II. Field Trips
Tasks
Learning objectives
Names of activity
A
Elementary
level
1. To know the location and
4. Warm-up activity
deities of temples in Cheung 5. Interview
Chau
6. Report
2. To understand the symbolic
meaning of the procession
of deities in the composite
scene parade
3. To understand the threats to
elements of “intangible
cultural heritage”
Inquiry questions
How does the ritual of
inviting the deities work?
B
1. To know and understand the 4. Warm-up activity
Intermediate
religious ritual of Cheung 5. Interview
level
Chau Jiao Festival
6. Report
2. To nurture students’ care
and respect for the cultural
continuity of “intangible
cultural heritage”
What is the special
meaning of the
arrangement of the
festival area?
C
Advanced
level
What are the changes and
continuities of the
Cheung Chau Jiao
Festival?
1. To know and understand the 4. Warm-up activity
continuity and change of the 5. Interview
Cheung Chau Jiao Festival 6. Report
2. To nurture students’ care
and respect for the
preservation of “intangible
cultural heritage”
II. Field Trips
A Elementary task
Inquiry question: How does the ritual of
inviting the deities work?
260 Learning and Teaching Resource Pack for Secondary History Curriculum
A4 Warm-up activity
Checkpoints on the route of inviting the deities
Suggested date of the field trip: The 5th day of the 4th lunar calendar month
Suggested time of the field trip: Arrival at Pak Tai Temple before 9 a.m.
Activity 1
Pre-trip exercise
1. Finish this exercise before setting out for the field trip. Link up the temples in Cheung Chau with their
relevant community groups and/or events.
Relationships with local community groups /
relevant historical events
Checkpoint
1
A
It is located in Pak She Street in which many
Huizhou and Chaozhou people reside.
Established in 1783 (i.e. the 18th year of Emperor
Qianlong’s reign), it has a history of over 200
years. It was listed as Grade I historical building
by the Antiquities Advisory Committee.
Pak She Tin Hau Temple
2
B
It is located in Pak She Street in which many
Huizhou and Chaozhou people reside. The oldest
existing historical relic is a copper bell cast in
1767 (i.e. the 32nd year of Emperor Qianlong’s
reign). The temple underwent major renovations
in 1889 (i.e. the 15th year of Emperor Guangxu’s
reign) and 1968.
Pak Tai Temple (i.e.Yuk Hui
Temple)
3
Tai Shek Hau Tin Hau Temple
C
It is a colourful temple in the form of a pavilion.
It houses an 8-foot statue of Guandi (i.e. Kwan
Kung) carved out from an entire camphor tree.
On the couplets at the temple’s entrance are
written to describe the personality of this
historical figure of the “Three Kingdoms” era:
“Aspired to leave a legacy in history,
brilliant achievements in Shu Han he made.
Vowed to strict justice and saintly loyalty,
unfailing brotherhood and bond he displayed.”
Case Study of Local Heritage Studies: Cheung Chau Jiao Festival • Exemplars of Learning and Teaching Activities 261
Relationships with local community groups /
relevant historical events
Checkpoint
4
D
There are two horizontal inscribed boards
showing the words “Tongzhi” and “Daoguang”.
It can be inferred that the temple was established
before the middle of the Qing Dynasty. The
temple underwent renovation in 1898, and there
is a plaque stating the history of renovating the
temple.
Hung Shing Temple
5
E
It is located at Tai Shek Hau where many
Cantonese people live. Tin Hau is set at the
middle chamber of this temple for worshipping.
The shrine on the right hand side is for
worshipping the “Fly-back Heavenly General”
which is unique in Hong Kong.
Nam Tam Tin Hau Temple
6
F
It is located at the junction of Tai Sun Street and
Chung Hing Street, facing the Cheung Chau Wan
where many Guanyin and Hua Tuo statues are
placed. On 18 December 2009, the temple was
listed as Grade 2 historical building. In 1814 (i.e.
the 18th year of Emperor Jiaqing’s reign)
fishermen of the Island built this temple by
pooling together some fund. It was at first
managed by the local residents, but later it was
put under the Chinese Temples Committee for
management.
G
The origin of this temple cannot be traced any
more. According to some hear-say accounts,
though, it has a century-old history. The current
appearance of the temple was made during the
renovation work in 1968. The horizontal
inscribed tablet shows the words which mean
“The Palace of Tin Hau”, while the couplets are
inscribed as:
“Her holy virtues last for numerous centuries,
and her sacred light shines on every nation.
Her motherly bearing extends to eternity,
and her godly blessings reach all directions.”
Kwan Kung Pavilion
7
Cheung Chau Shui Yuet Temple
262 Learning and Teaching Resource Pack for Secondary History Curriculum
Relationships with local community groups /
relevant historical events
Checkpoint
8
It is located at Sai Wan of Cheung Chau, between
which and the Cheung Chau Wan the fishermen
of Cheung Chau reside. The temple has a 200year long history. There is a copper bell cast
during the reign of Emperor Qianlong in the
temple, and a little pavilion behind it. On the
Birthday of Tin Hau every year, residents come
to present incense to Tin Hau. It is listed as Grade
III historical building.
H
Sai Wan Tin Hau Temple
My answers:
Local temples
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Relationships
with the local
community /
relevant events
e.g. B
A
E
F
G
C
D
H
Case Study of Local Heritage Studies: Cheung Chau Jiao Festival • Exemplars of Learning and Teaching Activities 263
Activity 2
Read the following map carefully concerning the route of inviting the deities. Where are the starting point
and the destination?
Pak Tai Temple
Activity 3: Photo-taking
Refer to Guideline on Field Trip, ask students to take photos of inviting deities at Checkpoints 1 and 2.
264 Learning and Teaching Resource Pack for Secondary History Curriculum
A5 Interview
1. Choose a target (either a worshipper in the temple or a tourist) to conduct the interview. The objective
of the interview is to analyse the interviewee’s level of understanding of the deity inviting rituals in
the Cheung Chau Jiao Festival.
Suggested questions and answers:
(1) Which religious ritual of the Cheung Chau Jiao Festival is being held now?
A. Running the noon offering
B. Inviting the deities
C. The first composite-scene parade
D. Procession of the deities and the figures
(2) Who form the team that invites Xuantian Shangdi (i.e. Pak Tai) and Tin Hau?
A. The chairmen and vice chairmen of the Jiao Festival Organizing Committee
B. The Taoist ritual masters
C. The festival helpers bringing gongs and drums
D. All of the above
(3) According to your observation, which deity has the highest status in the deity-inviting ritual? Why?
A. Xuantian Shangdi (i.e. Pak Tai) of Tai Ping Shan
B. Hung Shing of Cheung Chau
C. Tin Hau of Sai Wan
D. Tin Hau of Chung Hing Street, Cheung Chau
E. Tin Hau of Nam Tam, Cheung Chau
F. Tin Hau of Pak She, Cheung Chau
G. Guanyin (i.e. Goddess of Mercy) of Shui Yuet Temple, Cheung Chau
H. Guandi (i.e. Kwan Kung) of Kwan Kung Pavilion, Cheung Chau
I.
Pak Tai of Yuk Hui Temple (i.e. Pak Tai Temple), Cheung Chau
(Reason: The Cheung Chau Jiao Festival takes Xuantian Shangdi (i.e. Pak Tai) of Yuk Hui Temple (i.e.
Pak Tai Temple) as its leading deity. Pak Tai is the deity commonly worshipped by residents of the
island.)
Case Study of Local Heritage Studies: Cheung Chau Jiao Festival • Exemplars of Learning and Teaching Activities 265
(4) Which of the following is the area of Pak Tai’s procession during the process of inviting the deities?
A. Offshore area from Cheung Chau Wan to Sai Wan
B. Hing Lung Street and Tai Sun Street
C. Chung Hing Street and Pak She Street
D. San Hing Street and Pak She Street
(5) Which of the following ethnic groups in Cheung Chau participate the most actively in the Cheung
Chau Jiao Festival?
A. Huizhou people
B. fishermen of Cheung Chau
C. Cantonese people living in Cheung Chau
D. Other Hong Kong residents visiting Cheung Chau
2. Record the interview results in the table below.
No. of
interviewees
Q. 1
Option B
Q. 2
Option D
Q. 3
Option I
Q. 4
Option D
Q. 5
Option A
No. of
interviewees
who provide
reasonable
explanations:
3. Analyse the interview results:
Based on the above interview results, analyse the interviewees’ level of understanding of the Cheung
Chau Jiao Festival.
Statistical analysis: ** Most/Few/Very few interviewees understand the process of inviting the deities
during the Jiao Festival.
Observation results: Based on interviewees’ facial expressions, responses, attitudes, etc.
266 Learning and Teaching Resource Pack for Secondary History Curriculum
A6 Report
1. The Checkpoint you visited is: (put a tick( ) in the appropriate box(es))
 Pak She Tin Hau Temple
 Pak Tai Temple (i.e. Yuk Hui Temple)
 Tai Shek Hau Tin Hau Temple
 Cheung Chau Hung Shing Temple
 Nam Tam Tin Hau Temple
 Kwan Kung Pavilion
 Cheung Chau Shui Yuet Temple
 Sai Wan Tin Hau Temple
2. Which temple in Cheung Chau impresses you the most? Why?
Free answer.
3. Record some unforgettable people and events during your field trip with pictures or words.
Free answer.
4. According to your interview results in Task A5 regarding interviewee’s understanding of the Jiao
Festival, what measures would you propose to increase the general public’s understanding of the
Cheung Chau Jiao Festival?
Free answer.
Case Study of Local Heritage Studies: Cheung Chau Jiao Festival • Exemplars of Learning and Teaching Activities 267
B Intermediate task
Inquiry question: What is the special meaning
of the arrangement of the festival area?
B4 Warm-up activity
Checkpoints of bamboo poles, noon offering and festival area
Suggested date of the field trip: The 7th day of the 4th lunar calendar month
Suggested time of the field trip: During daytime
Activity 1
Pre-trip study
Before setting out for the field trip, fill in the following table the sequence and the respective venues of the
Jiao Festival rituals.
Ritual
Content
Venue
Inviting the deities
Inviting various deities on the island to watch the
daijiao
Drawing the eyes of the deities’ statues and starting the
worship
The ritual of presenting offerings to the deities from the
five directions
Presenting gifts to and driving off the spirits wandering
on the sea
Driving off the spirits of the deceased wandering in the
mountain
Inviting the Jade Emperor and various deities to come
forth
The deities parade through and cleanse the streets under
the leadership of the Taoist ritual masters
Under the leadership of the Taoist ritual masters, local
residents present gifts to the wandering spirits
Presenting animal meat to the deities so as to feed them
and pray for peace in the forthcoming year
All residents of the island can start eating meat.
During the jiao period, all residents of Cheung Chau
have to fast.
Distributing the lucky buns on the bun towers to all
people
To thank the deities by performing worshipping plays
Deities’ altar
2
Deities’ altar
3
Deities’ altar
5
Offshore area of Sai Wan
7
From the foothill to the
festival area
Jiao shed
6
Inside the festival area
8
Offshore area near Pak Tai
Temple Playground
Beneath the three great
gods’ altar
The whole island
The whole island
9
The opera shed
13
The opera shed
Every day
To repent in front of the deities and pray for forgiveness
for their sins.
Venues of erecting bamboo
poles in the festival area,
and the altars.
Previously in the Lucky
Bun Shed, and now in the
Pak Tai Temple
Playground.
Every day
Dedication ceremony
Running the noon
offering
Feeding the water
ghosts
Presenting offering to
the Mountain God
Inviting the deities
Composite-scene
parade
Feeding the Ghost
King
Giving thanks to the
deities
Breaking the fast
Fasting
Distributing the
lucky buns
Performing
devotional Cantonese
operas
Running the
offerings and
repentances
The race of snatching
buns on the bun
towers
The race of snatching buns on the bun towers
268 Learning and Teaching Resource Pack for Secondary History Curriculum
Sequence
4
11
12
1
10
Activity 2
If the arrangement of the festival area is found to be different from the layout below, the following layout
plan can be modified. Then, choose 3 spots from (1) to (6) below for photo-shooting, and paste the photos
in the space below. Also, point out which category of intangible cultural heritage each of these places
belongs to.
(1) Pak Tai Temple
(2) The deities’ altar
(4) The jiao shed (i.e. the Taoist ritual masters’ shed)
(3) The opera shed
(5) The 3 big bun towers
(6) Small bun towers (Pak She Street)
Case Study of Local Heritage Studies: Cheung Chau Jiao Festival • Exemplars of Learning and Teaching Activities 269
Photo
Photo
Photo
Description
Description
Description
270 Learning and Teaching Resource Pack for Secondary History Curriculum
Activity 3
1. Label the locations of the 9 bamboo poles in the street map of Cheung Chau below:
(For answers, refer to p.186)
2. Analyse the location and the symbolic meaning of the locations of the bamboo poles.
Suggested answer:
According to the map above, on the day before the Jiao Festival starts, 9 bamboo poles are erected in
the festival area, and they are scattered to different locations of the old town area of Cheung Chau. This
is exactly the residing and living area of the Cheung Chau residents who help to organize the Jiao
Festival. It also symbolizes the area of cleansing and blessing. As regards Sai Wan where the boat
people live, the Chinese cemetery in Nam Shan, the church, the residences of foreigners, the Christian
cemetery of Pak Shan and the newly built villages of the Tanka boat people, these are not included in
the festival area. This reflects that the cleansed and blessed area of the Cheung Chau Jiao Festival does
not cover the whole island.
Case Study of Local Heritage Studies: Cheung Chau Jiao Festival • Exemplars of Learning and Teaching Activities 271
B5 Interview
1.
Select a target group (either the worshippers in the temples or the residents of Cheung Chau) to
conduct interviews. The objective is to analyse the interviewee’s level of understanding of the festival
area arrangements.
Suggested questions and answers:
(1) Which place of the festival area is for worshipping the Ghost King, the Mountain God and Earth God?
The three deities’ great altar
(2) Where is the noon offering run?
A. The opera shed
B. The deities’ altar
C. The bun towers shed
D. The plaza
(3) What is the main objective of running the noon offering?
A. To ensure good fortune for every year to come
B. To relieve disasters and calamities
C. To thank the deities for their grace and blessings
D. To destroy the old and establish the new
(4) Why is an opera shed set up in the festival area?
A. To raise the jolly atmosphere
B. To cleanse the community
C. To perform devotional Cantonese operas to entertain the deities
D. To remove the old and embrace the new
(5) What is the meaning of erecting bamboo poles in the festival area?
A. To indicate the location of the race of snatching buns on the bun towers
B. To reflect the importance of running the noon offering
C. To mark the location of feeding the ghosts
D. To delineate the area of cleansing and blessing
272 Learning and Teaching Resource Pack for Secondary History Curriculum
(6) How many locations of bamboo poles can you name?
- Outside the Yuk Hui Temple (i.e. Pak Tai Temple)
- At the junction outside Pak She Tin Hau Temple
- At the junction of San Hing Street and Kwok Man Road
- Praya Road
- In front of Hung Shing Temple
- Next to Tai Shek Hau Tin Hau Temple
- At the the junction of Tai Shek Hau Road and Cheung Tsun Road
- At the roadside of Fook Tak Temple
- I’Tsz
(7-8) Based on the three places in the festival area you have chosen in Task B4, design two interview
questions.
(7) Interview question 1: _____________________________________________________
(8) Interview question 2: _____________________________________________________
2. Record the interview results in the table below.
No. of
Answered
interviewees Q.1
correctly
Q.2
Option B
Q.3
Option B
Q.4
Option C
Q.5
Option D
Q.6
Q.7
Q.8
3. Analyse the interview results:
Based on the above interview results, analyse the interviewees’ level of understanding of the Cheung
Chau Jiao Festival.
Statistical analysis: ** Most/Few/Very few interviewees understand the meaning of erecting bamboo
poles, running the noon offering and the arrangement of the festival area.
Observation results: Based on interviewees’ facial expressions, responses, attitudes, etc.
Case Study of Local Heritage Studies: Cheung Chau Jiao Festival • Exemplars of Learning and Teaching Activities 273
B6 Report (Conservation of the Cultural Heritage
of the Cheung Chau Jiao Festival)
1. Based on the above interview results, analyse the interviewees’ level of understanding of the Cheung
Chau Jiao Festival.
Statistical analysis: ** Most/Few/Very few interviewees understand the meaning of the arrangement
of the festival area.
Observation results: Based on interviewees’ facial expressions, responses, attitudes, etc.
2. Based on the last question, what proposals would you make to strengthen the conservation of this
intangible cultural heritage and enable more people to understand the origin, development and
meaning of the Cheung Chau Jiao Festival?
Free answer.
3. Suppose you were a docent in charge of introducing the Cheung Chau Jiao Festival. Draft a set of
behavioural rules for tourists that inform them how they may help to preserve the intangible cultural
heritage of Cheung Chau.
Suggested answer:
1. Find out and understand the origin and meaning of the Cheung
Chau Jiao Festival.
2. Respect the religious rituals and do not trespass into the altar
area.
3. Do not block the passage during the lion dance parade.
4. Respect the fasting tradition of the local residents and do not
eat meat during the festival.
5. Cherish the paper effigies and keep your hands off them.
6. Keep silent when watching the devotional Cantonese opera.
7. Do not obstruct any ritual when taking photographs.
8. Any other reasonable answer.
274 Learning and Teaching Resource Pack for Secondary History Curriculum
C Advanced task
Inquiry question: What are the changes and
continuities of the Cheung Chau Jiao
Festival?
C4 Warm-up activity
Checkpoints along the route of the composite-scene parade
Suggested date of field trip: The 8th day of the 4th lunar calendar month
Suggested time of field trip: Arrive at Cheung Chau before 9 a.m.
Activity 1
1. Interviewees with whom appointments must be made in advance:
(1) Street associations or sports associations (for gathering information on the production of the
colour floats)
(2) Paper effigy masters who work for the Cheung Chau Jiao Festival
(3) Members and helpers of the Cheung Chau Jiao Festival Organizing Committee
2. Pre-trip study
Finish the following exercise before setting out for the field trip to familiarize yourself with the parade
route.
Read the routes of the second composite-scene parades in 1977 and 2012 carefully, and answer the
following questions.
Case Study of Local Heritage Studies: Cheung Chau Jiao Festival • Exemplars of Learning and Teaching Activities 275
The parade route of 1977
The parade route of 2012
1 Pak Tai Temple Playground
1 Pak Tai Temple Playground
2 Pak She Street
2 Pak She Street
3 San Hing Street
3 San Hing Street
4 Praya Road
4 Praya Road
5 Shing Cheong Lane
5 Shing Cheong Lane
6 Tai Sun Street
6 Tai Sun Street
7 Chung Hing Street
7 Chung Hing Street
8 Tai Tsoi Yuen Road
8 Tai Tsoi Yuen Road
9 Tai San Back Street
9 Tai San Back Street
10 Hing Lung Back Street
10 Hing Lung Main Street
11 Tung Wan Road
11 San Hing Street
12 Cheung Chau Beach Road
12 Pak She Street
13 Kwok Man Road
13 Pak Tai Temple Playground
14 Pak She Street
15 Pak Tai Temple Playground
Suggested answer provided:
a. Which checkpoint is the most important along the parade route? Why?
The Pak Tai Temple Playground is the most important because it is both the starting point and the
destination.
b. Which places are no longer on the parade route?
Tung Wan Road, Cheung Chau Beach Road and Kwok Man Road.
c. At which checkpoint would you stay to watch the second composite-scene parade? Why?
Pak She Street or San Hing Street, because the parade team passes through these places for two times.
276 Learning and Teaching Resource Pack for Secondary History Curriculum
Activity 2
Observation of focal points:
Changes and continuities
Having visited all checkpoints, now record all items of intangible cultural heritage you observed in the
area below.
The checkpoint that I have visited is: (put a tick( ) in the appropriate box(es).)
Pak Tai Temple Playground
Pak She Street
San Hing Street
Praya Road
Shing Cheong Lane
Tai Sun Street
Chung Hing Street
Tai Tsoi Yuen Road
Hing Lung Street
San Hing Street
What threats do you think the above intangible cultural heritage
items are now facing? Why?
Activity 3: Photo-taking activity
Take photographs during the second composite-scene parade.
Case Study of Local Heritage Studies: Cheung Chau Jiao Festival • Exemplars of Learning and Teaching Activities 277
C5 Interview
During the field trip, interview (1) the members of the street / kai fong associations or sports associations
on the production of the colour floats, (2) the members of the Jiao Festival Organizing Committee on the
preparation work of the Jiao Festival, (3) the shop-keepers on the sales of products, or (4) the Cheung
Chau residents on their views about the bun tower scrambling race. The objective is to figure out the
changes and continuities in the Jiao Festival activities in the last 20 years.
1. Design some interview questions based on the following categories:
Interview questions
The preparation of
the Jiao Festival
The designated
dates for the Jiao
Festival
The second
composite-scene
parade
The race of
snatching buns on
the bun towers
Economic activities
(e.g. tourists and
shops, etc.)
Cheung Chau
residents’ views
about the Jiao
Festival
Participation of
different ethnic
groups
1. e.g.: How do the residents of Cheung Chau take part in the preparation
work of the Cheung Chau Jiao Festival?
2. e.g.: How were the dates of the Jiao Festival decided in the past?
3. e.g.: How different are the second composite-scene parade and the
production of colour floats nowadays from those in the past?
4. e.g.: How did the form of the race of snatching buns on the bun towers
change?
5. e.g.: What products/food are the most popular?
6. e.g. According to your opinions, what are the benefits of inscribing the
Cheung Chau Jiao Festival onto the National List of Intangible Cultural
Heritage?
7. e.g.: What do you think are the social functions of the Cheung Chau Jiao
Festival to the local community of Cheung Chau?
278 Learning and Teaching Resource Pack for Secondary History Curriculum
2. After the interview, tidy up the following table of changes and continuities in various aspects of the
Cheung Chau Jiao Festival.
Changes and continuities
Changes
The preparation of
the Jiao Festival
Continuities
Changes
Content of activities
of the Jiao Festival
Continuities
The second
composite-scene
parade
The race of
snatching buns on
the bun towers
Economic activities
(e.g. tourists and
shops, etc.)
Cheung Chau
residents’ views
about the Jiao
Festival
Participation of
different ethnic
groups
Changes
Continuities
Changes
Continuities
Changes
Continuities
Changes
Continuities
Changes
Continuities
Case Study of Local Heritage Studies: Cheung Chau Jiao Festival • Exemplars of Learning and Teaching Activities 279
C6 Report
Combining the interview results of Tasks C5 and C6, complete the table below about the changes and
continuities in various aspects of the Cheung Chau Jiao Festival and answer the following questions.
Suggested answers:
Cheung Chau Jiao Festival in the
past
The Jiao
Festival
Organizing
Committee
changes
continuities
Selections
and the
selection of
festival dates
changes
continuities
The second
compositescene parade
changes
continuities
Cheung Chau Jiao Festival
nowadays
Although the restrictions were relaxed after
1960 and some Cantonese people take part
in the committee, the chairmen and vice
chairmen must still be chosen from
members of the Huizhou and Chaozhou
Prefecture Association.
The Jiao Festival Organizing Committee has relaxed the restrictions on membership so as
to let any interested resident take part in the Jiao Festival matters.
Since 2001, the second composite-scene
In the past, the selection of chairmen and
parade has been fixed on the 8th day of the
vice chairmen and the festival dates were
4th lunar calendar month for the
decided by casting divination blocks in Pak
convenience of tourists in watching the
Tai Temple in the early 1st month of the 1st
abundant events of the Cheung Chau Jiao
lunar calendar month.
Festival. It is no longer necessary to cast
divination blocks.
Before the 1960s, only members of the
Huizhou and Chaozhou Prefecture
Association could become members of the
Jiao Festival Organizing Committee.
Although the dates of the Jiao Festival are already fixed and need not be decided by rituals
in front of Pak Tai every year, the selection of the chairmen and vice chairmen are still
decided by casting kidney-shaped divination blocks in front of Pak Tai.
The religious features have been gradually
weakened, while the parade team becomes
longer, with flute-playing children’s teams,
folk dance teams and brass bands. This
increases the entertainment value of the
festival.
Same as the tradition, the procession team is led by the Taoist ritual masters. The deities
paraded throughout the festival area to cleanse the localities.
The processions in the past were purely
religious, featuring that the Cheung Chau
residents bear the deities’ shrines while
parading through the major streets in
Cheung Chau.
˙
˙Residents built the bun tower with
bamboo sticks.
changes
˙All the buns on the tower were white
steamed bread.
˙After the Jiao rituals, residents rushed to
Bun tower
climb the bun towers to snatch the buns,
continuities
Religious
rituals
changes
continuities
˙
The race of snatching buns on the bun
towers was restored in 2005. The bun
tower is built with steel rack, and the
buns are made of plastic. Safety
measures are adopted, and there are
races for the selection of good athletes.
Bakeries sell not only lucky buns, but
also buns stuffed with fillings to earn
more profits.
Taoist ritual masters bless the lucky buns while the Cheung Chau residents snatch the buns
and take them home for eating together with their families after the end of the fasting
period and the Jiao Festival. This is done to guarantee communal safety
Many Cheung Chau residents observed the
three-day fasting tradition.
The fasting tradition has been relaxed.
While the breaking of the fast would take
place after the Great Offering at 12:00 noon
in the past, the restaurants on the island
have started to sell meat dishes right after
the second composite-scene parades in
recent years.
The traditional jiao rituals of the Hailufeng localities are retained.
280 Learning and Teaching Resource Pack for Secondary History Curriculum
2. Why are there changes in the tradition? What are the advantages and disadvantages of such changes?
Reasons for the changes in the tradition
e.g.:
The dates of the festival being no longer decided by casting divination blocks in the Pak Tai Temple,
this was done to coordinate with the general holidays and for visitors’ convenience in visiting the
festival in Cheung Chau. The Organizing Committee decided to change the tradition, increase the
number of parade teams and strengthen the promotion so as to make the Cheung Chau Jiao Festival
the focal point of tourists. In order to promote tourism and ensure hygiene and safety, the white
steamed buns for the race of snatching buns on the bun towers are replaced by plastic buns.
The advantages and disadvantages of the changes
e.g.: Advantage – The festival becomes a focal point of cultural tourism; more people get to know this
festival.
Disadvantage – In order to coordinate with the development of the tourism industry, the religious
elements of the traditional religious activities are compromised and neglected.
3. Effective means of conservation
Free answer
Case Study of Local Heritage Studies: Cheung Chau Jiao Festival • Exemplars of Learning and Teaching Activities 281