Tang Chung Ling Ancestral Hall

The Tang Chung Ling Ancestral Hall (Chinese: 鄧松嶺祠堂) is the main ancestral hall of the Tang Clan of Lung Yeuk Tau and one of the largest ancestral halls in Hong Kong.[1] It is still used for worship and celebrations of traditional festivals and ceremonies, as well as a meeting place for the Tang Clan of Lung Yeuk Tau.[2] It is located in between Lo Wai and Tsz Tong Tsuen in Lung Yeuk Tau, Fanling, North District, in the New Territories of Hong Kong.[3]

Tang Chung Ling Ancestral Hall. Front view. The lower building on the left is housing a kitchen.
Interior of Tang Chung Ling Ancestral Hall.
Tang Chung Ling Ancestral Hall. Side view.
Relief at the front of the building.
Tang Chung Ling Ancestral Hall
Traditional Chinese鄧鬆嶺祠堂

History

The ancestral hall was built in 1525 in memory of the founding ancestor, Tang Chung Ling (鄧松嶺) (1303-1387),[1][2] the sixth generation descendant of the clan. From the 1940s to the 1950s, the Ancestral Hall was also used as a village school.[4] Until the mid-1990s, women were traditionally not allowed to enter the Ancestral Hall.[5]

Description

Tang Chung Ling Ancestral Hall is a three-hall building with two spacious internal courtyards. An annex, which serves as a kitchen is attached to the right of the building (eastern side).[2][6] The "dong chung" is placed at the central hall.[3]

The rear hall is divided into three chambers. The central chamber houses the ancestral tablets of the ancestors of the clan including the ancestral tablets of the Song princess and her husband Wai-Kap whose posthumous title was Fu Ma (附馬) Tang Wai-Kap (husband of a princess). Their ancestral tablets were elaborately carved with dragon heads, which distinguished them from the others.[3] The chamber to the left is dedicated to the ancestors who had made significant contributions to the clan or those who achieved high ranks in the imperial court. The chamber to the right, on the other hand, is for the righteous members of the clan, one of whom is Tang Si-meng,[3] a brave servant who saved the life of his master. In the late 16th century, he was kidnapped with his master. Claiming to be the son of his master, he volunteered to be detained by the kidnappers in exchange for the release of his master to raise ransom. After the departure of his master, he jumped into the sea and sacrificed himself. He was awarded the posthumous title of "Loyal Servant" and worshiped in this hall.

The whole building is decorated with fine wood carvings, polychrome plaster mouldings, and murals of auspicious motifs.[1]

Conservation

The Hall has been renovated a number of times, but the structure did not change much. A significant renovation was carried out in 1921, and a major one in 1990-1992.[4] The Tang Chung Ling Ancestral Hall was declared a monument in November 1997.[1] It is located along the Lung Yeuk Tau Heritage Trail.[3]

References
  1. Antiquities and Monuments Office: Declared monuments: Tang Chung Ling Ancestral Hall
  2. Leisure and Cultural Services Department: Major Repair to Tang Chung Ling Ancestral Hall, Lung Yeuk Tau, Fanling, August 2004
  3. Antiquities and Monuments Office: Lung Yeuk Tau Heritage Trail: Tang Chung Ling Ancestral Hall
  4. Education and Manpower Bureau: Tang Chung Ling Ancestral Hall
  5. Jaya Gopan, Temily; Li, Zhao; Zhuang, Shuting (2012). "Modern Traditional Village Life in Hong Kong: The Case of Lung Yeuk Tau Village" (PDF). The Hong Kong Anthropologist. Hong Kong Anthropological Society. 6: 15. OCLC 29371328.
  6. Mak, Michael Y.; So, Albert T. (2015). Scientific Feng Shui for the Built Environment: Theories and Applications. City University of Hong Kong Press. pp. 132–142. ISBN 9789629372361.


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