Visit: Sam Tung Uk - Culture in Chinese Walled Village [Student Notes]

Liberal Studies Teaching Kit for Senior Secondary Curriculum Modern China Visit: Sam Tung Uk - Culture in Chinese Walled Village [Student notes]

©Hong Kong Heritage Museum

Organizer Sponsor Research Team Contents

Preamble Learning plan i

Visit: Sam Tung Uk - Culture in Chinese Walled Village

1.1 Planned itinerary for the visit 01 1.2 Background information 02 1.3 Check points 1 Entrance Hall 05 2 Assembly Hall 05 3 Ancestral Hall 05 4 Period House 06 5 Side House 06 6 Museum Office 07 7 Backyard 07 1.4 On-site exercise: Traditional and Modern Chinese Society 08

Summary, Key words and Further reading 12

Disclaimer Create Hong Kong of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region provides funding support to the project only, and does not otherwise take part in the project. Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in these materials/events (or by members of the project team) do not reflect the views of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. © 2012 Hong Kong Institute of Architects Topic 04 Visit: Sam Tung Uk - Culture in Chinese Walled Village

Major teaching areas Interdisciplinary teaching areas Liberal Studies: Module 3 Modern China Visual Arts

• Theme 2: Chinese culture and modern life • Visual Arts Appreciation and Criticism in context

Design and Applied Technology

Related teaching areas • Strand 2 Technological Principles Liberal Studies | Visit: Sam Tung Uk - Culture in Chinese Walled Village Liberal Studies: Module 2 Hong Kong Today • Strand 3 Value and Impact

• Theme 1: Quality of life

• Theme 2: Rule of law and socio -political participation

• Theme 3: Identity

Learning objectives • To understand the lifestyle of a traditional Chinese society • To learn about Chinese traditional architecture styles in a Chinese walled village • To study how Chinese traditional customs and beliefs are reflected in the architectural setting

• To compare traditional and modern ways of living in Chinese society

Learning plan Lesson Contents Visit • Itinerary • Brief introduction to Sam Tung Uk Sam Tung Uk - Chinese • Layout of a traditional Chinese walled village Walled Village in Hong • Introduce notable architectural features that are adapted to the local climate Kong and building techniques

On-site exercise • Compare the architectural setting of Sam Tung Uk and the city of Hong Kong

i 1.1 Planned itinerary for the visit

3 4 5 Liberal Studies | Visit: Sam Tung Uk - Culture in Chinese Walled Village

Pre-Trip Introduction (20 min) • Background information on Sam Tung Uk • Objectives and on-site exercise introduction • Planned route • Materials: camera, pencil and notebook

Field Trip (approximately 90 minutes)

20 min 10 min 10 min 10 min 10 min 20 min 10 min 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Entrance Hall Assembly Hall Ancestral Hall Period House Side House Museum Backyard

Directions How to get there: Sam Tung Uk website http://www.heritagemuseum.gov.hk/eng/museums/samtunguk.aspx 01 1.2 Background information

Since the Chan’s clan was a subgroup of Han that migrated from the mainland, they were a Hakka clan. Hakka literally means ‘guest people’, and it usually refers to clans that moved from central China and settled in the south. Most Hakka people moved to Hong Kong during Qing Dynasty. Hakka people share the culture and traditions of the Han, yet Liberal Studies | Visit: Sam Tung Uk - Culture in Chinese Walled Village they have their own language and customs.

©Wiki Lo

Background of Sam Tung Uk Founded during the Qing Dynasty (1786), Sam Tung Uk was a Hakka walled village built by the Chans (陳氏) who came to Tsuen Wan from Guangdong, South China. Due to their different culture, language and customs, they built walls to protect the village against rival clans. Architectural Merit Throughout its history of over 200 years, the village had always managed to retain its original architectural features, and, on the recommendation of the Antiquities Advisory Board, it was declared a monument in 1981 in recognition of its historical significance. Urban sprawl began to encroach on rural Tsuen Wan in the 1970s and 80s. After the last villager moved out in 1980, Sam Tung Uk was restored and converted p bird’s-eye view of the village into a museum. ©Hong Kong Heritage Museum The original village consisted of three horizontal rows of building blocks, a typical mode of Chinese architecture (三進式). Hence the name ‘Sam Tung Uk’ (literally ‘three-row houses’). Functions of the walled village Since Hakka people were immigrants having a different culture, they had to unite and defend themselves against pirates and other possible assaults. Families under the same clan would therefore live together, protected by the village wall. The Ancestral Hall was placed at the most central, prominent location, indicating a strong respect for family tradition. As the Chans were farmers, the architecture was more functional. Rooms were spared for storage of farming tools and crops. The two rooms next to the Entrance Hall were p Floor plan of Sam Tung Uk. All entrances into the storerooms while side buildings were for living as well as units are accessible from internal footpaths. The storage. village plan looks inward, with gates to secure entry points. 02 ©Wiki Lo 1 ©Wiki Lo 2 Liberal Studies | Visit: Sam Tung Uk - Culture in Chinese Walled Village Building Design All buildings sat on a raised platform of stone that protected the timber interior from rain and flooding.

Mezzanines were built in some of the houses. The family lived and ate on the lower floor while the mezzanine, which was less affected by moisture, was used for storage of crops and farming tools. Stone tread 石砛 Use of locally available techniques and materials Sam Tung Uk had a simple design and the buildings use traditional materials such as bricks, timber and tiles. ©Wiki Lo 3 Adaptation to local climate 1. Simple eaves design of Sam Tung Uk Between the houses were courtyards and lanes that permitted 2. Courtyard with stone platform pedestrian circulation and also facilitated natural ventilation and 3. Granite floor and tread (石砛) illumination by natural light. This was particularly important in the hot, 4. One of the lanes in the village humid subtropical climate of Hong Kong. 5. A side house with mezzanine Function vs. Decoration The roof was not adorned with the typical ornamented tile ends or drip tiles of other traditional buildings; this village was the dwelling place of Hakka farmers and functionality was more important than decoration. The floors were made of granite, a locally available material.

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©Wiki Lo ©Wiki Lo 03 Central axis of the walled village The Entrance Hall was the first hall along the central axis. The 3 halls - the Entrance Hall, the Assembly Hall and the Ancestral Hall - form the central axis, separated by 2 courtyards. As the clan prospered, side and back houses were added but the symmetrical layout was retained. Between the houses were courtyards and lanes for circulation and ventilation. Side houses were used for utilities and servants.

Central axis Liberal Studies | Visit: Sam Tung Uk - Culture in Chinese Walled Village

Ancestral Hall

Assembly Hall

Entrance Hall

p Regular planning of Sam Tung Uk p Spatial sequence along the central axis ©Department of Architecture, The University of Hong Kong

[Media Corner]

To learn more about how Chinese architecture reflects the traditions and customs of Chinese society, please visit:

http://rthk.hk/elearning/architecturetour/china_archi. htm#1a [Discussion] 1 How can you compare the regular setting of the walled village to traditional Chinese culture?

04 1.4 Check points

1 Entrance Hall The Entrance Hall has multiple functions: 1. to control access to the group of buildings, 2. to provide storage for common-use farm tools, and 3. to celebrate the family’s reputation.

2 Assembly Hall The Assembly Hall is situated in the middle of Sam Tung Uk. It was 1. the main venue to accommodate guests, and 2. a place for holding family meetings and activities. Liberal Studies | Visit: Sam Tung Uk - Culture in Chinese Walled Village

p Section across the courtyard of the Assembly Hall, with the Assembly Hall at the back. The layout of Sam Tung Uk is highly symmetrical. ©Department of Architecture, The University of Hong Kong 3 Ancestral Hall 7 Features of the Ancestral Hall: • The most important building in Sam Tung Uk walled village • It was the altar of the Chan clan’s ancestors. Family members gave offerings to their ancestors daily • It also served as the study room for boys of the Chan’s clan • It held the records of family history, as the genealogy register was kept there

In the village, no building unit could be higher than the Ancestral Hall.

p Elevation of the Ancestral Hall, showing the height limit of the whole village ©Department of Architecture, The University of Hong Kong [Discussion] 1 How does the architecture of the Ancestral Hall reflect its authority in the walled village? 05 4 Period House Period houses were the first residential buildings in Sam Tung Uk, built 1 on two sides of the three halls and parallel to the central axis.

Features of Period Houses: • Five subdivisions (see fig. 1) • Mezzanines at the rear subdivision. The family lived and ate on the lower floor while the mezzanine was used for storage of crops and farming tools as it was less affected by moisture. • Lightwells for natural lighting and ventilation (see fig. 2)

2 Liberal Studies | Visit: Sam Tung Uk - Culture in Chinese Walled Village

Period house of Sam Tung Uk 1 Axonometric drawing of Period House 2 Natural lighting (left) and ventilation (right) of residential units in Sam Tung Uk, tailored for the hot and humid climate of Hong Kong ©Department of Architecture, The University of Hong Kong 5 Side House Features of Side Houses: • Arranged in the outer ring of Sam Tung Uk to create a district for siblings and servants of the family • Smaller than the Period House • No windows face outward in the side house; it relied on the courtyard for ventilation and lighting

Typical Side House of Sam Tung Uk. There were several adaptations of Side Houses, with enclosed courtyards and bigger window openings. They were demolished during the preservation work of 1990.

Enclosed courtyard

p Section of Side House. A roof was constructed on top of the p Floor plan of the ground floor courtyard to increase the indoor area. 06 ©Department of Architecture, The University of Hong Kong 6 Museum Office The exhibition area of Sam Tung Uk showcases the history and preservation project of Sam Tung Uk. The area was converted from the back row of Side Houses.

7 Backyard 1 When Sam Tung Uk was turned into a folk museum in 1987, some of the village houses were torn down to make room for a garden at the back. The landscape designer aimed to design a pleasure garden that fits into the environment of Sam Tung Uk.

Irregularities and asymmetries are arranged with subtle details to Liberal Studies | Visit: Sam Tung Uk - Culture in Chinese Walled Village imitate natural vistas. The line of vision along the meandering paths is an important aspect of the design. 2 Landscape was incorporated into the overall architecture. For example, the major feature of the backyard is a pond with a base made of bentonite lining. An artificial stream course leads water into the pond, with boulders added for a natural appearance.

q A scene of the backyard ©WSW p Exhibition room ©Wiki Lo

07 4 1.5 On-site exercise: Traditional and Modern Chinese Society

Students shall walk along the route and define which building is serving the same function as the following places in modern society. Fill in the below worksheet, share findings on-site and hand in the report after the field trip.

Equipment needed: Camera, pencil and notebook

A Comparison on Administrative Space in the Modern City and Traditional Chinese Village Modern City Sam Tung Uk Liberal Studies | Visit: Sam Tung Uk - Culture in Chinese Walled Village

©Tksteven - Wikipedia user

Central Government Complex

1. Location: Tamar, Admiralty 1. Location:

2. Role in society: Centre of legislation in Hong Kong 2. Role in the village: 3. How is its role in society and functions demonstrated in the architecture:

3. How is its role in society and functions demonstrated in the architecture:

08 A Comparison on Public Space in the Modern City and Traditional Chinese Village Modern City Sam Tung Uk Liberal Studies | Visit: Sam Tung Uk - Culture in Chinese Walled Village

Cultural Centre

1. Location: Tsim Sha Tsui 1. Location:

2. Role in society: Cultural activities, place of gathering 2. Role in the village: 3. How is its role demonstrated in the architecture:

3. How is its role demonstrated in the architecture:

09 A Comparison on Living Space in the Modern City and Traditional Chinese Village Modern City Sam Tung Uk Liberal Studies | Visit: Sam Tung Uk - Culture in Chinese Walled Village

Public Housing

1. Location: Urban and suburban areas 1. Location:

2. Role in the society: Living

3. How is its role demonstrated in the architecture: 2. Role in the village:

3. How is its role demonstrated in the architecture:

10 [Discussion] 1 Can you imagine the quality of life of the occupants of Period House and Side House? Life in Period House Life in Side House Liberal Studies | Visit: Sam Tung Uk - Culture in Chinese Walled Village

2 What traditional customs and concepts of Chinese family can you find in the setting of Sam Tung Uk?

3 What changes in the traditional customs of a Chinese family in modern society can you see?

Individualism:

Egalitarianism:

Shifting functions of socialization:

Separation of living and working places:

Decline of ancestor worship:

Decline in attention to the dignity and prestige of a clan:

11 Summary A Hakka clan lived together and constructed this walled village in the New Territories during the Qing Dynasty (1786) to protect themselves from other clans and pirates. Sam Tung Uk was a typical Chinese walled village in Hong Kong that showed the traditional customs and concepts of Chinese family.

Important buildings, such as the Entrance Hall, Assembly Hall and Ancestral Hall, were placed along the central axis. The original Sam Tung Uk had no windows facing out for security reasons. Ventilation depended on open lanes and courtyards that divide the village into three bays and three rows.

The walled village was an organisation with strong integrity. The clan sustained itself by farming. Families of the clan were settled in Period Houses or Side Houses according to their place in the family hierarchy. They participated in traditional family events in the Ancestral Hall and the Assembly Hall. Liberal Studies | Visit: Sam Tung Uk - Culture in Chinese Walled Village Key words Courtyard Mezzanines Three hall style Walled village Entrance hall Assembly hall Ancestral hall