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.

Pokfulam Village Fire Dragon Dance (薄扶林村火龍) in 2003 (High-Res), Noble Yuen, 2003, From the collection of: Pokfulam Village Cultural Landscape Conservation Group
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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.

The Origin of Fire Dragon Dance, Wu Youru 吳友如, 1900, From the collection of: Pokfulam Village Cultural Landscape Conservation Group
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Pokfulam Village started its first fire dragon dance in 1900s. 

Traditional Flower Board on Fire Dragon Festival, Nigel Ko, 2013, From the collection of: Pokfulam Village Cultural Landscape Conservation Group
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An eye-dazzling traditional flower board is erected at the entrance of Pokfulam Village during the Fire Dragon Festival.

Fire Dragon festival, From the collection of: Pokfulam Village Cultural Landscape Conservation Group
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Burning Incense during Mid-Autumn Festival, From the collection of: Pokfulam Village Cultural Landscape Conservation Group
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Night Incense burning, From the collection of: Pokfulam Village Cultural Landscape Conservation Group
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Villagers lit the incense for decorating the fire dragon body which is ready at the village front. 

Night of the Fire Dragon Festival, From the collection of: Pokfulam Village Cultural Landscape Conservation Group
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A villager is sticking incense on the fire dragon body.

Fire Dragon festival, From the collection of: Pokfulam Village Cultural Landscape Conservation Group
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A villager is decorating the Fire Dragon Head.

Fire Dragon Festival, From the collection of: Pokfulam Village Cultural Landscape Conservation Group
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Villagers are resting and ready for next dance.

FD-Tong Koon Shan 5 -hr, From the collection of: Pokfulam Village Cultural Landscape Conservation Group
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Pokfulam Village Fire Dragon is chasing the fire dragon ball.

FD-Tong Koon Shan 6 - hr, From the collection of: Pokfulam Village Cultural Landscape Conservation Group
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Pokfulam Village Fire Dragon is chasing the fire dragon ball.

FD-Tong Koon Shan 4 -hr, From the collection of: Pokfulam Village Cultural Landscape Conservation Group
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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. 

FD-Tong Koon Shan 7 - hr, From the collection of: Pokfulam Village Cultural Landscape Conservation Group
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The Fire Dragon is dancing on the street.

"The Intangible Heritage

Pokfulam Village Fire Dragon Craftsmanship

The Tangible Heritage

The Pokfulam Village Fire Dragon"

Material for Fire Dragon Making, From the collection of: Pokfulam Village Cultural Landscape Conservation Group
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The hay blocks for fire dragon making.

Fire Dragon materials and tools, From the collection of: Pokfulam Village Cultural Landscape Conservation Group
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The rattan and tools used for fire dragon crafting.

Fire Dragon rattan, From the collection of: Pokfulam Village Cultural Landscape Conservation Group
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The rattan and rattan and hay made loops on dragon heads.

Skeleton of the Fire Dragon in progress, 2013, From the collection of: Pokfulam Village Cultural Landscape Conservation Group
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The frame of structure of the fire dragon head.  It is like the skeleton of the fire dragon.

Chopping Bamboo to Build the Fire Dragon, 2013, From the collection of: Pokfulam Village Cultural Landscape Conservation Group
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A lady is chopping a tenon on a bamboo which forms part of the fire dragon frame.

Bending a bamboo slice to build the Fire Dragon, 2013, From the collection of: Pokfulam Village Cultural Landscape Conservation Group
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A crafting master is blending a bamboo strip for the fire dragon frame.

Fire Dragon - Mouth structure, 2013, From the collection of: Pokfulam Village Cultural Landscape Conservation Group
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A crafting master is instructing a student to make the mouth structure of a fire dragon.

Fire Dragon Skeleton, 2013, From the collection of: Pokfulam Village Cultural Landscape Conservation Group
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A villager is fixing a rattan on the bamboo structure of a fire dragon head.

Skeleton of the Fire Dragon head, 2013, From the collection of: Pokfulam Village Cultural Landscape Conservation Group
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Villagers are working on the fire dragon head structure.

Fire Dragon ball decoration, 2013, From the collection of: Pokfulam Village Cultural Landscape Conservation Group
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A villager is inserting incense to a grapefruit to from a dragon ball which is used to lead the fire dragon dancing.

Making a Fire Dragon at Pokfulam Village, 2013, From the collection of: Pokfulam Village Cultural Landscape Conservation Group
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Villagers are wrapping hay on the fire dragon body.

Constructing the Fire Dragon, From the collection of: Pokfulam Village Cultural Landscape Conservation Group
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A village is making his fire dragon display.

Making a Fire Dragon, 2013, From the collection of: Pokfulam Village Cultural Landscape Conservation Group
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A villager is touching up the fire dragon head.

Making a Fire Dragon, 2013, From the collection of: Pokfulam Village Cultural Landscape Conservation Group
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A villager is making a fire dragon in cute size.

Fire Dragon Miniature, From the collection of: Pokfulam Village Cultural Landscape Conservation Group
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A villager made a fire dragon lantern powered by battery for his cousin. 

Mouth of the Fire Dragon, 2013, From the collection of: Pokfulam Village Cultural Landscape Conservation Group
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A kid is appreciating the fire dragon head.

The Making of Fire Dragons, From the collection of: Pokfulam Village Cultural Landscape Conservation Group
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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.

The Head of a Fire Dragon, From the collection of: Pokfulam Village Cultural Landscape Conservation Group
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This photography shows fire dragon head in different cute versions in fire dragon craftsmanship workshop.

Fire Dragon Altar, Nigel Ko, 2014, From the collection of: Pokfulam Village Cultural Landscape Conservation Group
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The fire dragon altar at the village front.  This is also the place where the fire dragon head being placed for decoration.

Fire Dragon Display, Nigel Ko, 2014, From the collection of: Pokfulam Village Cultural Landscape Conservation Group
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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.

Fire Dragon Grafitti-Ben Sin-2014, From the collection of: Pokfulam Village Cultural Landscape Conservation Group
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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.

Pokfulam Village Fire Dragon Logo, From the collection of: Pokfulam Village Cultural Landscape Conservation Group
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A logo of Pokfulam Village Fire Dragon Team.  It can be found on the fire dragon dancers uniform T-shirt.

Credits: Story

Film Director—Noble Yuen

Credits: All media
The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.
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