Chinese temple architecture also "wu" and "tongji" shamans, may perform services within these temples. Shenist temples are usually small and decorated with traditional figures on their roofs (dragons and deities), although some evolve into significant structures. Chinese temples can be found throughout Mainland China, Taiwan and also where Chinese expatriate communities settled over centuries. An old name in English for Chinese traditional temples is "joss house". "Joss" is an Anglicized spelling of the Portuguese word for "god", "deus". "Joss house" was in common use in English in western North America during frontier times, when joss houses were a common feature of Chinatowns. The
Deity for human beings who gain merit through an ethical life, where they become guardian deities and live blissfully in heaven, but are also subject to death when their merit is lost. The English language word "deity" derives from Old French "deité," the Latin "deitatem" or "divine nature", coined by Augustine of Hippo from "deus" ("god"). Deus is related through a common Proto-Indo-European (PIE) origin to "*deiwos". This root yields the ancient Indian word "Deva" meaning "to gleam, a shining one", from *div- "to shine", as well as Greek "dios" "divine" and Zeus; and Latin "deus" "god" (Old Latin "deivos"). Deva