Fusion without confusion: use of Chinese traditional elements in the Holy Trinity Church at Kowloon City, HongKong

Abstract

 Having been a colony of the British, a country with Anglicanism as the national religion, Hong Kong had opened her door to the missionaries. It was believed that the fusion of Chinese tradition and Christianity facilitated the local Chinese to accept this imported system of religion. Some churches in Hong Kong were built with Chinese traditional elements, a blend of Chinese and Western cultures, in order to attract the local Chinese and break the ice between East and West. The architectural design of the church buildings echoed the Chinese indigenous church movement in the 1920s. These buildings in Hong Kong were distinctive.

In this study, we look into the historical background of Holy Trinity Church at Kowloon City, Hong Kong, try to know more about the relationship between her and the development of Christianity in Hong Kong and China that may influence the concept of using Chinese traditional elements in her church building. By reading the selected symbols in the Church, cloud motif, red colour, scroll, bamboo, we study the dialogue between Christianity and the Chinese culture. The intention of using Chinese traditional elements in an Anglican church demonstrates an open mind to start the conversation between cultures. The use of Chinese traditional elements in Holy Trinity Church, that is, the fusion of meaning of symbol, is one of the presentations of the influence of the Indigenization to the Church. Studying the symbols is the reading of the dialogue between cultures. The symbols in Holy Trinity Church are not only the bridge between God and the world, but also the bridge between Christianity and Chinese culture.

It is expected that this study, at the first stage of a conservation plan – understand the site, forms the basis for establishing the cultural heritage values of Holy Trinity Church. The Church demonstrates the folk wisdom of Hong Kong local Chinese. This is a more adoptive approach to Chinese culture, a successful marriage of Chinese tradition and Christianity, an achievement of the local Christians.