[Video Essay]: Detaching City

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YezitLwbtCc

1. Introduction

The place being chosen and investigated is the Tang Ancestral Hall in the Ping Shan Heritage Trail, which is the main ancestral hall for the Tangs in Ping Shan.

2. Description of the Tang Ancestral Hall

According to the Tang genealogy, the ancestral hall was built by Tang Fong Shun about 700 years ago to commemorate founding ancestor Tang Chung Ling.

Tang Ancestral Hall has the most traditional Chinese style design. First, it is a three-hall structure, containing two internal courtyards. It is one of the finest examples of this kind of buildings in Hong Kong. Besides, the materials used such as granites and sandstones for the columns and steps, brown tiles for the roofs, etc. are the classic materials representing the Chinese architecture. The sculptures on stones, auspicious motifs crave, painted figures, as well as the tonal colors of red, brown, and black represent the unique Chinese culture.

Specific architectural techniques were used, such as the girders from the roof part are designed to handle the weight of the trusses. Pillars are the part set to prop up the roof, as well as transferring the weight to the ground at the same time, so that the constructions may not collapse easily. The skill of “mortise and tenon” was used as well. The greatest feature of it is that no nails are required to fix the constructions. It is constituted by combining the concave-convex parts of 2 components. The Ancestral Hall we see nowadays have been restored by combining the traditional craftsmanship and modern techniques. The Ancestral Hall was then restored to its original splendor.

Function-wise, the Tang Ancestral Hall acts as a focus point to unite the clansmen. It is a venue for worship, organizing important village meetings, gathering, and discussing villages’ affairs, to name but a few. Some activities such as worship, holding ceremonies and meetings are still used today.

3. Inspiration

It is found that the heritage protection of the Tang Ancestral Hall is not as good as expected when I read the report from the Leisure and Cultural Services Department. The number of visits of the Ping Shan Heritage Trail, including the Tang Ancestral Hall are in downtrend in the recent years. In 2015-16, there were 71364 visitors. The number falls to 71119 in 2016-17, then 70184 in the next year, and then 63422 in 2018-19. According to Chan and Ma, cultural heritage protection is an important way to preserve culture. Aside from the heritages’ architectural and aesthetic, their inherent intangible culture values of a specific society is the worthiest thing to be left names forever. For the spread and promotion of the Tang Ancestral Hall, it seems to be superficial. Visitors may learn about the architectures and some background history, but they will not know about the traditional culture of the Tang clan deep inside, as no booklets of this aspect are provided and there are no commentators as well. How and why do the clansmen get self-identity from the Ancestral Hall? Why are there two calligraphies aside the tablets placed in the rear hall? These are all unknown to the visitors.

4. Researching Methods

The Tang Ancestral Hall was declared a monument in December 2001. Therefore, there are a certain number of second-hand information provided by the government for reference. Basic information of the Ancestral Hall, ranging from the Tang lineage’s origin to the restoration history could be found on the websites of the Education Bureau and the Antiquities and Monuments Office. Some more detailed outlines are demonstrated on the display boards placed in the middle hall. For the architectural information which are not recorded by the government, essays, and books like “The History and Culture of Hong Kong New Territory” are read.

For the first-hand information, I went to visit the Tang Ancestral Hall for a deeper investigation and to shoot some scenes and photographic for the video. Interview was done too as I wish I could find some information not being recorded by the government, like some hearsays. Yet, it is quite disappointed that the villagers there do not know much about Chinese architecture. Not much useful information could be got here.

5. Video Production

A 2.5-minute script was written first. Later on, I went to the Tang Ancestral Hall and some other places, like streets in busy areas in HK, to shoot the photographic and original videos from different angles. Then, suitable scenes that match the scripts were chosen for the videos and recordings were added. Finally, subtitles and background music were added.

Reference

Antiquities and Monument Office. (n.d.). Heritage Trails & Historic Building Clusters. Antiquities and Monuments Office – ping shan heritage trail (337). https://www.amo.gov.hk/en/heritage-trails/ping-shan-heritage-trail/tang-ancestral-hall/index.html

Chan, Wai-yin and Ma Shu-yun (2004). Heritage Preservation and Sustainability of China’s Development. Sustainable Development 12 (1): 15-31.

Cheng, K. K. <香港新界原住民特權身分的歷史建構過程>，《嶺南@文化研究》，ep23.

Chan, W. Y., Cultural Preservation, Development, and Suitability of Development, 《文化研究@嶺南》, ep.4, 2007.

Leisure and Cultural Services Department, Replying No.: HAB400, 「審核2019-20年度開支預算管制人員的答覆」, 2019.

Liu, Y. (n.d.). 中國文化通識｜榫卯是什麽？: 文化百科: 文化精華. 當代中國. https://www.ourchinastory.com/zh/5194/%E4%B8%AD%E5%9C%8B%E6%96%87%E5%8C%96%E9%80%9A%E8%AD%98%EF%BD%9C%E6%A6%AB%E5%8D%AF%E6%98%AF%E4%BB%80%E9%BA%BD%EF%BC%9F

Sugar00. (n.d.). 古建築屋頂特點介紹. 古建筑屋顶特点介绍_建筑文章_建筑设计讨论_绿色建筑_建筑第一街_设计群网. http://www.shejiqun.com/Article-detail-id-6324.html

Siu, K. A. 香港新界之歷史與文化. 香港：顯朝書室, 2014.

YouTube. (2009). 中華創意奇觀 : 第10集_神奇榫卯(Part1/2). YouTube. Retrieved May 12, 2023, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQn7We88qBI.

Video music background:

https://youtu.be/U6p_YuqYRJ8?list=RDQM08jDMWIRiNY

https://youtu.be/kid7lRjX_X4

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Wong Kwan Mei