2. Preparation for the festival
Yu Huang Dian Yu Hai Tang Guan Yin Tang has nine statues representing the Nine Emperor Bodhisattvas. During the Festival, the temple will erect a special chamber (九皇宝殿) for the Nine Bodhisattvas in the courtyard using a tentage as the foundation. Its construction usually begins one to two weeks before the start of the festival. The statues of the Nine Emperor Bodhisattvas will then be moved to the special chamber from the second floor after its completion. To ensure the sanctity, equanimity, and purity of the special chamber, it is only open to the public to pay respects on the 9th day of the 9th lunar month，when the temple sends off the Nine Emperor Bodhisattvas. During the festival, the temple committee members will take turns to guard the special chamber each night.
On the final day of setting up this chamber, the statues were cleaned and brought into the chamber. The preparation of the chamber and installation of the statues is only completed between 1 and 2 a.m. in the morning.
The statue of Maitreya will then be brought to the centre of the courtyard and placed in front of the Nine Emperor’s chamber. An incense censer for sandalwood is placed on a table in front of Maitreya. The large censer for the incense is then placed in front of this table. A special kind of lime plant and a pomegranate plant were planted into the large urn based on the instructions of Master Chen. .
Nine Emperor Gods Project 九皇文化计划 