"ICH Mission - I wanna be an ICH Bearer" Series  

 

Hakka Unicorn Dance

Organised by: Intangible Cultural Heritage Office

Event Partner: Joint Association of Traditional Hakka Unicorn in Sai Kung and Hang Hau Hong Kong

 

The "Hakka unicorn dance in Hang Hau, Sai Kung" is an indigenous custom with a history of more than two hundred years. It was inscribed onto the fourth national list of intangible cultural heritage of China in 2014. The qilin, or Chinese unicorn, is regarded by the Hakka people as a symbol of their ethnic group, as it is endowed with literary acumen and good martial art skills. On celebratory occasions such as festivals, the inauguration of an ancestral hall, moving into a new home, weddings, birthday parties, etc., there would invariably be a unicorn dance as a gesture of bestowing blessings and warding off evil. Among all mythical creatures, the unicorn is said to be mild in manners, polite and discreet while it retains its curious nature. It is literate, too - before it enters a building, it would "read" the couplets that flank the doorway. It is vegetarian and therefore does not kill. All in all, the unicorn possesses unique characteristics which are different from the dragon and the lion portrayed in Chinese culture.

 

This workshop is held in the form of small groups, taught by unicorn dance veterans from the "Joint Association of Traditional Hakka Unicorn in Sai Kung and Hang Hau Hong Kong" - the bearer organisation of this intangible cultural heritage - and the content includes demonstrations, theories and practical exercise. It is a valuable opportunity that allows participants to gain insight into the ritual and cultural contents of this local custom through experiencing the unicorn dance movements as well as its instrumental accompaniment.

 

 

 

 

"Fire Dragon of Pok Fu Lam Village" Crafting Workshop

Every year, on the evening of the Mid-Autumn Festival, the residents of Pok Fu Lam Village in the Southern District of Hong Kong Island would hold a fire dragon dance ritual in the village to invoke blessings for well-being and peace. The crafting of the dragon begins about a month earlier. The materials needed are very basic, which include bamboo poles, straw and metal wire. With his artistry and experience, the craftsman would create a fire dragon of over ten metres. From splitting the bamboo, shaving the splinters, to shaping and building the skeleton, covering it with straw and fixing the various sections with wire, the whole process is done by hand. The finished dragon would be wielded by dozens of performers in the "fire dragon dance" as they parade through the lanes and alleys of the village during the Mid-Autumn Festival.

 

The workshop will be conducted by Master Ng Kong-kin. A native of Pok Fu Lam Village, Master Ng has over forty years of experience in this subject. Participants in the workshop will not only learn more about the historical and cultural significance of the fire dragon dance but also enjoy crafting a mini-sized fire dragon head (about 80 cm high, including support stand for the dragon head) which they can take home.