Across different times in the history of Hong Kong, Chinese puppetry played an indispensable role in the community’s entertainment and sacrificial rituals.

In as early as around the 1870’s, Cantonese rod puppetry already enjoyed massive popularity in ...

Native dialects are the dialects which were widely-used among residents on land in Hong Kong before it was ceded to the United Kingdom, including Weitou and the mainstream Hakka dialect, as well as those that were only popular in specific areas like Ti...

The Transforming Jiao

Among the commonly-seen religious rituals held by villages in Hong Kong, Tai Ping Qing Jiao is of the largest scale. However, there is an even more high-profile Taoist jiao festival, the Taishang Golden Register Ritual and Great...

A time for Jiao

According to Guangya, “jiao” is offerings. In Shouwen Jiezi, jiao equals to the coming-of-age ceremony, wedding ceremony and sacrificial offerings. Therefore, jiao means to worship god, to pray for good luck, as well as to celebrat...

Poon Choi – Eating From the Same Basin

In preparing Poon Choi, which means “basin meal”, ingredients cooked in advance are placed layer by layer in a basin, starting from the bottom. The more refined the ingredient is, the upper layer it forms. Ther...

The Fading Nanyin

The melodious nanyin (southern tunes) is sorrow-provoking. While nanyin in the broad sense can be traced to ancient times, we are unable to ascertain when exactly Guangdong’s nanyin emerged. During Daoguang’s reign in the Qing dy...

Medicine and Martial Art of the Same Root

Bone-setting goes way back in history. It was called “battlefield medicine” in Zhou dynasty and “osteopathy” in Song dynasty, up until Qing dynasty. “Bone-setting” is the name commonly used in the Canton a...

To the indigenous villagers in Hong Kong, paper-craft making is like a cycle. Every year, it appears in festivals, celebration activities, sacrificed offerings and religious ceremonies of all scales throughout the year. It constitutes a crucial part ...

Every series of shengongxi in Cantonese Opera features set pieces, common examples of which include Eight Immortals Bestowing Longevity, Blessings for Promotion, and Fairy Delivers Her Son to his Mortal Father. Retaining the musical structures, tunes,...

Theatrical Performances to Give Thanks to the Deities

Every time it approaches 13 February in the Chinese calendar, villagers of Kau Sai Chau at East Sea in Sai Kung return to their home village to help organise and celebrate the Hung Shing Festival, ...