Inheritance of traditional custom
民間習俗的傳承
Villain hitting 打小人
What is “Villain hitting”?
"Villain hitting" originates from one of the 24 solar terms in traditional Chinese culture, the "awakening of insects"（驚蟄） period. After the lunar New Year, all hibernating snakes, insects, mice, and ants are awakened by the thunder, marking the arrival of spring. The White Tiger (白虎）, one of the fierce gods in Chinese folklore, as well as wicked villain, are also awakened. It is believed that the White Tiger would harm people, and villains would become much more troublesome. Thus, the custom of "Worship to the White Tiger and hitting the villain" emerged. The villain would be driven away by hitting a small villain paper in front of the White Tiger.
The Close Relationship between Canal Road Flyover and Villain Hitting
The Canal Road Flyover was a canal once, not the scene under the bridge we see nowadays. Due to the winding and narrow channel resembling the neck of a goose, local residents referred to it as "goose streams". Later, to solve the problem of malaria in the "goose streams" area, John Bowring, the Governor, decided to raise the embankments on both sides, creating the Bowrington Canal, which was flanked by Canal Road East and Canal Road West. To facilitate the transportation of locals, a wooden footbridge was built and named as "Goose Neck Bridge". At that time, people believed that "Gods are near the water," and initially, the host (those women like the sorceress) for "villain hitting" gathered in Leighton Road rather than Goose Neck Bridge. However, later, to follow the reclamation project of Wan Chai, both Leighton Road and the vicinity of Goose Neck Bridge (Canal Road Flyover Area) were covered with concrete, and there was no longer any water nearby. It is also said that the area around the Goose Neck Bridge is located at a three-way intersection and belongs to an area with an aura of death in "Feng Shui" which is one of the Chinese ideology culture (風水). The location is described as the best place for "villain hitting" because it is without sunlight. As the geographical environment changed, the host of "villain hitting" gradually shifted to Goose Neck Bridge's current location, becoming a representative place in the Wan Chai district.
甚麼是打小人？
打小人源於中國傳統二十四節氣的其中之一－驚蟄。相傳在農曆年過後，所有有冬眠的蛇蟲鼠蟻都會被雷聲驚醒過來，意味著春天來臨。白虎－中國民間傳說的凶神之一，和陰險的小人都被驚醒過來。相傳白虎會四處害人，小人亦變得越來越多。因此出現「祭白虎，打小人」的習俗，透過在白虎面前打小人，小人便會被制服，繼而驅走小人。
鵝頸橋與打小人密切的關係
鵝頸橋的前身是一條運河，並不是現在我們所看到橋底的光景。由於河道彎曲，又長又窄，猶如鵝的頸部，所以居民都稱它為「鵝澗」或 「鵝頸澗」。當時香港總督寶靈為解決「鵝澗」的瘧疾問題，將兩邊堤岸提高，形成了一條名為「寶靈頓運河」（Bowrington Canal)，運河的兩邊分別是堅拿道東（Canal Road East）和堅拿道西（Canal Road West）。為了方便市民往來，特意築起一條木板橋，正是鵝頸橋。當時人們相信「近水有神靈」，起初，打小人的神婆聚集於禮頓道而非鵝頸橋。因後來為配合灣仔的填海工程，不論是禮頓道或是鵝頸橋一帶都被明渠封蓋，不再有水在旁。更相傳鵝頸橋一帶位於三岔路口，屬殺氣大的地段，風水學來說是「打小人」的最佳位置。不但陽光照不到，又不會日曬雨淋。因此，神婆們逐漸地就著地理環境的變遷，轉移聚集於現時的鵝頸橋，成為灣仔區的代表地。
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The process of villain hitting
打小人的過程
Tai Hang Fire Dragon 大坑舞火龍
Legends and Customs
Tai Hang District was a Hakka village inhabited by Hakka people. The villagers make a living from fishing, farming and rock processing. The Tai Hang Fire Dragon began on the eve of the Mid-Autumn Festival in 1880. According to legend, a plague spread out in the village due to the killing of pythons by villagers, causing countless residents died of infection. Later, one of the villagers received a message from the Buddha to perform the Fire Dragon Dance, burn firecrackers and incense to drive away the disease. Soon, the fire dragon dance became a traditional custom in Tai Hang, which has been passed down for hundreds of years.
Fire Dragon and Plague
The purpose of the fire dragon dance was originally to eliminate the epidemic in the village. Apart from religious beliefs, another explanation is that during the dragon dance, the fire dragon will be stuffed with longevity incense, every household will burn firecrackers which contain sulphur and medicinal powder, may have the effect of sterilising and driving away pests and vermin, so as to prevent plague.
Inheritance and Transformation
The tradition of fire dragon dance has gone through a century and is still passed on today because of its inclusiveness and flexibility, it meets the needs and expectations of traditional culture in modern society. The participation of the activities has expanded from the clans to residents in the area, and extended to the general public, the cooperation with community organization and government units improves the scale and arrangement of it. The continuity of folk culture is often limited by urban development, but Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance preserves the core of the custom, able to unites the residents of Tai Hang, carries the residents' sense of belonging to the community and demonstrates the spirit of unity.
傳說與習俗
大坑區為客家人聚居的客家農村，村民以捕魚、耕種及打石為生。大坑舞火龍始於1880年中秋前夕，相傳因村民打死蟒蛇導致瘟疫於村落肆虐，使大坑居民死傷無數，後來得到菩薩的啟示，在大街小巷舞火龍、燃燒爆竹及燒香拜佛祈福，以祈求平安大吉。及後，舞火龍成為大坑的傳統習俗，流傳百年之久。
為何是舞「火」龍？
舞火龍的目的原為消除村內的疫症，除了宗教信仰的因素，另一個解釋便是在舞龍期間，火龍身上會被插滿的長壽香，每家每戶燃點的爆竹含有硫磺和白藥，可能有殺菌、驅趕蛇蟲鼠蟻的作用，得以預防瘟疫。
承傳與轉變
舞火龍傳統經歷百年洗禮仍傳承之今與其包容性與靈活性有關，符合現代社會對傳統文化的需求與期望，活動的參與規模從以往宗族，到區內居民，擴展至社會大眾，在與社區組織和政府單位的合作使活動更具規模及完備。民俗文化的延續性往往受城市發展所限制，但大坑舞火龍大程度保留習俗的核心，凝聚大坑居民，承載著居民對社區的歸屬感及彰顯團結的精神。
Tai Hang fire dragon
大坑舞火龍盛會
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Performing Tai Hang fire dragon dance
大坑舞火龍
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Sectors of the community participate
in Fire Dragon Ceremony
社會各界參與舞火龍儀式
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Copyright 圖片版權
1-2: 取自書籍：香港傳統節慶遊 Xiang gang chuan ton gjie qing you
3-5: 取自書籍：非物質文化遺產在香港 Intangible Cultural Heritage in Hong Kong
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