Local Festivals Around the Year
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Birthday of Shui Sin Yeuh

  • The 10th day of the 10th month of the Lunar Calendar

    The worship of water deities was once very popular in south-eastern coastal China where the residents’ livelihood was highly dependent on the seas. To guard against natural disasters, fishermen sought spiritual support in addition to their skills and wisdom to weather through difficulties. That is where the diversity of water deities was formed for blessing and good reward.

  • The Worship of Water Deities

    Tin Hau is the most common goddess of the sea in South China, followed by Hung Shing, Tam Kung, Pak Ti and Long Mu. Other deities like Chu Tai Sin, Shui Sin, the Dragon Kings of the Sea and the Sea God are also worshipped in some fishing communities. However, as most boat dwellers migrated to inland areas, the tradition of worship has reached its twilight. Today, traditional water deity festival like the Birthday of Shui Sin Yeh is only celebrated in Kau Sai Chau, Sai Kung.

  • The Shui Sin Yeh Temple

    Local fishermen said that there used to be a temple for Shui Sin Yeh on Shelter Island, which faces Kau Sai Chau in Sai Kung, but it was abandoned by residents running away for their lives when British troops fired the town, and eventually collapsed. Today in the Hung Shing Temple in Kau Sai Chau, three deities are worshiped: Hung Shing Tai Wong (ie. Hung Shing) which is in the centre of the altar, Choi Pak Shing Kwan (literally, the Lord of Wealth) and Shui Sin Yeh. The statue of Shui Sin Yeh, which has a red face and a sward in hand, is believed to be the one that originally was in the Shui Sin Yeh Temple on Shelter Island.

  • Celebrating the Birthday

    Although most of the Boat Dwellers had moved to mainland, dozens of them will follow the tradition and come back to the tiny island on the 10th day of the 10th lunar month to celebrate the Birthday of Shui Sin Yeh every year. They set roast pig and fruits as offerings and worshipped. I once saw a prayer squeezing through under the altar table like what people did beneath the feet of Taishi during the Taiping Qingjiao ceremony and also prayed for getting rid of bad lucks.

  • Asking for Forgiveness

    When joss sticks were offered, male prayers stayed inside the temple and sent a representative to throw a pair of crescent-shaped divination blocks, which is called ‘Jiaobei’, and asked the deities if they are happy with the offerings. If the blocks fell with one flat side facing up and the other facing down, then it means a divine answer or a ‘yes’ answer. Otherwise, the representative needed to explain to the deities. Excuses can be someone’s absence or a failure to supply enough drinks. If these were the cases, he would ask for forgiveness, or serve more offerings and then throw and ask over again until the deities are satisfied.

  • Characters of fishermen

    While male villagers were throwing Jiaobei inside the temple, ladies gathered aside were busy with preparing the lunch. Some were responsible for chopping up the chickens and roasting pigs, others would cook in the kitchen with large pans. After a while of busy cooking, a lunch of seven or eight dishes was ready and served on several tables in front of the temple. People all ate standing and moved around the tables free to help themselves. This was the best moment when the opened and informal character of Boat Dwellers was clearly shown.

  • Festivals in Kau Sai Chau

    Hung Shing is the most important deity to the villagers from Kau Sai Chau and its Birthday on the 13th of the second lunar month is the most important festival on the island. Both the Boat Dweller and the Hakka would be back to the village for the ceremony and performance. Nevertheless, Shui Sin Yeh remains a spiritual support to the Boat Dwellers as it was to their ancestors and the Birthday of the immortal is never forgotten. The Committee for Hung Shing’s Birthday in Kau Sai Chau supported to organise the ceremony on Shui Sin Yeh’s Birthday and provide regular worship services for villagers who wish for peace and at the same time took it as a chance for villagers that moved off the island to get together.

  • To Continue the Tradition

    Folk religions in Hong Kong have never been interrupted. For example, worshipping water deities is still found here, while it is not the case in the Mainland. Observing their traditional activities is helpful to understand Chinese beliefs and to trace the local history of a certain community.