The origin of “Hung Chiu”

The Chinese character “Hung” (洪) has the meaning of “disaster” – pandemics, diseases, natural disasters and wars, while the character “Chiu” (朝) has the meaning of “worship”. Therefore “Hung Chiu” means their pray for the gods’ blessings to ensure the safety of inhabitants and livestock. Today, the villagers are no longer threatened by the disasters and no longer rear livestock, but to show respect to their roots they continue to hold the ceremony every year, praying for good weather and proliferation of descendants instead. 

Before holding the ceremony, the villagers of Fanling Wai first went to Sam Shing Temple and carried the shrines of Bak Dai (Deity of the North), Man Cheung Dai (Deity of Literacy) and Kwan Dai (Deity of War) to the makeshift altar at the gate of the walled village. The entire Tai Ping Hung Chiu ceremony w as overseen by a Taoist priest, who guided eightceremonial leaders to pray for the dispelling of disaster and the giving of blessings on behalf of all villagers.

Rooster Feather Scrambling and Paper Boat Firing

At around 10 am on the 15th of the 1st month of the Lunar Calendar, the villagers took one rooster to an elevated location at the gate of the walled village, plucked its feathers and dropped them through a circular opening, which is fought over by the clansman. Everyone could fetch one as the feathers dropped were abundant. They brought the feathers back home, and as the ceremonial leaders passed by their home carrying a paper boat, the villagers casted out the “unclean” matter (charcoal bits, red bean and hyacinth beans), together with paper ingots, joss sticks and candles into the boat. Meanwhile, a “new year boy” wearing ceremonial costume (red headdress and battle garb) followed the ceremonial masters to greet all households. Lastly, the villagers burnt the paper boat with everything in it – this is known as “Paper Boat Firing”, which symbolizes the dispelling of disaster and the welcoming of fortune.

Appeasing evil spirits

The ceremony reached another climax in the evening. Outside the gate of the walled village a lantern festival evening party was held; on another side the Taoist priest presided over the altar; recited and burnt wordings of blessing, appeased evil spirits and dispelled disaster, delivered offerings until after midnight. In some of the rituals, the Taoist priest changed into ceremonial garb and blew the horn symbolizing that he has obtained the prowess of the deities and is able to ward off the evils.

Casting divination blocks

On the morning of the 16th of the 1st month, the ceremonial leaders held a ceremony to cast the divination blocks. The divination blocks come in three pairs each representing men, right and wrong, and the six animals, and predicts the fortune of the future year. A unique casting method was used in Fanling Wai: one ceremonial master held the Hu Ban, a ceremonial tablet, on which a pair of small divination blocks (one face-down, one face-up), a pair of large divination blocks (both face-down), and a pair of raw pig’s feet (both face-up) are placed. The lot is casted backwards. If upon landing the items are arranged as originally placed, it symbolizes safety and harmony for both men and livestock; if the items are arranged otherwise, a re-casting is needed. The custom reminds one of the farming societies in the old days.

Sha Luo splitting

At 10 in the morning, the Taoist priest again changed into the ceremonial costume to conduct the ritual of “Sha Luo splitting”. The “Sha Luo” is a blown-up pig’s testicle (symbolizing ‘unclean’ matters). The Taoist priest chanted as he kicked the “Sha Luo” in all directions, while casting such items as rooster’s feathers, charcoal and beans. He then used an axe to split the “Sha Luo”, representing the dispelling of ill luck. Finally, the ceremonial master retrieved the colored paper and other auspicious items and cremates the lantern and the “red scrolls”, then returned the shrines of the deities to the Sam Shing Temple. This marked the end of the two-day Tai Ping Hung Chiu ceremony.