Hist SN T4 e ST

Journey Through History: New Topic-based Series Study Notes
Topic 4 History, culture and heritage of early Hong Kong region
Journey Through History:

New Topic-based Series
Study Notes
Topic 4:
History, culture and heritage of
early Hong Kong region
©2020 Aristo Educational Press Ltd. TOPIC_4-1

Major dialect groups and clans (p.208-220)
Lives of residents of early Four major dialect groups (p.208-209)

people
people from
from the
the mainland
mainland moved
moved to
to Hong
Hong Kong
Kong since
since the
Hong Kong (p.212-220) 10th
the
10th century
century
The
The Cantonese
Cantonese (the
(the Punti),
Punti), the
the Hakka,
Hakka, the
the boat
boat people
people and
and
the
the Fuklo
Fuklo
Houses and buildings (p.212-216)

The Cantonese and the Hakka: Walled villages
The boat people and the Fuklo: Boats and stilt houses
Five Great Clans of the N.T. (p.210)

The
The Tangs,
Tangs, the
the Haus,
Haus, the
the Pangs,
Pangs, the
the Lius
Lius and
and the
the Mans
Mans
Major livelihood (p.216-217) The
The most
most powerful
powerful clans
clans
The Cantonese and the Hakka: Mainly farmed and
traded to make a living, the Hakka also engaged in salt
making, brick making, quarrying and stone cutting
The boat people and the Fuklo: mainly engaged in
fishing and shipping to make a living
Intangible cultural heritage (p.221-223)

refers
refers to
to all
all 'intangible'
'intangible' activities,
activities, knowledge
knowledge andand skills,
skills, etc.,
etc.,
which
which communities,
communities, groups
groups andand individuals
individuals recognize
recognize asas part
part of
of
their
their cultural
cultural heritage
heritage
They
They passed
passed down
down through
through generations
generations andand are
are constantly
constantly
recreated.
recreated. They
They bring
bring aa sense
sense of
of identity
identity and
and continuity
continuity toto the
the
Traditional education (p.218) communities
communities
The Cantonese and the Hakka used ancestral halls and Five
Five categories:
categories: Oral
Oral traditions
traditions and
and expressions;
expressions; Performing
Performing
study halls as schools arts;
arts; Social
Social practices,
practices, rituals
rituals and
and festive
festive events;
events; Knowledge
Knowledge and and
practices
practices concerning
concerning nature
nature and
and the
the universe;
universe; Traditional
Traditional
craftsmanship
craftsmanship
Beliefs and customs (p.219-220)

Ancestral worship
Chinese popular religion such as the worship of Kwan
Tai, Tin Hau and Hung Shing
Celebrate traditional festivals
Four significant examples of local intangible cultural heritage (p.225-247)
Chiu Chow Hungry Cheung Chau Tai Hang Fire Tai O Traditional
Ghost Festival Jiao Festival Dragon Dance Dragon Boat Parade
 Aim: Worship deities and ancestors, pacify wandering ghosts, pray for peace and luck
 Values: Contain Chinese popular religion, show traditional culture and craftsmanship; unite dialect groups and communities

A. Major dialect groups and clans Guiding Questions

 Who made up the early residents in Hong
Kong region? How did they make a living?
1. Hong Kong in historic times
 Hong Kong became part of the Qin Dynasty in 214 BC.

- The historic times of Hong Kong began.
 At that time, Hong Kong was inhabited by ethnic minorities such as the Yue and
Yao people.
 Since the 10th century, the Han people from the mainland moved to Hong Kong,
and became the major population of early Hong Kong.
2. Four major dialect groups
 Among the mainland migrants to Hong Kong, the Cantonese, the Hakka, the
Fuklo and the boat people were known as the 'four major dialect groups'.
 They had their own dialects and lifestyles, and formed distinct communities in
Hong Kong.
Routes taken by the four major dialect groups to Hong Kong

(a) Cantonese
 In the 10th century, some Cantonese moved from Guangdong to

Hong Kong.
 As they were the earliest group to settle in Hong Kong, they
were called 'Punti'.
 They spoke Wai Tau dialect, and settled in the fertile plains in
northern New Territories.
 Some large families became famous local clans later on.
(b) Hakka
 The word 'Hakka' means 'guest'.

 During the 17th century, many Hakka moved from Guangdong
and Fujian to Hong Kong.
 They spoke Hakka dialect, and mainly settled in relatively
distant and infertile regions.
(c) Boat people
 It is unclear when the boat people (known as 'Tanka' in the past)

moved to Hong Kong.
 They spoke Minnan dialect and Cantonese.
 They settled along the coast of the New Territories and Hong
Kong Island. Most of them lived on boats.
(d) Fuklo
 The Fuklo were also known as the 'Hoklo'.

 Around the 11th century, Fuklo from Fujian and east of
Guangdong (i.e. Chaoshan and Hailufeng region) settled in
Hong Kong.
 The Fuklo spoke Minnan dialect, and settled along the eastern
waters of Hong Kong. Most of them lived on boat.

3. Five Great Clans of the New Territories
 A clan: a large group of families with the same ancestor and surname.
 The Punti, the earliest dialect group to settle in the New Territories, had about 40
clans.
 Among them, the Tangs, the Haus, the Pangs, the Lius and the Mans were the
most powerful.
- They were known as the 'Five Great Clans of the New Territories'.
 The ancestors of the Five Great Clans mainly settled in the New Territories
during the Sung and Ming Dynasties.
- They had great economic power as they owned lots of land and many
markets in the New Territories.
- Their descendants got scholarly titles. This further enhanced their influence.
Founding When they Where they

Remarks
ancestor first settled first settled
The Tang Fu Hip was a Jinshi during the

Tang Fu Hip 11th century Kam Tin
Tangs Northern Sung Dynasty
The Hau Ng Long was a Jinshi during

Hau Ng Long 12th century Sheung Shui
Haus the Northern Sung Dynasty
Their ancestor Pang Yin Nin was a

The
Pang Kwai 12th century Fanling Jinshi and official during the
Pangs
Northern Sung Dynasty
Their ancestor Liu Kong and his

four sons were important officials
The
Liu Chong Kit 14th century Sheung Shui during the Northern Sung Dynasty.
Lius
The Liu Man Shek Tong was built
to remember them
Their ancestor was a cousin of Man

The
Man Mang Sheung 15th century Sin Tin Tin Cheung, a famous official of the
Mans
Southern Sung Dynasty
Information about the Five Great Clans

Distribution of the Five Great Clans of

the New Territories
4. Lives of the four major dialect groups
(a) Houses and buildings
 The early residents of Hong Kong built villages on land while some lived on
boats.
 Through these historic buildings and artifacts, we can learn about their lives.
(i) Cantonese and Hakka
 As there were many pirates and bandits during the Ming and Qing Dynasties,
villagers built walls and dug moats around their villages to protect themselves.
 These villages were called walled villages.
 Today, there are about 70 walled villages in the New Territories.
 Most of them are situated in Yuen Long, Kam Tin, Sheung Shui and Fanling.
(ii) Boat people and Fuklo
 The boat people and the Fuklo lived on boats.

 Some of them chose to live near the coast later on.
 They used wood, grasses and iron sheets to build stilt houses.
 The largest number of stilt houses is gathered in Tai O.
(b) Major ways of living
 The major livelihood activities of the residents of early Hong Kong were closely-
related to their living environment.

(i) Cantonese and Hakka
 The Cantonese built villages in the fertile plains or valleys in the New
Territories. They mainly farmed for a living.
 Later, they set up bazaars to sell farm products and other goods. Their villages
were self-sufficient.
 The Hakka mainly farmed for a living. They also engaged in salt making, brick
making, quarrying and stone cutting.
 The Hakka traded in the markets managed by the Cantonese. Later, they set up
their own markets in order to get rid of the control of big local clans.
(ii) Boat people and Fuklo
 Apart from fishing and oyster farming, some of the boat people and the Fuklo
engaged in pearl-diving to make a living.
- However, the practice of pearl-diving had declined since the Qing Dynasty.
 The boat people and the Fuklo also worked in the shipping industry. They
shipped salt and other goods.
(c) Traditional education
 Cantonese and Hakka villagers in the New Territories were very concerned about
education.
- They used ancestral halls and study halls as schools.
 They hoped that their children would pass the civil service examinations and
become officials.
- This would bring great honour and power to their families and clans.
- In the past, members of the Tangs and the Haus got scholarly titles through
the examinations.
 Traditional study halls usually hired one teacher to teach Chinese classics,
history, Confucianism and calligraphy.
- Parents had to pay school fees with rice and other goods.
- Timetables were not fixed. Students of different ages studied together.
- In traditional society, only boys went to school. Girls seldom received an
education.

(d) Beliefs and customs
 The four major dialect groups kept many traditional Chinese beliefs and customs.
 Their different backgrounds and lifestyles led to the rise of multicultural tradition
in Hong Kong.
(i) Ancestral worship
 The Chinese tradition of ancestral worship started in the Shang Dynasty (1600
BC-1046 BC).
- The main aim was to show respect to ancestors and pray for their blessings.
 The early residents of the Hong Kong kept this tradition and held ceremonies to
worship their ancestors regularly.
(ii) Popular religion
 Apart from their ancestors, the early residents in Hong Kong followed Chinese
popular religion, such as the worship of Chou Wong Yi Kung, Kwan Tai and Pao
Kung.
 The boat people and the Foklo mainly worshipped sea deities such as Tin Hau
and Hung Shing for a safe return from sea.
(iii) Traditional festivals
 The early residents in Hong Kong celebrated traditional festivals.

- The boat people and the Fuklo worshipped Tin Hau at first.
- Later, people inland also worshipped Tin Hau. The Tin Hau Festival and the
Hung Shing Festival then became popular.
 Hong Kong people have continued to celebrate these traditional festivals. They
show the diverse culture of Hong Kong. The festivals not only unite
communities, but also provide entertainment.

Lunar
Name of Festival Brief Description
Calendar
1st month Chinese New Year A time for family reunion and ancestral worshipping
To celebrate the birthday of Hung Shing (a Taoist

2nd month Hung Shing Festival
god) and to hold worshipping ceremonies
 To worship and show respect to ancestors

 Ching Ming Festival
3rd month  To celebrate the birthday of Tin Hau (a Taoist
 Tin Hau Festival
goddess) and to hold worshipping ceremonies
To show respect to Qu Yuan; a festival to drive away

5th month Tuen Ng Festival
plagues
Yu Lan Festival /
7th month To appease ghosts (through Buddhist and Taoist rites)
Hungry Ghost Festival
8th month Mid-Autumn Festival A time for family reunion and celebrating the harvest
9th month Chung Yeung Festival To worship and show respect to ancestors
A time for family reunion and preparing food for

11th month Winter Solstice Festival
winter
The major traditional festivals in Hong Kong

B. Intangible cultural heritage of Hong Kong Guiding Questions

 What is intangible cultural heritage? What are the
examples of significant intangible cultural heritage of HK?
1. Definition of intangible cultural heritage
 In 2003, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization

(UNESCO) passed the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible
Cultural Heritage to raise awareness and respect for them.
 According to the Convention, the intangible cultural heritage refers to:
- All 'intangible' activities, knowledge and skills, etc., which communities,
groups and individuals recognize as part of their cultural heritage.
- They passed down through generations and are constantly recreated. They
bring a sense of identity and continuity to the communities.
2. Five categories of intangible cultural heritage
 There are five categories of intangible cultural heritage:

 Oral traditions and expressions
 Performing arts
 Social practices, rituals and festive events
 Knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe
 Traditional craftsmanship
 The followings introduce some examples of the intangible cultural
heritage of Hong Kong according to the above classification
Oral traditions and expressions 阿奶、能械、

Wai Tau dialect was one of the major dialects in 燒連排
the New Territories. Some villagers still *……
communicate in Wai Tau dialect and use them to * Explanation:
conduct traditional religious ceremonies. 阿奶 = mother 能械 = competent
燒連排 = let off firecrackers
Performing arts
Cantonese opera is traditional Chinese opera performed
with songs and spoken lines in Cantonese. It was
inscribed onto the Representative List of the Intangible
Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2009. It has great
artistic, social and cultural values.

Social practices, rituals and festive events

Wong Tai Sin was a Taoist god. Wong Tai Sin
belief in Hong Kong started in 1915. After a
century's inheritance, it becomes popular in Hong
Kong and overseas Chinese communities.
Knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe

Herbal tea is a popular drink in Southern China. Nowadays people
still drink herbal tea to cool 'internal heat' and to treat various
health problems. It has inherited the folk knowledge and
traditional food culture.
Traditional craftsmanship
Mike tea, egg tart and pineapple bun are common in
local restaurants. Their making techniques are unique
and represent the local food culture of Hong Kong.
3. Four significant intangible cultural heritage of Hong Kong
 In 2014, the Hong Kong government announced the first Representative List of
the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Hong Kong. The list has four traditional
customs and festivals including:
 Chiu Chow Hungry Ghost Festival
 Cheung Chau Jiao Festival
 Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance
 Tai O Traditional Dragon Boat Parade
 They are not only the representatives of local intangible cultural heritage, but
also inscribed onto China's national list of intangible cultural heritage.

Four representatives of the intangible cultural heritage of Hong Kong
Chiu Chow Hungry Cheung Chau Jiao Tai Hang Fire Tai O Traditional
Ghost Festival Festival Dragon Dance Dragon Boat Parade
Cheung Chau, Tai Hang, Tai O,
Place All over Hong Kong
New Territories Hong Kong Island New Territories
Date (Lunar 7th month 4th month 8th month 5th month
month)
 Worship deities
 Worship deities  Welcome deities
 Make offerings to the
 Make offerings to the  Fire dragon parade  Parade and release the
dead and release them
Features dead and release them  Send off the fire dead from suffering
from suffering
from suffering dragon  Send off the deities and
 Pray for blessings and
 Give alms divination
festive events
 Shows the features of

 Promotes filial piety  Includes different  Helps learn about the
Hakka customs
and spirit of being folklore and religious traditional cultural life of
 The skill of making
Cultural caring and performances Tai O
fire dragons shows
value compassionate  The festive events  The dragon boats show
great craftsmanship
 Shows the features of have great cultural traditional shipbuilding
and has great cultural
Chiu Chow culture value techniques
value
 Unites the Chiu Chow  Strengthens the sense

 Strengthens the  Links the fishing industry,
community in Hong of belonging of
connection between religious beliefs and
Social value Kong different dialect
the old and new ceremonies of Tao O
 Promotes social groups on Cheung
residents of Tai Hang together
harmony Chau

C. Chiu Chow Hungry Ghost Festival Guiding Questions

 What are the features of the Chiu Chow
Hungry Ghost Festival in Hong Kong?
What are the changes of the festival?
1. What is the Chiu Chow Hungry Ghost Festival?
 The 15th day of the seventh lunar month is designated as the 'Ghost Festival'.
 Some organizations hold the Hungry Ghost Festival for the entire month.
 Buddhist or Taoist ceremonies are performed to worship ancestors and appease
wandering ghosts.
 The Chiu Chow Hungry Ghost Festival has a history of over one hundred years.
2. Origin and development of the festival
 In the second half of the 19th century, many Chiu Chow people settled in Hong
Kong.
 They brought with them the tradition of holding the Hungry Ghost Festival.
- They worshipped deities and ancestors to pray for blessings and express filial
piety. They also made offerings to dead fellow villagers.
 After the end of the Second World War (1939-1945), more Chiu Chow people
moved to and settled in Hong Kong. They lived in different districts.
 The Hungry Ghost Festival became popular and was held all over Hong Kong.
3. Features of the festival
 The Chiu Chow Hungry Ghost Festival usually lasts for three days.
- Performing worship and making donation to people in need are the two main
features of the festival.
(a) Worship deities
 To thank deities for their blessings, devotees make offerings and perform
devotional operas in Chiu Chow dialect.
(b) Make offerings to ghosts
 Devotees make offerings to their ancestors and wandering ghosts.

 Priests chant scriptures in Chiu Chow dialect to release souls from suffering and
pray for blessings for the neighbourhood.

(c) Give alms
 The organizing committee gives auspicious rice, food and daily necessities to
people in need.
 It accepts donations from devotees. People are encouraged to make donations.
3 2
4 1 7
Layout of the Chiu Chow Hungry Ghost Festival

1. Heaven and Earth Shed: Devotees worship deities
2. Priest Shed: Priests chant scriptures and perform rituals
3. Ancestral Altar: Keeps the soul tablets of wandering spirits
and ancestors of devotees
4. King of Ghosts Shed: Houses the paper effigy of the King of
Ghosts to maintain order
5. Holy Robe Shed: Keeps the paper robes of deities
6. Opera Shed: Performs devotional operas
7. Office: Accepts donations and receives guests; keeps a golden
notice board to praise donors
Devotional operas performed
in the Opera Shed
4. Changes of the festival
 The Chiu Chow Hungry Ghost Festival has been held for over one hundred
years. It changes to cope with the needs of the times.
 Materials of the sheds: Some sheds are built with aluminium strips instead
of bamboo poles. This help protect the environment and save money.

 Performance of opera: The devotional operas are no longer performed

overnight, but ended at 10 pm.
 Distribution of auspicious rice: From 2005 onwards, each person can only
get 1 kg of rice according to government regulations.
 Hong Kong Hungry Ghost Cultural
Festival: The Federation of Hong Kong
Chiu Chow Community Organizations
has organized this annual event since
2015. This help raise public awareness of
the Hungry Ghost Festival. From traditional customs
to competition activities
5. Significance of the festival
(a) Cultural value
 The Chiu Chow Hungry Ghost Festival is not only a religious event.
- The rituals allow participants to pay respect to ancestors and promote filial
piety.
- In addition, making offerings to wandering ghosts expresses the spirit of
fraternity in Chinese culture.
 The festival contains traditional Chinese and Chiu Chow cultural values.
- The venue decorations and scaffolding techniques make use of traditional
theory of architecture and yin-yang balance, meaning making offerings to
ghosts (yin) and gods (yang) at the same time.
- The offerings and opera performances also carry strong Chiu Chow cultural
elements.
(b) Social value
 The Chiu Chow Hungry Ghost Festival enhances the sense of belonging of Chiu
Chow participants.
- Chiu Chow organizations from other districts join to hold the festival.
- This helps unite Hong Kong's Chiu Chow people.
 The festival also helps build a harmonious society through its alms giving
activities.
 Today, the festival has been opened to the whole community.

Guiding Questions
D. Cheung Chau Jiao Festival  What are the features and significance
of the Cheung Chau Jiao Festival?
What are the changes of the festival?
1. What is the Cheung Chau Jiao Festival?
 'Jiao' is a Taoist ceremony.

 The Cheung Chau Jiao Festival falls on the 5th to the 9th of the fourth lunar
month.
- The aims are to thank deities for their blessings, to make offerings to relieve
the dead and pray for peace and safety.
 The Cheung Chau Jiao Festival has been practised for more than a century.
2. Origin and development of the festival
 A plague broke out on Cheung Chau in 1894.

 Legends say that after the residents on Cheung Chau carried a statue of Pak Tai
in a parade, the plague soon ended.
- Since then, Cheung Chau people holds an annual parade alongside
worshipping ceremonies.
 Hailufeng people on Cheung Chau worshipped Pak Tai at first.
 Later, the Cantonese and the boat people on the island also worshipped Pak Tai.
 Gradually, all dialect groups on the island take part in the Cheung Chau Jiao
Festival which integrates different folk elements.
3. Features of the festival
 The Cheung Chau Jiao Festival lasts for five days.

 Major ceremonies are held on the 2nd to the 4th day.
 During the festival, Cheung Chau residents hold ceremonies to worship deities,
appease the deceased, and pray for blessings.
 They also organize activities such as floating colours parade and Bun Scrambling
Contest.
(a) Worship deities
 Taoist priests perform religious rites to worship deities and ask for forgiveness
on behalf of the residents on the island.

(b) Make offerings to the dead
 Taoist priests perform 'feeding the water ghosts' and 'great offering to the
wandering spirits' ceremonies to appease the ghosts from the land and the sea.
(c) Pray for blessings and festive events
 Cheung Chau residents hold the 'composite-scene parade'.

 Pak Tai and other deities are invited to join the parade to purify the island.
 Cheung Chau residents also perform qilin dance, lion dance and floating colours
parade.
 Bun Scrambling Contest is the climax of the festival.
- Participants scramble for lucky buns which symbolise peace and luck.
4. Changes of the Cheung Chau Jiao Festival
 The Cheung Chau Jiao Festival is also known as the 'Cheung Chau Bun Festival'.
 Some customs of the festival are also changed to meet tourism and practical
needs. Its religious features are fading out.
 Date: The date of the festival was fixed after 2001. Divination is no longer
performed before Pak Tai to decide the date.
 Abstinence from meat: Basically, Cheung Chau residents must not eat
meat during the festival. Nevertheless, some restaurants on the island would
sell meat today.
 Floating colours: Present-day floating colours also include celebrities as
subjects.

 Bun Scrambling Contest: The event was banned

as bun towers collapsed in 1978. It is held again
since 2005. Participation is no longer reserved for
Cheung Chau residents. Plastic buns are used and
safety measures are introduced.
5. Significance of the festival
(a) Cultural value
 The Cheung Chau Jiao Festival includes different folklore and religious
performances.
 For examples, the 'composite-scene parade' includes floating colours parade of
Foshan, traditional music of Chaoshan, qilin dance of the Hailufeng people and
lion dance of the Cantonese.
 The Jiao Festival also shows the Chinese tradition of deity worship.
 The Bun Scrambling Contest is even more a unique activity with great cultural
value.
 Today, the festival has become an important cultural symbol of Cheung Chau and
Hong Kong.
(b) Social value
 After many years, the Cheung Chau Jiao Festival has developed into a custom
and festival for the whole island.
 People from all walks of life join together to prepare for and perform in the
Cheung Chau Jiao Festival.
 The organization process unites different dialect groups on Cheung Chau and
strengthens their sense of identity as Cheung Chau people.

E. Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance Guiding Questions

 What are the features and significance of the Tai Hang
Fire Dragon Dance? What are the changes of the event?
1. What is the Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance?
 Fire Dragon Dance is a performing arts relating to religion.

 The Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance held on the evening of 14th, 15th and 16th of
the eighth lunar month. It has a history of about 140 years.
 Since 2010, it has become an important event of the Mid-Autumn Lantern
Carnivals in Victoria Park.
2. Origin and development of the event
 Legends say that villagers of Tai Hang Village in Causeway Bay killed a python
in a stormy night.
 A few days later, a plague broke and many villagers died of infection.
 Later, villagers paraded with the fire dragon around the village and let off
firecrackers in the Mid-Autumn Festival.
 The plague ended after the event.
 Since then, villagers have performed the three-day fire dragon dance every year
to pray for peace in Tai Hang.
3. Features of the event
 The Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance lasts for three days.
 About 300 men take turns to perform the dance and about 70,000 incense sticks
are used.
(a) Fire dragon parade
 To purify the community, the fire dragon parades through the streets for the first
two nights.
 New incense sticks will be put on the fire dragon. Villagers get the old incense
sticks as blessings.
 During the parade, the fire dragon shows different formations. Children join the
parade with lanterns.

(b) Send off the fire dragon
 The fire dragon parades through the streets again on the third night.
 The parade ended with the 'dragon's return to the sea' ritual, meaning sending off
the dragon to heaven and remove uncleanness in the community.
Head Pearls Body

It is formed by warping pearl straw Two pomelos are inserted with numerous The body is a hemp rope wrapped in
around a rattan frame. It weighs 70 kg. incense sticks. The dragon is prompted pearl straw. It has 31 sections. 124
forwards by these glowing 'pearls'. people take turns to hold the body.
4. Changes of the event
 The Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance was originally a religious event to dispel
plague.
 Today, it is an event to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival in Tai Hang.
 Its ceremony has also changed to meet community development and the changes
of the times.
 Performers: In the past, only men in Tai Hang could take part in the fire
dragon dance. Today, women can take part in beating drums and carrying
lanterns.
 Uniform: From 1959 onwards, all men who take part in the fire dragon
dance have to wear a uniform called 'culture shirt'.
 Firecrackers: The government banned firecrackers in 1967.

 Food for participants: Pu-erh tea is provided instead of congee to reward

the performers' efforts.
5. Significance of the event
(a) Cultural value
 The Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance has the features of Hakka customs. Ceremonies
are carried out in Hakka dialect.
 Besides, the craftsmanship of making fire dragons has continued for more than
one hundred years. It is of great cultural value.
(b) Social value
 Tai Hang residents join together to perform the fire dragon dance.
- Both old and new residents are also invited to join yearly.
- This enhances neighbourhood connection between the residents of Tai Hang.
 People from other districts and tourists can also know more about Tai Hang
through this festival.

F. Tai O Traditional Dragon Boat Parade Guiding Questions

 What are the features and significance of the
Tai O Traditional Dragon Boat Parade?
What are the changes of the event?
1. What is the Tai O Traditional
Dragon Boat Parade?
 With more than 100 years of history, the Tai O Traditional Dragon Boat Parade is
held yearly on the 4th and 5th day (Dragon Boat Festival) of the fifth lunar
month.
 The 'boat parade' refers to the parade of deity statues on sacred sampans, towed
by dragon boats, through Tai O's waterways.
2. Origin and development of the event
 It is said that Tai O was hit by a plague in the late 19th century.
 To dispel the disaster, local fishermen placed deity statues on sampans and
paraded through Tai O's waters. The plague eventually ended.
 Since then, the dragon boat water parade has become a tradition in Tai O.
 Tai O Traditional Dragon Boat Parade is organized by three fishermen's
associations, namely Pa Teng Hong, Sin Yu Hong and Hop Sum Tong.
 Their present-day members may not be fishermen and fish traders.
3. Features of the event
 The Tai O Traditional Dragon Boat Parade lasts for one day.
 However, related ceremonies are held the day before.
 Besides the parade, there are rituals to appease wandering ghosts, pray for
blessings and for divination.
(a) Welcome deities
 The fishermen's associations visit temples to receive the statues of Yeung Hau,
Tin Hau, Kwan Tai and Hung Shing. This is known as 'welcoming deities'.
(b) Parade and appease ghosts
 Sacred sampans carrying deity statues are towed by dragon boats. They parade
along the local waterways.

 People on sampans would also burn joss papers and throw water and rice to
comfort the ghosts.
(c) Return the deity statues and divination
 After the parade, the fishermen's associations return the deity statues to their
temples.
 Then, the persons in charge of these associations pray to Yeung Hau, and
perform divination about Tai O.
Picking the Greens Sacred sampans

Representatives of the fishermen's associations Sacred sampans carry the deity statues and parade through
put grass into the mouth of the dragon head of Tai O's waterways. Residents of the stilt houses alongside
the boat. It means to awake the dragon. pray towards the sacred sampans when they pass by.
4. Changes of the event
 The Tai O Traditional Dragon Boat Parade undergoes many changes.

 It entered a new phrase after it was inscribed onto the national list of intangible
cultural heritage in 2011.
 Route of the parade: The local waterways became narrow since the 1980s.
Boats do not parade through areas where stilt houses are crowded.
 Expenditure: The expenditure is more equally shared among the fishermen's
associations in recent years.
 An intangible cultural heritage: After inscribed onto the third national list of
intangible cultural heritage, the Tai O Traditional Dragon Boat Parade is
supported by the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust and the government.
Talks and field strips are held to promote the inheritance of customs.

5. Significance of the event
(a) Cultural value
 The Tai O Traditional Dragon Boat Parade and the deities involved are closely-
related to popular religion.
 In addition, they are of great value to learn about the life in traditional fishing
villages in Tai O.
 The dragons boat in the parade show the traditional shipbuilding techniques
which are of high conservation value.
(b) Social value
 The Tai O Traditional Dragon Boat Parade links the fishing, religious beliefs and
ceremonies together.
- It becomes a community activity and plays an important role in uniting the
community.
 Different fishermen's associations and organizations cooperate in the parade.
- This fosters a sense of unity in the community.
 Moreover, the worshipping ceremonies give residents a sense of comfort and
promote community stability.

G. Conclusion: History, culture and inheritance
1. Early history
 Between the 10th and 17th centuries, the Cantonese, the Hakka, the Fuklo and
the boat people settled in Hong Kong.
 These four major dialect groups had different lifestyles and customs.
2. Cultural and inheritance
 Local residents developed different customs and festivals.

 Among them, the Chiu Chow Hungry Ghost Festival, the Cheung Chau Jiao
Festival, the Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance and the Tai O Traditional Dragon Boat
Parade all have a history of over a century.
- They are all related to folk beliefs which pray for blessings.
 These traditional customs become precious intangible cultural heritages today.
- They not only unite Hong Kong people, but also show the culture of Hong
Kong and even China.
- At the same time, they have made changes to meet the challenges of the
times.
 We should be proud of Hong Kong's different kinds of culture and support their
conservation and inheritance.

Time Important event Extended point

BC 214 Hong Kong became part of the Qin Dynasty  The historic times of Hong Kong started
th
Mid-10 The Cantonese (one of the four major dialect  The Cantonese were the earliest group to
century groups) moved to Hong Kong settle in Hong Kong, they were called 'Punti'
th
11 The Fuklo (one of the four major dialect groups)
century moved to Hong Kong
Tang Fu Hip (Founding ancestor of the Tangs)  The Tangs started to settle and develop in
settled in Hong Kong Hong Kong
12th Pang Kwai (Founding ancestor of the Pangs) settled  The Pangs started to settle and develop in
century in Hong Kong Hong Kong
Hau Ng Long (Founding ancestor of the Haus)  The Haus started to settle and develop in
settled in Hong Kong Hong Kong
14th Liu Chong Kit (Founding ancestor of the Lius)  The Lius started to settle and develop in
century settled in Hong Kong Hong Kong
th
15 Man Mang Sheung (Founding ancestor of the  The Mans started to settle and develop in
century Mans) settled in Hong Kong Hong Kong
th
17 The Hakka (one of the four major dialect groups)
century moved to Hong Kong
1959 All men who take part in the fire dragon dance
started to wear a uniform called 'culture shirt'
1978 Bun Scrambling Contest was banned
2001 The date of the festival was fixed since this year
2003 Passage of the Convention for the Safeguarding of  To raise awareness and respect for intangible
the Intangible Cultural Heritage cultural heritage
2005 From this year, each person can only get 1 kg of
rice according to government regulations
Bun Scrambling Contest is held again since this  Participation is no longer reserved for
year Cheung Chau residents. Plastic buns are used,
and safety measures are introduced
2011 The Tai O Traditional Dragon Boat Parade was
inscribed onto the third national list of intangible
cultural heritage
2015 The Federation of Hong Kong Chiu Chow  This help raise public awareness of the
Community Organizations has organized Hong Hungry Ghost Festival
Kong Hungry Ghost Cultural Festival since 2015

Major dialect groups and clans
1. Four major dialect groups

- They were the mainland migrants to Hong Kong since the 10th century,
including the Cantonese, the Hakka, the Fuklo and the boat people. They became
the major population of early Hong Kong.
2. Five Great Clans of the New Territories

- A clan is a large group of families with the same ancestor and surname. Among
the Cantonese clans, the Tangs, the Haus, the Pangs, the Lius and the Mans were
the most powerful. They were known as the 'Five Great Clans of the New
Territories'.
3. Walled villages
- As there were many pirates and bandits during the Ming and Qing Dynasties,
villagers built walls and dug moats around their villages to protect themselves.
These villages were called walled villages.
Intangible cultural heritage of Hong Kong
1. Intangible cultural heritage

- Refers to all 'intangible' activities, knowledge and skills, etc., which
communities, groups and individuals recognize as part of their cultural heritage.
They passed down through generations and are constantly recreated. They bring
a sense of identity and continuity to the communities.
- Five categories of intangible cultural heritage: oral traditions and expressions;
performing arts; social practices, rituals and festive events; knowledge and
practices concerning nature and the universe; traditional craftsmanship.
2. Four significant intangible cultural heritage of Hong Kong

- Including Chiu Chow Hungry Ghost Festival, Cheung Chau Jiao Festival, Tai
Hang Fire Dragon Dance and Tai O Traditional Dragon Boat Parade.

 Four major dialect groups and their lives
Cantonese Hakka Boat people Fuklo
When they settled in About the 11th

About the 10th century About the 17th century Unknown
Hong Kong century
Minnan dialect and

Dialect Wai Tau dialect Hakka dialect Minnan dialect
Cantonese
The coast of the

Where they settled in Fertile plains in northern Relatively distant and The eastern waters
New Territories and
Hong Kong New Territories infertile regions of Hong Kong
Hong Kong Island
The Tangs, the Haus, the

Five Great Clans of
Pangs, the Lius and the ／
the New Territories
Mans*
Houses and buildings Walled villages Boats and stilt houses
Farming
Salt making, brick

Fishing, oyster farming, pearl-diving and
Major ways of living making, quarrying,
Set up bazaars shipping industry
stone cutting and set up
markets
They used ancestral halls and study halls as

Traditional education schools. They hoped that their children would pass ／
the civil service examinations and become officials
 Ancestral worship
Beliefs and customs  Popular religion: Chou Wong Yi Kung, Kwan Tai, Pao Kung, Tin Hau, Hung Shing, etc.
 Traditional festivals: the early residents in Hong Kong celebrated traditional festivals
 The Five Great Clans had great economic power as they owned lots of land and
many markets in the New Territories. In addition, their descendants got scholarly
titles. This further enhanced their influence.

 Intangible cultural heritage
 In 2003, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and

Cultural Organization (UNESCO) passed the Convention for
Origin
the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage to raise
awareness and respect for them
 Refers to all 'intangible' activities, knowledge and skills, etc.,

which communities, groups and individuals recognize as part
of their cultural heritage
Definition
 They passed down through generations and are constantly
recreated. They bring a sense of identity and continuity to the
communities
 Oral traditions and expressions

 Performing arts
Five categories  Social practices, rituals and festive events
 Knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe
 Traditional craftsmanship
Four significant  Chiu Chow Hungry Ghost Festival

intangible  Cheung Chau Jiao Festival
cultural heritage  Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance
of Hong Kong  Tai O Traditional Dragon Boat Parade

 Chiu Chow Hungry Ghost Festival
Place All over Hong Kong
Date (Lunar month) 7th month (usually lasts for three days)
 Worship deities
Features  Make offerings to the dead and release them from suffering
 Give alms
 Materials of the sheds: Some sheds are built with aluminium strips
 Performance of opera: The devotional operas ended at 10 pm
Changes  Distribution of auspicious rice: Each person can only get 1 kg of rice from
2005 onwards
 Hong Kong Hungry Ghost Cultural Festival: Organized since 2015
 Promotes filial piety and spirit of being caring and compassionate
Cultural value
 Shows the features of Chiu Chow culture
 Unites the Chiu Chow community in Hong Kong

Social value
 Promotes social harmony
 Cheung Chau Jiao Festival
Place Cheung Chau, New Territories

Date (Lunar month) 4th month (lasts for five days)
 Worship deities
Features  Make offerings to the dead and release them from suffering
 Pray for blessings and festive events
 Date: The date of the festival was fixed after 2001
 Abstinence from meat: Some restaurants on the island would sell meat today
 Floating colours: Present-day floating colours include celebrities as subjects
Changes
 Bun Scrambling Contest: It is held again since 2005. Participation is no
longer reserved for Cheung Chau residents. Plastic buns are used and safety
measures are introduced
 Includes different folklore and religious performances
Cultural value
 The festive events have great cultural value
 Strengthens the sense of belonging of different dialect groups on Cheung
Social value
Chau

 Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance
Place Tai Hang, Hong Kong Island
Date (Lunar month) 8th month (lasts for three days)
 Fire dragon parade

Features
 Send off the fire dragon
 Performers: Today, women can take part in beating drums and carrying
lanterns
 Uniform: From 1959 onwards, all men who take part in the fire dragon dance
Changes have to wear a uniform called 'culture shirt'
 Firecrackers: The government banned firecrackers in 1967
 Food for participants: Pu-erh tea is provided instead of congee to reward the
performers' efforts
 Shows the features of Hakka customs
Cultural value  The skill of making fire dragons shows great craftsmanship and has great
cultural value
Social value  Strengthens the connection between the old and new residents of Tai Hang
 Tai O Traditional Dragon Boat Parade
Place Tai O, New Territories

Date (Lunar month) 5th month (lasts for one day)
 Welcome deities
Features  Parade and release the dead from suffering
 Send off the deities and divination
 Route of the parade: Boats do not parade through areas where stilt houses are
crowded
 Expenditure: The expenditure is more equally shared among the fishermen's
Changes associations in recent years
 An intangible cultural heritage: After inscribed onto the third national list of
intangible cultural heritage, the Tai O Traditional Dragon Boat Parade is
supported by the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust and the government
 Helps learn about the traditional cultural life of Tai O

Cultural value
 The dragon boats show traditional shipbuilding techniques
Social value  Links the fishing industry, religious beliefs and ceremonies of Tao O together

1. When did the historic times of Hong Kong begin?

A. 1500 BC
B. 214 BC
C. AD 25
D. AD 220
2. Which dialect group do not know when their ancestors came to Hong Kong?
A. The Cantonese
B. The Hakka
C. The boat people
D. The Fuklo
3. Which of the following dialect groups do the 'Five Great Clans of the New
Territories' belong to?
A. The Cantonese
B. The Hakka
C. The boat people
D. The Fuklo
4. Which of the followings is NOT a correct match?

A. The Cantonese: lived in walled villages
B. The Hakka: spoke Wai Tau dialect
C. The boat people: lived on boats
D. The Fuklo: engaged in fishing
5. Which of the following is NOT a category of intangible cultural heritage?

A. Oral traditions and expressions
B. Performing arts
C. Traditional craftsmanship
D. Historical buildings

6. When did the Hong Kong government announce the first Representative List of
the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Hong Kong??
A. 2004
B. 2008
C. 2014
D. 2018
7. Which lunar month did the Chiu Chow Hungry Ghost Festival hold?
A. 4th month
B. 5th month
C. 7th month
D. 8th month
8. Which of the following ceremonies or activities is NOT held during the Cheung
Chau Jiao Festival?
A. Qilin dance
B. Floating colours parade
C. Bun Scrambling Contest
D. Giving auspicious rice
9. Which of the following is NOT a change of the Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance?
A. Women can take part in beating drums and carrying lanterns.
B. All men who take part in the fire dragon dance have to wear 'culture shirt'.
C. The government banned firecrackers.
D. Congee is provided to reward the performers' efforts.
10. After the Tai O Traditional Dragon Boat Parade, the persons in charge of the
fishermen's associations pray to which god and perform divination about Tai O?
A. Yeung Hau
B. Tin Hau
C. Kwan Tai
D. Hung Shing

Study the Source below and answer the questions that follow. (9marks)
Source: Description of the 'four major dialect groups' in Hong Kong
Between 10th-17th century, the ‘four major dialect groups’ moved away from
mainland to escape the war and famine there. …… Hong Kong has fertile land and is
located near the seacoast. This favours the development of such industries as fishing
and salt-making. It attracted them to migrate to Hong Kong. …… Among them,
Dialect group X and the Hakka made a living by farming. Dialect groups Y and the
Fuklo made a living by fishing. …… Dialect group X were the earliest group to
settle in Hong Kong. It was not clear when dialect group Y settled in Hong Kong.
1. Explain why the four major dialect groups settled in Hong Kong with reference
to the Source. (2 marks)
2. Identify dialect groups X and Y. (2 marks)
3. Point out the differences in the house and ways of living between dialect groups
X and Y with reference to the Source, and using your own knowledge. (4 marks)

1. Explain why the four major dialect groups settled in Hong Kong with
reference to the Source. (2 marks)
 Clues from the Sources:
2. Identify dialect groups X and Y. (2 marks)
 Dialect group X:
 Dialect group Y:
3. Point out the differences in the house and ways of living between dialect
groups X and Y with reference to the Source, and using your own
knowledge. (5 marks)
 Clues from the Source:
 Own knowledge:

Study the Source below and answer the questions that follow. (11 marks)
Source: Description of an intangible cultural heritage of Hong Kong
During the Dragon Boat Festival, dragon boat races are held in many parts of Hong
Kong. Far away on Lantau Island, there is also a unique dragon boat event that
has been passed down for more than 100 years. On that day, sacred sampans carry
the deity statues and parade through Tai O's waterways. ......
Due to the decline in fisheries, the outflow of young population and insufficient
funding, this event has faced a crisis of suspension. Fortunately, there is a
significant improvement in attention since the event was inscribed onto the
national list of intangible cultural heritage. Many younger generations who have
moved out will come back to help organize. ......
The event has played an important role in community cohesion, and now we have
seen younger generations participating. ...... The representatives of the fishermen's
associations said that Tai O people are all skillful swimmers and can participate
without practice. ...... As more Tai O youths participate in the event, this reflects
their recognition of traditional values. This also helps them to reacquaint their
cultural identity and the traditions of their communities.
1. Identify the unique dragon boat event in the Source. (1 mark)
2. What are the changes of the unique dragon boat event after it was inscribed onto
the national list of intangible cultural heritage? Explain your answer with
reference to the Source, and using your own knowledge. (4 marks)
3. Point out the social value of the unique dragon boat event with reference to the
Source, and using your own knowledge. (6 marks)

1. Identify the unique dragon boat event in the Source. (1 mark)
 The unique dragon boat event in the Source:
2. What are the changes of the unique dragon boat event after it was inscribed
onto the national list of intangible cultural heritage? Explain your answer
with reference to the Source, and using your own knowledge. (4 marks)
 Own knowledge:
3. Point out the social value of the unique dragon boat event with reference to
the Source, and using your own knowledge. (6 marks)
 Own knowledge:

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Journey Through History: New Topic-based Series Study Notes

Topic 4 History, culture and heritage of early Hong Kong region

Journey Through History:

©2020 Aristo Educational Press Ltd. TOPIC_4-1

Major dialect groups and clans (p.208-220)

Lives of residents of early Four major dialect groups (p.208-209)

Houses and buildings (p.212-216)

Five Great Clans of the N.T. (p.210)

Intangible cultural heritage (p.221-223)

Beliefs and customs (p.219-220)

Four significant examples of local intangible cultural heritage (p.225-247)

©2020 Aristo Educational Press Ltd. TOPIC_4-2

A. Major dialect groups and clans Guiding Questions

1. Hong Kong in historic times

 Hong Kong became part of the Qin Dynasty in 214 BC.

2. Four major dialect groups

Routes taken by the four major dialect groups to Hong Kong

©2020 Aristo Educational Press Ltd. TOPIC_4-3

 In the 10th century, some Cantonese moved from Guangdong to

 The word 'Hakka' means 'guest'.

(c) Boat people

 It is unclear when the boat people (known as 'Tanka' in the past)

 The Fuklo were also known as the 'Hoklo'.

©2020 Aristo Educational Press Ltd. TOPIC_4-4

3. Five Great Clans of the New Territories

Founding When they Where they

The Tang Fu Hip was a Jinshi during the

The Hau Ng Long was a Jinshi during

Their ancestor Pang Yin Nin was a

Their ancestor Liu Kong and his

Their ancestor was a cousin of Man

Information about the Five Great Clans

©2020 Aristo Educational Press Ltd. TOPIC_4-5

Distribution of the Five Great Clans of

4. Lives of the four major dialect groups

(a) Houses and buildings

(i) Cantonese and Hakka

(ii) Boat people and Fuklo

 The boat people and the Fuklo lived on boats.

(b) Major ways of living

©2020 Aristo Educational Press Ltd. TOPIC_4-6

(i) Cantonese and Hakka

(ii) Boat people and Fuklo

(c) Traditional education

©2020 Aristo Educational Press Ltd. TOPIC_4-7

(d) Beliefs and customs

(i) Ancestral worship

(ii) Popular religion

(iii) Traditional festivals

 The early residents in Hong Kong celebrated traditional festivals.

©2020 Aristo Educational Press Ltd. TOPIC_4-8

To celebrate the birthday of Hung Shing (a Taoist

 To worship and show respect to ancestors

To show respect to Qu Yuan; a festival to drive away

A time for family reunion and preparing food for

The major traditional festivals in Hong Kong

©2020 Aristo Educational Press Ltd. TOPIC_4-9

B. Intangible cultural heritage of Hong Kong Guiding Questions

1. Definition of intangible cultural heritage