In this video, we will introduce the Sam Yee Kwan Shrine by giving the basic information of it, explaning the reason of why it is fading away, demonstrating its past and present, showing the impacts brought by its disapperance, and also giving out the measures which has been taken so far. Now please enjoy our video.
F：Tucked away in the hustle and bustle of Hong Kong’s urban jungle in Central is an unassuming historical treasure – the Sam Yee Kwan Shrine to the God of the Land. This ancient temple at the end of a lane in Wo On Lane has witnessed the transformation of Hong Kong from a fishing village to a cosmopolitan city. However, this corner of the city’s memory is quietly disappearing nowadays as time goes on.
C：Wo On Lane, a street in Central Hong Kong Island, is located in the northern part of Lan Kwai Fong, with the southern end of the street in the middle of D’Aguilar Street, near Hutchison Stacks Fresh Fruit Shop Duke of Wellington Building, and Milan Station. The northern end of Wo On Lane leads out to Wellington Street, which has a small backstreet. Wo On Lane is the motorist’s dugout road and on-street parking, but also a Central white-collar meeting place for lunch; a local restaurant parking on the main road of goods is the night of Lan Kwai Fong tourists spending place. However, right next to such a lively and bustling area is an ancient and severe shrine – the Wo On Lane Sam Yee Kwan Land God Shrine.
F：This shrine to the God of Land, which has witnessed the tremendous transformation of Hong Kong from a fishing village to a modern city, is more than just a symbol of religious belief but also a part of the community spirit. Here, residents can find a touch of serenity and an adherence to tradition. But with the city’s rapid development and the relentless reshaping of the land, such shrines are fading into the shadows of tall buildings.
C：Its disappearance is not a sudden event without a trace. With construction projects sprouting up in the neighborhood, we know this shrine may soon be history, representing Hong Kong’s traditions and community memories. Once a place of communication between neighbors and a haven for pedestrians seeking peace, it now faces the fate of being completely forgotten.
F：The imminent disappearance of the Wo On Lane Shrine is actually due to a combination of factors. On the one hand, the temple is located in a busy area in Central Hong Kong, and with the development of the city and the increase in commercial activities, the value of land in this area has been on the rise. As a result, the Government and developers have different planning intentions for this piece of land, hoping to utilize it more effectively to meet the needs of urban development.
C：On the other hand, the Woanli Temple is not under the management of any organization, and there is no full-time temple priest to take care of the temple. It relies on some dedicated people to maintain and clean the temple on their own initiative. Such a management mode can hardly ensure the long-term protection and maintenance of the ancient temples. Coupled with the fact that the summons issued by the Lands Department indicates the Government’s planning intention for the land, it shows that the land on which the ancient temple is situated is unleased government land, which is being occupied in contravention of the law. This further demonstrates the instability of the Old Temple and the potential risk of its disappearance.
F：Speaking of its present and past lives, as mentioned above, this ancient temple is now located at Wo On Lane in Central on Hong Kong Island, an area which is now a place for white-collar workers in Central to gather for meals, for restaurants to load and unload goods, and for tourists to spend their money in Lan Kwai Fong in the evening. Wo On Lane and its surrounding streets, such as D’Aguilar Street and Wellington Street, form the bustling Lan Kwai Fong entertainment district. The history of the Sam Yee Kwan Shrine of the Land God predates the birth of every Hong Kong resident by a long shot. It was so small that it could not be accommodated, and good believers could only burn incense in front of the temple to pray for blessings. At the end of the year, during festivals, people would bring golden pigs to “return the god”, and this tiny corner became the spiritual support of the community.
C：The disappearance of the ancient temple is not only the disappearance of a building but also a piece of history and a break in culture. The surrounding residents, office workers, and visitors to Lan Kwai Fong, perhaps some of them have never noticed the existence of this ancient temple, but for those who pass by every day and stop by occasionally, it is a comfort to the soul and a touch of tranquility in the fast-paced life.
F：However, it is not for lack of effort that efforts are being made in the face of this dying relic. Community groups are trying to preserve the shrine in various ways, from launching signature campaigns to fighting for intangible cultural heritage recognition; they are speaking out for this serenity and tradition.
C：Hong Kong, a cosmopolitan city, is in the midst of rapid development and change. In this era of change, how we can balance the preservation of history and the development of the city has become an unavoidable issue. The Sam Yee Kwan Shrine of the God of Land, this small shrine is more than just a piece of land; it carries culture, history, and human touch; it is our shared memory. In this age of information explosion, we hope that through this video, we can arouse more people’s attention to the fading history and let’s guard the soul of this city together.
F：Our video hopes to touch the viewers’ hearts and make more people understand and pay attention to this corner of history that is about to fade away. Let’s watch over the Sam Yee Kwan Land God Shrine in Wo On Lane and guard this piece of Hong Kong’s memory.
Zhang Yifan 3036127385
Chen Xingcheng 3036265292