Hong Kong Intangible Cultural Heritage - Exhibition on "Traditional Craftsmanship of Lantern Making"

Date: 19-24 February 2016 (Friday to Wednesday)
Time: 6-11 pm
Venue: Piazza of Hong Kong Cultural Centre

 

Amongst the twelve Chinese zodiac signs, monkey is a symbol of intelligence and quick-wits, and thus, is one of the favourable signs. Because the Chinese pronunciation of monkey (hou) is the same as that of a marquis, the image of a monkey also symbolises nobility. The tradition of using monkeys to convey auspiciousness, prosperity, as well as to drive out evilness and to attract blessings began in the Tang and Song dynasties. Monkeys usually play the agile, brainy and heroic role in traditional Chinese myths, such as Sun Wukong in Journey to the West.

 

To welcome the Year of the Monkey in 2016, the Intangible Cultural Heritage Office has invited local masters of paper crafting to create a set of large scale lantern. The festive lantern named "The Golden Monkey Celebrating the Lantern Festival" has adopted the traditional technique of bamboo strip frame structures. The display tells the story of Journey to the West, in which Tang Sanzang and his disciples Sun Wukong, Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing, as well as White Dragon-horse travelled west to acquire Buddhist learnings. It also wishes the public great luck and good fortune in the Chinese New Year.