Pok Fu Lam Village Revives Fire Dragon Tradition with Youth-Focused 'Passing the Torch' Tour
HK01 · 1 SOURCES1 day ago2 MIN
Summary
Pok Fu Lam Village held a special fire dragon village tour on the evening of Lunar August 14, known as the "Eve of the Reunion Moon," providing young people with a unique opportunity to experience this traditional cultural practice. The event, organized by the Pok Fu Lam Village Fire Dragon Association under Director Master Siu Kwan-lun, featured a dedicated youth session called "Passing the Torch" (Xin Huo Xiang Chuan) without the usual door-to-door temple visits. CUHK students and local youth participated in their first fire dragon dance experience, learning traditional techniques from seasoned masters while creating new memories during the lantern festival.
Key Points
- The "Fourteenth Night Village Tour" tradition had previously been discontinued but was revived by Master Siu Kwan-lun after learning about it from senior villagers, offering a platform for youth unable to participate on the main Mid-Autumn Festival night
- Master Siu's 15-year-old son, known as "Little Siu," has been involved for approximately 10 years and invited about 10 classmates to join this year, aiming to inherit and preserve the cultural tradition
- CUHK student Ariel, who lives near Pok Fu Lam, discovered the local fire dragon tradition through her university and brought her family to watch, describing it as a meaningful alternative to her usual lantern festival activities
- Ms. Wu, a CUHK staff member from mainland China, led 26 university classmates to participate and gained deep appreciation for the hard work behind organizing this annual Hong Kong intangible cultural heritage event
- The village established a "Junior Dragon" program approximately five to six years ago to introduce younger children to the tradition, with participants learning both dragon-making and interpersonal communication skills
Why It Matters
This youth-focused fire dragon event addresses growing concerns about cultural preservation in Hong Kong, as Master Siu admits he is aging and hopes to pass on his responsibilities, though he notes the younger generation has not yet fully matured to take over. The initiative successfully attracts both local and mainland Chinese students to learn about and participate in this traditional practice, ensuring intergenerational continuity of an intangible cultural heritage that extends beyond the famous Tai Hang fire dragon to include rural village communities .
This youth-focused fire dragon event addresses growing concerns about cultural preservation in Hong Kong, as Master Siu admits he is aging and hopes to pass on his responsibilities, though he notes the younger generation has not yet fully matured to take over. The initiative successfully attracts both local and mainland Chinese students to learn about and participate in this traditional practice, ensuring intergenerational continuity of an intangible cultural heritage that extends beyond the famous Tai Hang fire dragon to include rural village communities .