These carvings are located along the midsection of walls on either side of the Sanchuan Altar entrance. The artistic rendering follows the traditional folk custom of using images as homophones of particular words or ideas. Here, raising a flag; picking up a ball; a halberd and a traditional stone xylophone together create a visual homophone of the auspicious phrase, ‘pray for joy and happiness’.

‘Pray’ (left): a general raises a flag (homophone of ‘pray’) and a child holding a ball (homophone of ‘supplicate’);

‘Joy and Happiness’ (right): a general clasps a halberd and a traditional xylophone, which together form a homophone for joyous celebration.