HA tsuen Da jiu festival
To be a HongKonger, you may already heard about Cheung Chau Da Jiu festival, since it will be held every year, and there are many functions and activities attract people to visit. However, have you ever heard about Da Jiu festival in New Territories, in a old village? With the same purpose, difference villiages will be held Da Jiu once in several years, probably 3 years, 5 years, 10 years or even 30 years. Luckily, I am glad to join the 2014 Da Jiu festival of Yuen Long Ha Tsuen in October.
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What is Da Jiu Festival?
Da Jiu Festival in Ha Tsuen will hold once in 10 years, this is a large ceremony of the Tang's clan, and usually hold between October and November in Lunar calendar, it will separate into two parts.
The first part which I have joined which focused on some traditional ceremonies and rituals, it lasted for a week. In the first day, the opening ceremony was really bustling, there were many types of decoration such as Flower Basket Stand, Paifang, flag around the village, there were also dragon and lion dance by the Indigenous inhabitants who wearing colorful costume, firecracker and gong sound will be the background music of this festival. |
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After the opening ceremony, the rest of the week had difference traditional functions, In Day 2-4, the Tang's clan had a walk to other villages in Yuen Long and Tuen Mun, to visit their temples or Ancestral hall. The crowd had fun with the people around the road, to share the happiness of this cheerful day. In Cantonese, we called it "行香". At night , there were a stage for teenagers to sing and dance, many famous singers joined to have performance. The audiences were enjoyable to their performance.
Here are some photo I have taken on that day
Here are some photo I have taken on that day
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The second part of ceremony is coming soon , it will be held in 12-19 December, that is the Chinese opera. It will be shown in a Large bamboo theater, some of famous Chinese opera stars such as Joyce Koi Ming-Fai and her opera team will have a performance in Ha Tsuen for a week including nine operas, However, only indigenous inhabitants can buy ticket and invite their friends to enjoy the show.
History of Ha Tsuen Da Jiu
Da Jiu in Ha Tsuen had been held for many times, I remember last time I saw it in Yuen Long city, I were only a Form one student, and I don’t actually know what is happening. Many people may concern why it will be held in difficult places, I have asked my friend who has lived in Ha Tsuen for many years, and he said that Da Jiu was not only a celebration function, also there was famous a purpose is to invite and appreciate to the supernatural power such as gods and ghosts, and to pray for the Tang's clan villagers and the village.
In Ha Tsuen, Da Jiu will be held once in ten years by the Tang’s clan. Let's have a brief introduction for the Tang’s, Ha Tsuen is a village in Tin Shui Wai north, this clan has lived in Ha Tsuen for about 300 years, that period started from the Qing dynasty, and same clan with Yuen Long Kam Tin village.
In Ha Tsuen, Da Jiu will be held once in ten years by the Tang’s clan. Let's have a brief introduction for the Tang’s, Ha Tsuen is a village in Tin Shui Wai north, this clan has lived in Ha Tsuen for about 300 years, that period started from the Qing dynasty, and same clan with Yuen Long Kam Tin village.
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Photo of 2004 Ha Tsuen Da Jiu Festival(Left), and famous fashion designer William Tang(Right)
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Every clan also has her own Ancestral Hall,
the one in Ha Tsuen called Yau Kung Tong, it plays an important role in religious and ceremonial events of the Tang clan in Ha Tsuen, such as wedding ceremony, it and its adjoining buildings were declared as monuments in 2007. Therefore, Yau Kung Tong is a main place for the Da Jiu festival, many ceremonies will hold the opening and closing ceremony in here to represent a good start and end. |
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Da Jiu is a Taoism ceremony, so the Tang’s will invite many taoist priests to the intermediary to invite the gods and ghosts befall to the village and receive blessing by the Indigenous inhabitants. In the following ceremonies, most of them will be held by taoist priests, and inhabitants need to have a fasting for a week to pray for health. And the Chinese opera show will be shown on a month later which is to appreciate the gods and ghosts.
Importance in culture
There are many place or village will hold Da Jiu in Hong Kong, I won’t say the one which held in Yuen Long Ha Tsuen will be more meaningful, but there is really a value to have a look on this traditional ceremony, since it will only held once in ten years, and the culture will start to disappear if people do not participate. All Da Jiu ceremonies can show the development of past Hong Kong. They still keep traditional cultures and rituals. Now, most Hong Konger love to maintain the collective memories, Da Jiu is one of our collective memory that we need to treasure what we have in our traditions.
Da Jiu is a traditional ceremony, a Taoism ceremony, it is full of Chinese culture. Not only the lion and dragon dance, decoration, ceremony details and the religious ritual, also the building style of the bamboo opera theater, Chinese opera, and the dolls of the god and ghost. It is a great opportunity to see these characteristic Chinese traditional items.
Da Jiu is a traditional ceremony, a Taoism ceremony, it is full of Chinese culture. Not only the lion and dragon dance, decoration, ceremony details and the religious ritual, also the building style of the bamboo opera theater, Chinese opera, and the dolls of the god and ghost. It is a great opportunity to see these characteristic Chinese traditional items.
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Nowadays, many teenagers always focus on electronic device, for doing assignment, playing games, posting on facebook, watching videos, etc. I believe teenager are willing to know new things through computer and mobile more than visit by own. But experiences can let you know more, feel more than the words. Da Jin ceremony is open to public. If you have interest, go for it and have a look with your friends and family to experience the remaining Hong Kong traditional culture.
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Gallery
How to get there?
Public Transport
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Route K65 Bus
Origin: Yuen Long (East) Bus Terminus Via: Tin Shui Wai West Rail Station Destination: Lau Fau Shan Terminus Operator: MTR Fare (HK$): $4.3 *free interchange after taking MTR west rail line Operating Hours: 06:00-23:45 |
Route 33/34/35 Minibus
Origin: Tai Fung Street Minibus Terminus Via: Tin Shui Wai West Rail Station Destination:Ha Pak Nai Minibus Terminus Operator: Luxe Form Investment Limited Fare (HK$): $6.0 Operating Hours: 05:00-21:30 |
*Station to take on: Tin Shui Wai bus station (under west rail exit B ) / to take off: Shek Kong Wai bus station
By Car (Free car park are provided)
1. Take exit 15 toward Hung Shui Kiu / Tin SHui Wai (W) in New Territories Ring Road
2. Continue onto Hung Tin Road
3. Take the exit toward Tin Shui Wai (S)
4. Turn left onto Ping Ha Road
5. Turn left onto Ha Mei Road
2. Continue onto Hung Tin Road
3. Take the exit toward Tin Shui Wai (S)
4. Turn left onto Ping Ha Road
5. Turn left onto Ha Mei Road
