The House Of Souls
Photo Information
Camera – Nikon D40
Exposure Time – 1/13s
ISO Speed – 800
Focal Length – 18mm
Photo Information
Camera – Nikon D40
Exposure Time – 1/30s
ISO Speed – 400
Focal Length – 34mm
This is Chinese House of Souls at Guann Yin Buddhist temple of Shwegondaing Township, Yangon. After death, Chinese people bring the bone ash to the temples and keep them in such Houses of souls believing that the late person will be continuing his life under the shade of Lord Buddha. Some people believe that the late person will be closer to Lord Buddha so that more prone to get every single bit of Buddha’s teachings.
Would you call it superstition? We, Chinese people, believe that cemetery and House of Souls are exceedingly auspicious places where our ancestors are sleeping peacefully. Once a year, we have ceremony to pay homage to our late ancestors with a big donation to the monks and nuns. This is where we stock my great grandmother ashes. It’s not easy to get a space there and it’s not free also. We need to queue and pay a fortune to get a space. The photos were taken on Sep 7th 2008, the tenth anniversary of our great grandmother’s bereavement.
Credits: In dedication to my late great grandmother, Daw Tai Hmway (1915-1998). May you rest in peace, Htai Htai.
I’ve stayed near this temple for so many years and I’ve never been into the temple before. You can make the photos whenever you reach somewhere. Really great brother, so we can also reach there.