Christy and Hailey, students from Form 5 Cassia and Form 5 Delonix respectively, gave a sharing during the flag-raising ceremony on 19 September 2024. They talked about different types of intangible cultural heritage in China and in Hong Kong, including Chinese lacquer fans (漆扇), Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance, Cantonese Opera (粵劇) and Kun Opera (崑曲). They also highlighted their significance and what we can do to conserve and preserve these treasures.
Written by Christy Ma (Form 5) & Hailey Tam (Form 5)
Hailey: Good morning everyone! We are the CLACH ambassadors. I am Hailey.
Christy: 我是Christy.
Hailey: (Asking fellow schoolmates) Did you all have a good Mid Autumn Festival?
Christy: (拿著漆扇) 相信我們都渡過了一個美好的中秋假期。Hailey，你還記得這是甚麼嗎？
Hailey: Oh, this is the Chinese lacquer fans that we marbled during the Mid-autumn Festival celebration on Tuesday! I can also share with you the historical and cultural background of it.
The history of lacquer fans dated back to the Han Dynasty and reached its peak during the Tang Dynasty. They were collectible items for nobles and royalty to display their status and wealth but gradually became popular among common people. The fan was made of bamboo paper and dyed with natural lacquer, some may even add poems or words to enhance the elegance of the fan!
Strictly speaking, fans are still a common item, but the art of lacquer fans is an intangible cultural heritage. Christy, do you know what intangible cultural heritage is?
Christy: 噢，你是說非物質文化遺產嗎？根據《保護非物質文化遺產公約》，非物質文化遺產是指對某地區或群體有重要意義的無形文化遺產，例如習俗、信仰、傳統、知識、手工藝和技能等。
在香港就有不少的非物質文化遺產呢！不知道你有沒有留意中秋節這幾天大坑的舞火龍這就是香港的非物質文化遺產之一。據說於1880年，大坑曾發生瘟疫，為消災滅瘟，村民紮作了一條龍，上面插滿香枝，在晚上繞村舞火龍，以求消災。而大坑舞火龍於2011年列入了第三批國家級非遺代表性項目名錄。時至今日，這個有著一百四十多年歷史的傳統活動依然每年舉行。在中秋前後，即農曆八月十四、十五、十六三個晚上，大坑村的居民會舞動着火龍繞村遊行，成為了香港中秋節的一大盛事呢！
Hailey: Not only the Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance, but another example is the Cantonese Opera (粵劇). I believe some of you may have visited the Xiqu centre to watch performances before.
Cantonese Opera began in the Ming dynasty. People performed for public entertainment and rituals. During the mid-19th century, there was a famous red boat, known for being used by the opera performers, to travel around and perform due to land problems and convenience. Cantonese Opera was officially recognised by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2009. To this day, it is still a popular entertainment for old people.
Sadly, Cantonese Opera has become less popular among the younger generations nowadays as we are more attracted to new forms of entertainment like movies and TV shows. Perhaps, it is time for us to reflect on how we can conserve and preserve this traditional culture.
Christy: 不只是粵劇，被稱為「百戲之袓、百戲之師」的崑曲，也一度面臨失傳危機。不過自成為國家級非物質文化遺產後，崑曲受到社會各界重視，現時內地不少戲曲學校都開設了崑劇班授藝。
保育文化遺產非常重要。除了起到保護傳統文化的作用外，我們通過接觸不同的非物質文化遺產，更可以領會中國傳統文化的精髓，提高我們對自身國民身份及對中華文化的認同，有助加強社會的凝聚力。
再者，保育非物質文化遺產更可帶動旅遊業的發展，促進經濟。例如一些少數民族特有的節日——雲南傣族的潑水節。透過宣傳和推廣吸引中外遊客前赴觀摩，可以促進當地的就業及經濟發展。
Hailey: To conclude, every part of the community plays a role in preserving the cultural heritage. Through participating in local trips and workshops organised by the school, we could learn and connect to our local cultural heritage. For example, many of you have visited the Xiqu centre and the Tai Hang Fire Dragon Heritage Centre during the subject trips.
Through connecting with the cultural heritage, we are able to learn more about history and cultural practices that our ancestors were involved in. It allows us to understand the origins of our ethnicity and culture, as well as recognise our national identity and Chinese culture.
Christy: 希望透過今天的分享可以讓你們對非物質文化遺產有更多的認識，並意識到保護它的重要性。在未來，更能為保護非物質文化遺產貢獻自己的一分力。
Hailey: We hope that you have learned more about the significance of Intangible Cultural Heritage, and in the future, you can help preserve them in our community. Thank you.