Buddhist hells more than anything else I know. On the stage was a plain white plasted screen in front of which sat a gilt Buddha, the Pi-lu-fo, or Buddha who has entered into Nirvana. He was not distinguished, though said to be the only one in Hangchou. The building, as barnlike as the first, was very lofty and pigeons made their homes among the raf[deletion]e[/deletion]ters and in the great lantern. Since the military occupation the building has not been used for the old ceremonies of the administration of the oath and the burnings of the head. 
A new wing along the side held quarters for monks, and a dining hall was set with many places. It is said that there are usually from fifty to eighty monks here, practically all transients. They told us that they did the work of building the new wings them selves, and they do/all of the upkeep and cleaning. It is notable that here the temples are as a rule in better condition of upkeep and cleanliness than in the north, and there is more appearance of active participation in worship. In many of the monastery temples there are benches or cushions for the priests sometimes to the number of several tens. In the north the buildings are mostly of older appearance, ornately decorated, and decadent. Here the buildings seem for the most part to be fairly new, and to have been put up because there was felt a need for them, so that they are more utilitarian. Most of the inter-