TEI CHONG WONG

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On the 24^th day of the 9^th month of the Lunar Calendar, there is Tei Chong Wong (Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva - 梵語) Festival featuring Chinese Opera.

Tei Chong Wong festival

Huge red and yellow colorful banners announce the Tei Chong Wong festival.

Tei Chong Wong festival is happening in the temple located inside the Sau Mau Ping memorial park (地藏王古廟).

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Tei Chong Wong (Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva) Festival is part of the Hong Kong cultural heritage list (Social Practices, Rituals and Festive Events).

On the first day of the Tei Chong Wong festival, there are martial arts activities.

Each member of the Chinese Lion Dance associations have to perform a Kung Fu demonstration.

Once the art martials demonstrations are over, lion dances happen and respect is given to the local deities.

Tei Chong Wong is a Bodhisattva. It is also named as the Guardian of the Earth or the "emperor of the deceased".

Only vegetarian food is allowed during Tei Chong Wong festival.

Numerous heads of lions or unicorns are resting while performers are enjoying their vegetarian lunch.

Chinese opera bamboo theater is setup but performances are starting on the third day only.

This opera theater is special as it is built as an extension made of bamboos outside the Chinese temple.

The deity Tei Chong Wong, also called Guardian of the Earth, is riding a horse.

Full house for Chinese opera during Tei Chong Wong festival! Maybe 200 to 300 people every evening.

The performance is Hoklo Chinese opera.

This Chinese opera troupe is coming from Mainland China. The Hoklo people or Hokkien people are coming from nowadays Shanwei (which consists of Haifeng and Lufeng counties) in South China.

In Hong Kong, there are at least three main types of Chinese operas, which can be seen during traditional festivals, i.e. Hoklo Chinese opera, Cantonese Chinese opera, Teochew / Chiu Chow Chinese opera.

The Chinese opera troupe is performing during thirteen days. Every day the temple is packed with people enjoying the show.

Those performers belong to a very professional Chinese opera troupe.

Many performers get additional rewards through some local people giving tips (100 HKD) as they are satisfied with the performance.

Some people are giving money rewards (100 HKD) to the performers every day.

One lady performer, acting a very sad role and involving cries, gets six rewards in a row. Each time somebody stands up from the audience and walks on the stage to give banknotes.