Ng Sai Ming
Ng Sai Ming
Village elder yearning for rural lifestyle
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Papier mache sacrificial offerings for a Jiao ritual
Papier mache sacrificial offerings for a Jiao ritual
A photo of Nga Tsin Wai’s 2006 Jiao Festival-Provided by Ng Fat Chuen
Papier mache sacrificial offerings for a Jiao ritual
A photo of Nga Tsin Wai’s 2006 Jiao Festival-Provided by Ng Fat Chuen
Before 1941, the spirit possession performance took place on every 15th day of the 8th lunar month
Ng Sai Ming thought the happiest festival was the Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Kwong Sin Festival. Every 15th day of the 8th lunar month, Sha Po would hold Pok San Ngau Tsai in the evening in the open square. The villagers gathered around to watch performance that was similar to Spirit Possession. The atmosphere was very lively. During the performance, someone would play the percussions. A group of possessed people then started to tremble all over their bodies with ferocious eyes and grim faces, calling themselves "Maoshan Masters". They also burnt themselves with incense sticks, but did not show any pain. They also fought with real blades and spears. Someone could even pick up 100 kilos of iron rods. After the performance, they would shout "let’s go back to the mountains”, and then casually exit. These people were ordinary villagers living in the vicinity such as Meng Tsai, Chan Po Tsai who looked like ordinary people except during their performances on the festival days. Ng Sai Ming thought that Pok San Ngau Tsai was amazing and that it was difficult to distinguish between what was true and what was not. People could not help but believe in what they saw. Ng grew up watching this show, which only ceased when the Japanese came to Hong Kong.