Hong Kong religion & beliefs

February: Light Up The First Joss Sticks Chris Lee...

Fri, 10 Mar 2006 13:28:29 GMT

February: Light Up The First Joss Sticks
Chris Lee

http://photos1.blogger.com/img/226/2241/1024/joss-stick.jpg

At the the first day of Chinese New Year. Many Hong Kong people goto
Wong Tai Sin Temple to light up their first joss sticks, which they
believed to bring good luck for coming year.

Photo by hkfringe club

May: Tin Hau Festival Contributed by Chris Lee Tin Hau also known as "Ma Jo"...

Fri, 10 Mar 2006 13:28:53 GMT

May: Tin Hau Festival
Contributed by Chris Lee

Tin Hau also known as "Ma Jo" or "Leung Ma", who believe has ability
to predict weather and save people from shipwreck.

During the Festival, freshman's group, sporting clubs and clansmen
associations who worship Tin Hau will send "Piu Sik" and other
performers to take part in Tin Hau Festival Parade at Yuen Long.

http://photos1.blogger.com/img/226/2241/1024/tin_hau_dragon_dance_02_hkdigit.jpg

Lion Dance, one of Chinese traditional dance , which believe it can
descent of good luck.

Photo by hkfringe club

September: Tai Hang Fire Dragon Chris Lee

Fri, 10 Mar 2006 12:42:01 GMT

September: Tai Hang Fire Dragon
Chris Lee

Photo by hkfringe club

The wishing tree, Tai Po Make a wish, write it down and attach it to an...

Wed, 04 Jan 2006 12:26:44 GMT

The wishing tree, Tai Po

Make a wish, write it down and attach it to an orange - then try to throw it onto a branch!

Photo by hkfringe club

Lo Pan Temple Lo Pan Temple is in Kennedy Town, and was built in honour of Lo...

Fri, 06 Jan 2006 05:59:48 GMT

Lo Pan Temple

Lo Pan Temple is in Kennedy Town, and was built in honour of Lo Pan, the god of constructors. Every year on Lo Pan's birthday, people who work in the construction industry come to the temple to worship and honor Lo Pan.

Photo by hkfringe club

Hui Chun 揮春 – Lucky Message 2006 (From Nic to Grandparents) Contributed by...

Mon, 13 Feb 2006 09:53:47 GMT

Hui Chun 揮春 – Lucky Message 2006 (From Nic to Grandparents)
Contributed by Regina Fung

The above photo, the first of my four images, shows the Hui Chuns being pinned up on the wall of my parents’ home. My adorable nephew Nic, one of my favourite people, writes those small messages. These Hui Chuns are important to me because they represent a particular phase of my nephew’s childhood. Once he grows up, his writings will mature and he can no longer write such cute and sweet characters. Moreover, those lucky messages are meaningful for they carry the warm wishes that are sent by my nephew to my parents, with love. According to Chinese tradition, filial piety is precious and valuable, this notion of virtue should be passed on from generation to generation.

The story behind Lunar New Year, Hui Chun:

http://www.23hq.com/Memory_capsule/story/417707

Photo by hkfringe club

Red pockets, Lunar New Year 2006 Sandy CKY

Wed, 10 May 2006 07:51:53 GMT

Red pockets, Lunar New Year 2006
Sandy CKY

Photo by hkfringe club

Hui Chun揮春 – Lucky Message (May your Home be filled with Riches and Opulence)...

Mon, 13 Feb 2006 09:42:00 GMT

Hui Chun揮春 – Lucky Message (May your Home be filled with Riches and Opulence)
Contributed by Regina Fung

The above sample, the 2nd image of this series, is an example of a bank’s Hui Chun. The design has incorporated some cartoon image of pigs, (to symbolise richness), into the structure of the Chinese characters and included some paws as the background pattern of the square paper. These small decorative figures have added much vitality to the lucky message, creating a more interesting layout.

The story behind Lunar New Year, Hui Chun:

http://www.23hq.com/Memory_capsule/story/417707

Photo by hkfringe club

Hui Chun揮春 – Lucky Message (May your Home be filled with Gold and Silver)...

Mon, 13 Feb 2006 09:42:24 GMT

Hui Chun揮春 – Lucky Message (May your Home be filled with Gold and Silver)
Contributed by Regina Fung

The above sample, the 3rd image of this series, is also a Hui Chun produced by the bank. This design has used a symbol of an ancient Chinese coin to embody gold and silver. The icons, in big and small, have enhanced the lucky message. The background with the coin symbol is consistent with the image of a bank as well.

The story behind Lunar New Year, Hui Chun:

http://www.23hq.com/Memory_capsule/story/417707

Photo by hkfringe club

Hui Chun揮春 – Lucky Message (May All your Wishes Come True) Contributed by...

Mon, 13 Feb 2006 09:42:58 GMT

Hui Chun揮春 – Lucky Message (May All your Wishes Come True)
Contributed by Regina Fung

The above sample, the last image of this series, is a Hui Chun printed by a political party. This lucky message has used the traditional size and layout, and the design is relatively conservative. There is a pair of “brackets” in the opposite corners. It is a kind of paper-cutting pattern of Chinese art, commonly found in New Year’s decorative items. Floral patterns fill the paper background to add some Chinese flavour too.

The story behind Lunar New Year, Hui Chun:

http://www.23hq.com/Memory_capsule/story/417707

Photo by hkfringe club

Flower Market, Lunar New Year 2006 Contributed by: Ka Lung NG, Filmmaker and...

Mon, 13 Feb 2006 10:12:23 GMT

Flower Market, Lunar New Year 2006
Contributed by: Ka Lung NG, Filmmaker and PhD student at HKU.

One of the family tradition starting from my mom and dad is the night before chinese new year, which is called the 30th night, the family has a full dinner together and we always choose a movie to go to, then after the movie we will head to the Victory park for the flower market.

And supposedly the children should stay up as late as possible on that night because the saying goes that parent live longer if children stay up. The 30th night always make me very happy and feel the warmth of the family and being in the city like Hong Kong, with lots of people going about a certain tradition. It is exactly like the Christmas eve, where you always have anticipation of a long wonderful evening with friends and family.

And being in Hong Kong, there is this strange mix of western influence and chinese festivity, because we always choose a western film, and those days almost always the big budget disaster film or Star Wars, so in the cinema I have this great feeling of being transported far far away and yet knowing well that we will be among the crowds soon at the flower market. THis give me the feeling that I am part of something, of being in the city, part taking a great urban experience, but of course I was smaller and didn't know how to articulate that wonderful feeling, I believe it inspires me to make film too, part of the experience of the cinema in the city is not so much the film itself but the re-entering into the urban crowd after the screening, I always feel a sense of communion with strangers walking out of the theatre into the crowd, into the night still bustling with activities in the street, the hawkers with food stand and the night cafe.

That no matter what kind of cinematic thrill I have experience, there is a rejoice in entering reality, a feeling of fullness and being taken care of somehow. And going to the flower market is the epitome of that experience. It is forgetting being the individual and just be with the crowd, it is the moment I don't mind being in the most crowded place on earth.

Photo by hkfringe club

Flower Market, Lunar New Year 2006 Contributed by: Ka Lung NG, Filmmaker and...

Mon, 13 Feb 2006 10:12:58 GMT

Flower Market, Lunar New Year 2006
Contributed by: Ka Lung NG, Filmmaker and PhD student at HKU.

Photo by hkfringe club

Flower Market, Lunar New Year 2006 Contributed by: Ka Lung NG, Filmmaker and...

Mon, 13 Feb 2006 10:13:26 GMT

Flower Market, Lunar New Year 2006
Contributed by: Ka Lung NG, Filmmaker and PhD student at HKU.

Photo by hkfringe club

HK religion and culture - Wong Tai Sin Temple Chris Lusher, age: 36,...

Sun, 26 Feb 2006 08:56:44 GMT

HK religion and culture - Wong Tai Sin Temple

Chris Lusher, age: 36, occupation: photographer

Beautiful temple, seemingly just dropped inbetween hundreds of tower blocks. A great spot to pray, people watch, enjoy a quiet moment.

Photo by hkfringe club

Hong Kong wedding laws Jennifer Jaguar Gaff , Curis-au-Mont-d'Or, F-69250...

Mon, 27 Feb 2006 13:06:16 GMT

Hong Kong wedding laws

Jennifer Jaguar Gaff , Curis-au-Mont-d'Or, F-69250 France

Living in Hong Kong from 1970 - 1990, I collected printed items of interest, and I have taken the following from my records. This item particularly affected me because it first surprised me as showing a very East-Meets-West aspect of Hong Kong living ... then I liked it for its pragmatism and for what I presumed would be its effect on men/women equality - but, romantically, I had always found it exotic to meet someone who was introduced as "Raymond, my third son, daughter of my second concubine;"

Until October 7th 1971, Hong Kong law had recognised Chinese marriages contracted under Ching dynastly laws, known in Hong Kong as Customary Law, and the 1912 Nationalist code known as Modern Marriage, which accepted men taking several wives, or concubines.

All this changed when the Hong Kong Marriage Reform Ordinance came into operation - future concubines would no longer be considered legal wives, but the legal status and rights of his concubines and his children accepted before this date was ensured and protected. Concubines were known, and addressed as - Second Wife, Third Wife, etc.

In fact, our amah, Ah Mui, was her husband's honored first wife, which didn't stop him taking a second wife, when she "had the effrontery" to present him with a daughter as his first-born child. Unfortunately for him, fortunately for Ah Mui - his second wife also presented him with a daughter. Ah Mui then produced his daughter number three - at which point he put his wives out to work, with their children, as house amahs, and in fact, I invited his three daughters to be my bridesmaids. Mr Fung, the husband in question, prospered, and later was regularly seen at the races with a sucession of very lovely 'nieces' ... none of whom he married, nor took into concubinage, as times had changed.

Under Customary Law, a wife could be kdivorced or "ousted" for failing to have a son, for lascivious conduct, failure to serve her parents-in-law, talkativeness, mischief making and quarrelsome conduct, for stealing, jealousy, incurable disease. A husband could not divorce his wife during the mourning period for hier in-laws; if a poor husband subsequently became rich; if the wife had nowhere to go after divorce - but this was normally remedied by giving her a home in her ex-parents-in-law's house, where she became their servant .... The wife, needless to say, was not allowed to divorce her husband.

The 1912 Modern Marriage code allowed divorce by either party for bigamy, adultery, cruelty, desertion .. but somehow accepted concubinage - protected by laws covering household members.

By 1971, Hong Kong had thousands of Chinese refugees with no marriage documents, as traditional marriages were seldom documented - leaving women without official rights to maintenance nor to their children. In practice, Chinese families seldom deprived concubines of their rights ... but changing times necessitated changing laws ....

(You can find further references in the China Mail of October 25, 26, 27 1971, for example) My source on the new Wedding Laws is from an old copy of THE CHINA MAIL, dated Monday October 25, 1971- no page number but under subject "Women's World"

Photo by hkfringe club

Title: walk around in antique street Contribution by Annie. We went to Sheung...

Wed, 01 Mar 2006 13:53:56 GMT

Title: walk around in antique street

Contribution by Annie.

We went to Sheung Wan during CNY period, and walk throw the "Mo Lo Street", there are so many antique shops, they show traditional chinese mask, the wood made doll, some antique pictures and books, it's looks very interesting but unfamiliar as those all found in an era ago.

There was many people in the "wan mo temple", all people has to hit the big bell for get good luck from "chinese god", but what I saw are only some smoke around me...

Photo by hkfringe club

Big Offering Arnel S. Agawin, Quarry Bay In a small temple in Shau Kei Wan, a...

Mon, 06 Mar 2006 12:33:31 GMT

Big Offering
Arnel S. Agawin, Quarry Bay

In a small temple in Shau Kei Wan, a big offering for a big favour in a truly Hong Kong fashion.

Photo by hkfringe club

Floating Children at Cheung Chau's Bun Festival Contributed by Brian Tang...

Mon, 06 Mar 2006 12:33:42 GMT

Floating Children at Cheung Chau's Bun Festival
Contributed by Brian Tang

Floating Children at Cheung Chau's Bun Festival - the main attraction other than the giant bun towers at the island's Taoist celebration is the colourful parade of
elaborately costumed

Photo by hkfringe club

Stanley's Dragonboat Regatta Contributed by Brian Tang Stanley's Dragonboat...

Mon, 06 Mar 2006 12:33:54 GMT

Stanley's Dragonboat Regatta
Contributed by Brian Tang

Stanley's Dragonboat Regatta - this annual commemorative reenactment of the attempted rescue of poet/statesman Qu Yuan has thrived in Hong Kong, withpaddlers from around the world coming here to join locals and new arrivals (like myself) in enjoying this great team sport. Will the pictured child's grandchild
have the opportunity to similarly touch a dragonboat as part of the Tuen Ng festival in 2090 if the water pollution around Hong Kong continues to increase?

Photo by hkfringe club

Chinese New Year Contributed by Brian Tang Chinese New Year - this important...

Mon, 06 Mar 2006 12:33:58 GMT

Chinese New Year
Contributed by Brian Tang

Chinese New Year - this important traditional celebration, like so many others around the world, has become increasingly commercialized. The mandarin
orange trees are some of the least gaudy and more natural looking of Spring Festival decorations. Let's hope that in 2090, commercialization and materialism
will not have totally ruined the expressions of family and goodwill that the lunar new year is meant to engender.

Photo by hkfringe club

Mid Autumn Lights Arnel S. Agawin, Quarry Bay The gathering of people of all...

Mon, 06 Mar 2006 12:34:09 GMT

Mid Autumn Lights
Arnel S. Agawin, Quarry Bay

The gathering of people of all ages bathing Hong Kong's night landscapes with lanterns and candlelights every Mid-Autumn festival should stay with us forever.

Photo by hkfringe club

Wishing Tree at Tai Po on 2nd day of Chinese New Year, January 2003. When the...

Wed, 10 May 2006 07:43:48 GMT

Wishing Tree at Tai Po on 2nd day of Chinese New Year, January 2003.
When the tree was still healthy.

Full name: Virginia CH Tam
Age: 34
Occupation: self employed

Photo by hkfringe club