After I first noticed the odd little house on someone’s patio, I found myself playing a weird version of “Where’s Waldo – Spirit House Edition” for most of the trip. I’m fascinated by them because of how ornate they are and how much care is obviously put into their upkeep. You’ll see in the pictures below that daily offerings are made to the spirits who have made their home there. It was explained to me that there are three types of dwellings typically found.
Shrines – these are the largest structures and have a statue of the god inside. The largest of the houses are typically made for an angel, which helps bring good fortune, protection, etc. The smaller houses are for the minor natural spirits who are already on the property. It’s a good idea to give them a home so that they do not try to live in your house. They are not evil, but may be sometimes mischievous. In the country, some of the spirit houses were nicer than the ramshackle homes they shared a lot with.
The truly amazing part of it all was where the houses could be found: homes, gas stations, hospitals, hotels, parking garages, manufacturing plants and shopping malls. We even saw them in empty lots both in the city and in the country.
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