[FIELDWORK] THE GOD OF COOKERY, TANG ANCESTRAL HALL

THE GOD OF COOKERY, DIR. STEPHEN CHOW (1996)           

Tang Ancestral Hall, Ha Tsuen, Yuen Long, N.T.

The Star Overseas Limited released The God of Cookery in December 1996. The film is one of the masterpieces of Stephen Chow. It is about the main character Stephen Chow (same character name with his real name) how to comprehend the truth of being the god of cookery after a series of trials. In the film, Chow was saved by a monastery abbot and brings him back to the Shaolin Temple where is also called the Chinese Cuisine Training Institute in the film. The director has chosen Ha Tsuen Tang Ancestral Hall as the scene of the Shaolin Temple and represents it as a strict place. However, there is a huge difference between the film and the Tang Ancestral Hall in reality.

Chow was brought to the Tang Ancestral Hall and forbidden to come out. In the film, the Tang Ancestral Hall is presented as a very mysterious and strict place. There are 18 bronze men guarding the exit of the Shaolin Temple. They could always catch Chow no matter how hard Chow has tried to escape. If someone offends the abbot, they are not able to leave the Shaolin Temple forever.¹ The film also shows one guy who offended the abbot when he was 13 was imprisoned to be elderly. It is just like a prison for Chow in the film. However, in the reality, it is a historical site where is open to the public. The Tang Ancestral Hall was constructed by the Tang clan of Ha Tsuen to commemorate their two ancestors, Tang Hung-Chi and Tang Hung-Wai, for establishing the village settlements in Ha Tsuen. It is the major place for the Tang clan to have their religious and ceremonial activities. It was defined as a monument because of the high heritage value in December 2007. And finally, The Tang Ancestral Hall underwent some major renovations² from 2009 to 2011 and open to the public. It is able to go through everywhere and take a look inside the Tang Ancestral Hall. For this field trip, there is a huge contrast between the film and reality among the freedom inside the Tang Ancestral Hall.

In my opinion, the director was trying to present the Tang Ancestral Hall as a strict place because he wanted to inspire the audience with a message that if you are focus on stuff, you must be able to have a crown on it. The director used the Shaolin Temple to be a training venue to force Chow to learn Kung Fu and Cooking skills from the 18 bronze men. After the hard work and training day by day in the Shaolin Temple for just a mouth, Chow’s cooking skills are already better than his antagonist who stay at the Shaolin Temple for 10 years. The director wants people to force themselves in learning some weaknesses like Chow is imprisoned in the Shaolin Temple and the sweat must not be wasted.

One extra fun fact I found during the field trip is that there are many ways to leave the Tang Ancestral Hall and one of the ways is no need to pass any door. (how come Chow escape it so hard……? XD)

── Li Chi Kin Zachery 3035691535

Notes:

1. Some of the dialogues in this scene has become the pet phrase of most people who love Stephen Chow (方丈份人好小器 & 得罪方丈仲想走)
2. The restoration work is mainly to restore the Chinese tiled roofs, repair destroyed timber elements, and remove paintwork from the brick walls.