This is a shelve area in the center of the house.  This is the ancestor alter.   It is very common to find the altar in clear line of sight from the front door entrance.    For Joe Yow,  in the centre was Kwun Yam (觀音).  The deity of mercy, and a bodhisattva associated with compassion.  The word Kwun Yam is a shortened version of Kwun Sai Yamn (觀世音) – literally means “Observing the Sounds (or Cries) of the World”.

The family ancestor plague sat off center to the left.

On the right was Bodhisattva  (菩薩) – an  enlightened (bodhi) being (sattva) In Buddhism,.

This altar is still intact in the house today.   Kwun Yam and Bodhisattva are gone from, but the ancestor plague reminds today.

Figure 2 – Ancestor alter