Heritage in the street : the communal street shrines in urban areas of Hong Kong

Abstract

At the famous Lan Kwai Fong area in Central, there exists a small red shrine that does not fit into the surrounding environment. Owing to its intimacy and convenience, people are fond of worshipping at this communal street shrine and it becomes one of the interesting street scenes in Hong Kong.

This unique type of communal street shrines is commonly found in old urban districts of Hong Kong. Many of them have existed more than hundred years and have a specific group of worshippers. The worshippers voluntarily manage the daily operation of these shrines. For some larger shines, the voluntary managers organize different celebrations and ceremonies at the shrines every year.

Due to the influence of globalization on the new generations and redevelopment at old urban districts, the voluntary support for these shrines in communities is gradually diminishing. The existence of these street shrines is much related to old communities that are being rapidly phased out by urban redevelopment. In UNESCO terms, these shrines can be considered as an “Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding.”

This dissertation is only a starting point that may lead to ways to safeguard these endangered shrines. It does so by making an inventory of communal street shrines located in old urban districts on Hong Kong Island. Further studies are needed to thoroughly understand the heritage significance of these communal street shrines to the worshippers and nearby neighborhood as well as the social influence upon them.

This dissertation emphasizes on the first step of the conservation process – documentation. It is with well-researched documentation that Hong Kong’s communal street shrines can be identified as the foci for safeguarding.