It comes as a surprise to many to discover that Hong Kong, outwardly so modern, still celebrates a wide range of traditional Chinese festivals. And because many of the festivals for gods and ghosts are now forbidden in mainland China, Hong Kong remains one of the few places in the world to watch these fascinating Chinese traditions. There are the noisy, colou1ful public festivals such as the Lunar New Year, the Dragon Boat Festival, or spectacular birthday celebrations for popular gods. Then there are quieter festivals based mainly on the home and family, and others associated with religious institutions. Some festivals are integrated into city life; others are best seen in their village environment in the New Territories.
This handbook for festival-watchers guides the reader through the traditional year, and outlines each festival, describing what the participants do, explaining key symbols' and telling some of the stories behind the festival.
All publicly celebrated festivals are included with details of where to see them, and how to get there. There is a festival calendar, a glossary with Chinese translation and explanatory notes, and a map.
First published in 1982, the book is designed for the general reader. The text is by noted social anthropologist Barbara Ward, a Fellow of Newnham College, Cambridge, who was closely involved with Hong Kong for over thirty years. Her highly readable account is complemented by 83 colour plates, the work of Hong Kong-born photographer Joan Law, who spent some two years visiting festivals all over Hong Kong. Together with Barbara Ward's lively text, they build up a vivid picture of Hong Kong festivals which should encourage reader to go out and experience some of these spectacular celebrations for themselves.
With 83 colour plates
Author(s): Barbara E. Ward & Joan Law
Edition: First
Publisher: The Guidebook Company Limited
Year: 1995
Language: English
Commentary: Bookmarked, OCR (Clearscan)
City: Hong Kong
Tags: Hong Kong, Festivals, Culture, Chinese
Front Cover
Festival Calendar
Half Title Page
Festival Map
Contents
Preface
Introduction
Hong Kong as a Centre of Chinese Festival Traditions
Who Takes Part?
Two final notes for would-be festival watchers
Note on spelling of Chinese words
Some aids to pronunciation
Moon Twelve
The Month of Preparation
Domestic Preparations
Day 24 The Kitchen God Visits Heaven
Paying Debts
Lucky Papers at the Door
The Flower Markets
Moon One
Day 1 New Year’s Day
Cosmic and Personal Renewal
Days 2 and 3 The God of Wealth and the Birthday of Ch'e Kung
Establishing the Fortune of the Year
Day 15 Yuen Siu, The Lantern Festival
The End of the New Year Holiday
Moon Two
Day 2 Birthday of T'o Tei Kung
A God for Every Place
Day 13 Birthday of Hung Shing Kung
Patron of Seafarers
A Typical ‘ Birthday’ Festival: Hung Shing Kung on Kau Sai Island
Propitiation and Purification
Presentation of Offerings
Distribution
Moon Three
Ch'ing Ming
Day 3 Birthday of Pak Tai
A Legendary Hero
Day 23 Birthday of T’in Hau
Miss Lin the Fisherman’s Daughter
Her Canonisation
Moon Four
Day 8 Birthday of the Lord Buddha
The Founder of Buddhism
Buddhist Institutions and Ceremonial Activities
Day 8 Birthday of T’am Kung
Insurance against Fire, Flood and Tempest
Day varies: Cheung Chau Bun Festival
Mountains of Buns
Processions Galore
Moon Five
Day 5 Dragon Boat Races
Chinese Dragons
The Boats
Legendary History
A Widespread Southeast Asian Custom?
The Benevolent Power of Chinese Dragons and the Dangerous Double Fifth
Day 13 Birthday of Kwan Tai
Everybody's Hero
Moon Six
Day 6 Birthday of Hau Wong
The Sung Emperor in Hong Kong
Day 13 Birthday of Lu Pan
Patron Saint of Carpenters and Builders
Day 19 The Enlightenment of Koon Yam
Moon Seven
Day 7 Festival of the Seven Sisters
The Cowherd and the Weaving Girl
The Maidens’ Festival
Day 15 Yuen Laan or The Festival for the Hungry Ghosts
Ancestors and Ghosts
Community Celebrations
Taai Si Wong 大士王
Lesser Ceremonies : Shiu Yi 燒衣
Moon Eight
Day 15 Mid-Autunm Festival (also known as the Moon Festival)
Enjoying the Moon
Day 16 Monkey’s Festival at Sau Mau Ping
The Universal Trickster: Great Sage Equal to Heaven
Spiritual Healing in the Temple in Sau Mau Ping
Fire Walking at the Festival
Day 27 Birthday of Confucius
Greatest Sage and Teacher
Moon Nine
Day 9 Ch'ung Yeung
Autumn Remembrance
Clan Ceremonial
A Day for Climbing Hills
Day 19 Remembrance of Koon Yam
Goddess of Mercy
Moon Ten & Eleven
A Closed Season for Festivals
Moon Eleven: Winter Solstice
The Imperial Ceremonies at the Temple of Heaven, Peking
Day Varies : Ta Chiu, Taoist Festivals of Peace and Renewal
The Rite of Cosmic Renewal
Day Varies: On Lung, Pacifying the Dragon
Solar Calendar Chart
Matching the Moon to the Sun
Chart showing the twenty-four periods of the Chinese Solar Calendar: each period is approxitmately 15 dayslong
Glossary
Suggested Additional Reading
Index
Festival Calendar
About the authors
Back Cover
