Tung Wah Group of Hospitals

Reenact the Historic Scene of Man Ti and Mo Ti Parade Tradition Since 1872

Passing on Local Cultural Heritage – Discovering the Tai Ping Shan District

 

Today, in commemoration of its 145th anniversary, Tung Wah Group of Hospitals (“TWGHs”) organized the Man Mo Temple Parade, followed by the Autumn Sacrificial Rites. This rare touring of Man Ti (the God of Literature) and Mo Ti (the Martial God) was the largest in scale since the inaugural parade of Tung Wah Hospital in 1872. Thousands of travellers and onlookers were attracted, experiencing first-hand the grand occasion of the classic touring of the two gods, revealing the fine cultural tradition of the earliest Chinese settlement in the Tai Ping Shan district.

 

Mr Matthew CHEUNG Kin-chung, GBS, JP Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Ms. Maisy HO, Chairman of TWGHs, members of the board of directors and guests were invited to stage the kick-off ceremony. Chairman HO said, “TWGHs has been striving to serve since its establishment in 1870 and built the first institution owned hospital for Chinese community – Tung Wah Hospital. TWGHs is also the first charitable organisation formed by Chinese, through medical and educational arms to provide all spectrums of welfare services for the community. In the eventful celebration of its 145th anniversary, it is our honour to invite the God of Literature and the Martial God to tour the vicinity, praying for prosperity and peace for local people.”

 

The stunning parade procession combined groups of over 500 people, featuring performance from the Dragon and Lion Dance, Techno dance of Deity (电音三太子), street dance, Tai Chi, martial arts, Taoist music, golden oldies, ethical dance, marching band, and 60s and 70s nostalgic dance. At 10:30am, accompanied by members of the board, the two sedan chairs chairing the Gods of Literature and Martial led the procession, touring along Morrison Street, Queen’s Road Central, Possession Street and Hollywood Road, two of the streets with longest history in town. The procession concluded at Man Mo Temple, where the Autumn Sacrificial Rites took place, aiming to invoke peace and prosperity for the people in Hong Kong.

 

Upheld in front of the shrine at Man Mo Temple are 8 deacon cards (signage) with golden lacquer and craved dragon that were built in 1872 (Tongzi 11th year, Qing Dynasty). Four of them were selected to be showcased at the parade, namely “Man Ti Mo Ti” (the Gods of Literature and Martial), Lit Shing Kung (列圣宫）, “Quiet and Avoidance” (肃静回避)and “Distant the Unclean and Filth” (污秽勿近). The undersigned read “Offering sacrifices to god from Yu Lan officers of 4 rings” （四环盂兰值事敬酧）,  an important piece of evidence that Man Mo Temple is one of the oldest temples with tradition of Yue Lan Festival (Festival of the Hungry Ghosts). It is believed that Man Mo Temple was the hub at the time, aligning people from the 4 Rings – West Point (西环), Sheung Wan （上环）, Central （中环）and Wanchai （下环）, organising traditional activities including parade, religious ceremonies, drama, street decoration and donations in July of the Lunar Calendar, showing respect for their ancestors.

 

In addition, the organiser TWGHs has also made to order two new sedan chairs to carry the two gods in parade, with reference to the two antique sedan chairs housed in Man Mo Temple. The two antique sedan chairs were jointly presented by Temple officers at the time, followers from the 4 rings and merchants in Hong Kong in 1862 (Tong Zi, Qing Dynasty). Donors’ names were engraved at the front of the sedan chair. The wooden sedan chairs are decorated with delicate carvings and painted in gold lacquer, radiating an aura of grandeur and magnificence. Another precious article housed in Man Mo Temple is the Tablet bearing the inscription “God protects us all” (神威普佑）, it was bestowed upon the Tung Wah Hospital by Qing Emperor Guang Xu in 1897 (the 5th year of his reign).

 

The Autumn Sacrificial Rites was held at noon inside Man Mo Temple, Mr. LAI Sze Nuen, BBS, JP, Chairman of TWGHs (1969/1970), accompanied by Ms. Maisy HO, Chairman of TWGHs (2015/2016) and other Board Members, officiated at the ceremony and performed the rites, while Dr. CHOW Chun Kay, Stephen, SBS, BBS, JP, member of the Advisory Board cum Chairman of TWGHs (2001/2002), read the sacrificial odes and Mr. YU Shiu Tin, Paul, BBS, JP, Member of the Advisory Board cum Chairman of TWGHs (1988/1989), acted as the Master of Ceremonies. The officiating party dressed in traditional Chinese robes to show their respect to the ceremony. The ceremony included Invitation for gods to be present (降神礼); First contribution (初献礼); Recital of sacrificial odes (颂祝礼); Second contribution (亚献礼); Third contribution (三献礼)、Witness of the burning of sacrifices (望燎礼) and  Thanking and excusing the gods(辞神礼)。

 

TWGHs’ Autumn Sacrificial Rites at Man Mo Temple was included in the first inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) of Hong Kong announced by The Leisure and Cultural Services Department in June 2014, the Autumn Sacrificial Rites under the persistence safeguard of TWGHs will certainly allow it to be carried on by generations.

 

The Tung Wah Group of Hospitals “145 Parade ‧ Man Mo Temple Rites” was concluded successfully with support from the following organisations: Central and Western District Council, Hong Kong Tourism Board, Intangible Cultural Heritage Advisory Committee (Antiquities and Monuments Office); 15 co-organisers, 15 groups to participate in the parade covering major organisations from the Central and Western district, members of the Chinese Temples Committee.  Among the distinguished guests were Mr. Matthew CHEUNG Kin-chung, GBS, JP, Secretary for Labour and Welfare;  Mr. Eddie NG Hak-him, SBS, JP, Secretary for Education; Miss LAM Bing-bing, Erica, Assistant District Officer of the Central and Western District Office, Home Affairs Department; Ms. Evita YEUNG, Head of Conservation Office, Leisure & Cultural Services Department. Also paying homage at the event included respective district leaders, representatives of co-organisers and supporting organisations, Officials from Consul-General, members of the advisory board, board members including Chairman Maisy HO, Vice-Chairmen Mrs. Katherine MA, Dr. LEE Yuk Lun, JP; Mr. Vinci WONG and Mr. Sunny TAN; Directors Ms. TANG Ming Wai, Mandy, Ms. Renee HUNG, Mr. AU Yu Fan, Gabriel, Ms. FUNG Siu Wan, Stella, Mr. MA Chi Un, Fred, Miss MAN Wing Yee, Ginny, Mr. LIU Wai Lun, Jeffrey, Mr. MA Ching Yeung, Philip, Mr. LEE Kwong Yee, Jason Joseph, Mr. CHU Sheng Yu, Lawrence, Mr. TSENG Hing Yip, York, Mr. Derrick FUNG, and friends of TWGHs.

 

Since its establishment in 1870, TWGHs has been all along upholding its mission “To heal the sick and to relieve the distressed; to care for the elderly and to rehabilitate the disabled; to promote education and to nurture youngsters; and to raise the infants and to guide the children.” Nowadays, TWGHs has become the largest charitable organization in Hong Kong. For over a hundred years, TWGHs’ medical and health, education and community services have developed rapidly to fulfil the needs of the society and to provide high quality services at low rates. Today, TWGHs operates over 292 services centres, including 5 hospitals and health services and 27 Chinese medicine services centres, 53 education services centres, 205 community services centres that cover elderly, youth and family, rehabilitation and traditional services, whilst the Tung Wah Museum strives to promote, restore and preserve the heritage and relics of TWGHs. TWGHs Record Centre has been set up to preserve TWGHs’ valuable cultural assets.

 

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For media inquiries, please contact the Corporate Communications Branch of TWGHs at 2859 7482.

Guests gathered to perform the eye-dotting ceremony for a Hundred-feet golden dragon and 10 auspicious lions.

Group Photo of Guests, Board members and dotted dragon and lions.

Lion Dance Performance – Reach for the sky on pillar.

Guests knocking the Gong to commence the 145 Parade.

Board members worship before kicking-off the parade.

Members of board members joined forces in accompanying the two sedan chairs, headed towards Man Mo Temple.

Hundred-feet long golden dragon.

 

Two newly sedan chairs illustrating extra fine craving techniques.

Antique sedan chairs

Techno dance of deity.

Group photo of the Board members and Tung Wah 145 Parade Procession at Possession Street, one of the oldest streets in Hong Kong.

Accompanied by the Board of Directors of TWGHs (2015/2016), Mr. LAI Sze Nuen, BBS, JP, Chairman of TWGHs (1969-1970) performed the rites.

Group photo of Dr. CHOW Chun Kay, Stephen, SBS, BBS, JP, the Sacrificial odes Reader, Mr. NG Hak Kim, SBS, JP,Secretary for Education,Mr. LAI Sze Nuen, BBS, JP, the Officiatorand Mr. YU Shiu Tin, Paul, BBS, MBE, JP, Master of Ceremonies (From left to right).

Group photo of Board members of TWGHs and guests in front of Man Mo Templeupon completion of the autumn sacrificial rites.