This exhibition is about the Tangible and Intangible Heritage in the Last Village on Hong Kong Island. It shows the activities, rituals and atmosphere during the Fire Dragon Dancing of the Mid-Autumn Festival, as well as the craftsmanship of building the dragon before the dance performance.
This documentary video shows the fire dragon dancing at the front of Pokfulam Village in 2003. It recorded the sound, the villagers' talking, the people, as well as the environment. This important tradition of the village community takes place during the Mid-Autumn Festival every year - a ritual that parallels the better-known Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance. An incense-lit hay dragon visits each household along the fire dragon dancing route, bringing blessings to the residents and fostering a spirit of community.
Pokfulam Village started its first fire dragon dance in 1900s.
An eye-dazzling traditional flower board is erected at the entrance of Pokfulam Village during the Fire Dragon Festival.
Villagers lit the incense for decorating the fire dragon body which is ready at the village front.
A villager is sticking incense on the fire dragon body.
A villager is decorating the Fire Dragon Head.
Villagers are resting and ready for next dance.
Pokfulam Village Fire Dragon is chasing the fire dragon ball.
Pokfulam Village Fire Dragon is chasing the fire dragon ball.
There were 8 fire dragons dancing in Wah Fu Estate, Southern District of Hong Kong Island. The fire dragons were then sent to Waterfall Bay to finish the last ritual of fire dragon dancing.
The Fire Dragon is dancing on the street.
"The Intangible Heritage
Pokfulam Village Fire Dragon Craftsmanship
&
The Tangible Heritage
The Pokfulam Village Fire Dragon"
The hay blocks for fire dragon making.
The rattan and tools used for fire dragon crafting.
The rattan and rattan and hay made loops on dragon heads.
The frame of structure of the fire dragon head. It is like the skeleton of the fire dragon.
A lady is chopping a tenon on a bamboo which forms part of the fire dragon frame.
A crafting master is blending a bamboo strip for the fire dragon frame.
A crafting master is instructing a student to make the mouth structure of a fire dragon.
A villager is fixing a rattan on the bamboo structure of a fire dragon head.
Villagers are working on the fire dragon head structure.
A villager is inserting incense to a grapefruit to from a dragon ball which is used to lead the fire dragon dancing.
Villagers are wrapping hay on the fire dragon body.
A village is making his fire dragon display.
A villager is touching up the fire dragon head.
A villager is making a fire dragon in cute size.
A villager made a fire dragon lantern powered by battery for his cousin.
A kid is appreciating the fire dragon head.
Lately, the crafting master In Pokfulam Village would making other crafts works for the fire dragon dancing. This photograph shows a villager making a phoenix head.
This photography shows fire dragon head in different cute versions in fire dragon craftsmanship workshop.
The fire dragon altar at the village front. This is also the place where the fire dragon head being placed for decoration.
This is a smaller fire dragon hanging in the fire dragon altar. There are other artistic version of fire dragon in the altar from time to time.
The fire dragon mural is on the wall next to the stream channel below the road leads to Claymore Avenue and Chi Fu Fa Road. The mural is a graffiti work made by two young talented artisits (the london street artist and a local artist). The artwork uses 12 Chinese traditional Zodiac representing the villagers together with village chracterisctic features to do the Fire Dragon Dance. The artworks brightened the dull and ignored space everyday they passing by. Now, it turns to be a playground for village kids and a scenic spot for visitors.
A logo of Pokfulam Village Fire Dragon Team. It can be found on the fire dragon dancers uniform T-shirt.
Film Director—Noble Yuen
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