This is the second half of a pair of auspicious couplets carved on a plaque against a celestial cloud background. Together, the couplet reads 慈雲布海外僑界沾恩 (ci yun bu hai wai qiao jie zhan en, The clouds of mercy covers the seas outside [China], and thus the communities of Chinese immigrants are blessed) and法雨注南天民間受護 (fai yu zhu nan tian min jian shou hu, The rain of dharma showers the Southern sky, and thus the people are protected). Auspicious couplets are usually hung on walls to adorn doorways or altars in Peranakan homes. Judging from the contents of the couplets (see also 2004-00108-004), it is likely they were used to frame an altar dedicated to the worship of Guanyin. Peranakan Chinese traditionally practised syncretic Chinese religion and ancestor worship.
