Encounter the beautifully carved and painted Xitian Temple of the Nine Emperors in Kuala Pilah!

In the town of Kuala Pilah near Kuala Lumpur, I had my first close encounter with the legend of the 'Nine Emperors' at this Taoist temple called 'Xitian Temple'. The Nine Emperors, also known as the 'Nine Emperor Gods', originated from people's worship of the natural stars. According to records, the nine are: the 'Gou Chen Tian Huang Da Di' and 'Bei Ji Zi Wei Da Di' who are of the same rank as the Jade Emperor, and the seven stars of the Big Dipper, namely Greedy Wolf, Giant Door, Lu Cun, Wen Qu, Lian Zhen, Wu Qu, and Po Jun. In Malaysia, according to the Taoist classics of the Big Dipper, the 'Nine Emperor's Birthday' is also held every lunar September, with grand temple fairs of the Nine Emperor Gods, and it is popular for believers to hold vegetarian feasts collectively. Entering the bustling Xitian Temple, it was very quiet inside as it was not a festival. What you can see is the architectural art of beautifully carved and painted beams, and what you can hear is the devout worship of the believers. As I walked and stopped, my mood became more relaxed and open.