King Law Ka Shuk
Encyclopedia
King Law Ka Shuk is a historical building situated at Tai Po Tau Tsuen, in Tai Po
, New Territories
, Hong Kong
. In the old days, it was used as an ancestral hall
to hold meetings and traditional functions in the village and it is now in full use as a local meeting place. The building was named after Tang King Law, who was one of the ancestors of Tang's Family (or Tang Clan). It occupies 349.69 square meters. It was declared as a monument
, under full legal protection of the Hong Kong SAR Government, in 21 July 1998.
The temple was constructed in early 18th century. Apart from being an ancestal hall for people to show respect to their ancestors and hold clan meetings, it was also a study hall for the Tang clans, who were taught with a Chinese traditional teaching method, Bok Bok Chai. There was a maximum of 40 students at one time actually. Sometimes, it was the premises of Kai Chi School which was subsequently relocated in 1953. However, as the Hong Kong Government later implemented the education programme in 1948, the building lost its function of being a study hall. It then solely served as a venue for traditional festive functions and village meetings.
in Tai Po Tau.
(1368–1644).
Descendants of the local Tang clan originated from Jiangxi
, moved to settle in Kam Tin and later branched out to Lung Yeuk Tau, Ha Tsuen, Tai Po and Ping Shan, etc. A branch of Tang Yuen-leung lineage settled in Tai Po Tau in the 13th century and founded the walled village, Shui Wai where batteries were erected at four corners of the village while houses were built in an orderly fashion. Due to the construction of the Kowloon-Canton Railway
at the beginning of the 20th century, the village was separated into Shui Wai and Tai Po Tau. A three-story watchtower was built in Tai Po Tau for defending purposes, however, it was demolished in the 1980s.
Apart from being a place for ancestral worship, it was used as a shuk (study hall) for preparing clan members for important imperial examinations. For some time, it was used as the premises of Kai Chi School http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kai_Chi_School_1.jpg which was subsequently relocated in 1953. Now, it is a venue for holding clan meetings and traditional festival functions.
There is a slab above the main entrance, which is moulded with four Chinese characters denoting "King Law Ka Shuk". The characters were written by a well-known calligraphist Tang Yi-nga, who is the son of one of the descendants of the Tang lineage of Dongguan, Tang Yung-Kang. Tang Yung-Kang is also famous for being the Han Lin Yuan Shue Kat Sz(Scholar of the Royal Academy
) in the tenth year of Tongzhi
reign (1871) of the Qing dynasty
.
This construction work was funded by the HKSAR Government, monitored by the Antiquities and Monuments Office
of the Leisure and Culture Services Department and carried out by the Architectural Service Department. Other participants included professional conservators from HK, Mainland China and the UK, as well as the villagers from Tai Po Tau Tsuen.
In September 1998, before initiating the restoration of the building, in order to ensure that King Law Ka Shuk was properly documented and to allow better understanding of the construction methods, design, materials used and the functions of the building, the Antiquities and Monuments Office commissioned the Guangdong Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology to conduct a detailed cartographic survey and recording about the history of the building, also to produce a conservation plan about the restoration. The experts took one month's time to complete the on-site cartographic survey. After that, they produced a full set of measured drawings and plans for the restoration of the building, which include a site plan, floor plans, elevations , sections, roof plans and details like the altar, doors and windows of the study hall.
The major objectives of the restoration were not only to fully repair the building, but also to restore it into an architectural style of the Qing Dynasty to the greatest extent, in which dynasty it was firstly built. Some improvement works like re-laying the front courtyard as well as the provision of lighting and power supply for some night time functions or celebrations were also conducted. In order to successfully restore the building into its original appearance, modern materials like cement and steel were removed. However, for reminiscene, two original parapets and the ancestral altar were preserved. Additionally, the murals on the facade, the altar, the woodcarvings and name boards, for example, were all restored by a group of specialist conservators. In addition, the altar, which was specially ordered from Guangzhou by the Tang clan during the restoration in 1932, is the most dedicate relic in the ancestral hall. Dr. John Hurd from the United Kingdom was commissioned by the Antiquities and Monuments Office to help restore the altar and other relics. The altar was re-gilded and brought back to its original splendour. Other relics were also carefully restored by him and his team.
Among all the rituals of restoration of traditional Chinese buildings, ridge purlin raising is the most significant one. During the restoration, ridge purlin raising ceremony took place on 3 June 1999, in which all senior members of the clan participated.
Tai Po
Tai Po is an area in the New Territories of Hong Kong. It refers to the vicinity of the traditional market towns in the area presently known as Tai Po Old Market or Tai Po Kau Hui and the Tai Wo Town on the other side of the Lam Tsuen River, near the old Tai Po Market Station of the...
, New Territories
New Territories
New Territories is one of the three main regions of Hong Kong, alongside Hong Kong Island and the Kowloon Peninsula. It makes up 86.2% of Hong Kong's territory. Historically, it is the region described in The Convention for the Extension of Hong Kong Territory...
, Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
. In the old days, it was used as an ancestral hall
Ancestral hall
An ancestral hall or lineage temple is a site of ancestor worship in Chinese culture. Ancestral halls are closely linked to Confucian culture and the emphasis that it places on filial piety....
to hold meetings and traditional functions in the village and it is now in full use as a local meeting place. The building was named after Tang King Law, who was one of the ancestors of Tang's Family (or Tang Clan). It occupies 349.69 square meters. It was declared as a monument
Declared monuments of Hong Kong
Declared monuments of Hong Kong are places, structures or buildings legally declared to be "protected". In Hong Kong, declaring a monument requires consulting the Antiquities Advisory Board, the approval of the Chief Executive as well as the publication of the notice in government gazette.As of 12...
, under full legal protection of the Hong Kong SAR Government, in 21 July 1998.
The temple was constructed in early 18th century. Apart from being an ancestal hall for people to show respect to their ancestors and hold clan meetings, it was also a study hall for the Tang clans, who were taught with a Chinese traditional teaching method, Bok Bok Chai. There was a maximum of 40 students at one time actually. Sometimes, it was the premises of Kai Chi School which was subsequently relocated in 1953. However, as the Hong Kong Government later implemented the education programme in 1948, the building lost its function of being a study hall. It then solely served as a venue for traditional festive functions and village meetings.
Nomenclature
King Law Ka Shuk was named after the 10th generation ancestor Tang King Law, who was respected as the first generation of Lau Kwong Tong of the Tang ClanTang Clan
The Tang Clan is one of the Great Five Clans of Hong Kong. The others are Man , Hau , Pang and Liu . The Tangs originated from Jishui of Jiangxi province and are considered to be native Hong Kong people, as they were the first immigrants to settle in what is now Hong Kong from what is now...
in Tai Po Tau.
History
The exact year of construction of the temple cannot be ascertained, but it was believed to be constructed in the early 18th century. According to the villagers, the ancestral hall was built by Tang Yuen-wang, Tang Mui-kei and Tang Nim-fung of the 13th generation in the Ming dynastyMing Dynasty
The Ming Dynasty, also Empire of the Great Ming, was the ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644, following the collapse of the Mongol-led Yuan Dynasty. The Ming, "one of the greatest eras of orderly government and social stability in human history", was the last dynasty in China ruled by ethnic...
(1368–1644).
Descendants of the local Tang clan originated from Jiangxi
Jiangxi
' is a southern province in the People's Republic of China. Spanning from the banks of the Yangtze River in the north into hillier areas in the south, it shares a border with Anhui to the north, Zhejiang to the northeast, Fujian to the east, Guangdong to the south, Hunan to the west, and Hubei to...
, moved to settle in Kam Tin and later branched out to Lung Yeuk Tau, Ha Tsuen, Tai Po and Ping Shan, etc. A branch of Tang Yuen-leung lineage settled in Tai Po Tau in the 13th century and founded the walled village, Shui Wai where batteries were erected at four corners of the village while houses were built in an orderly fashion. Due to the construction of the Kowloon-Canton Railway
Kowloon-Canton Railway
The Kowloon–Canton Railway refers to a railway network in Hong Kong which is now combined with the MTR railway system, comprising rapid transit services, a light rail system and feeder bus routes within Hong Kong, and intercity passenger and freight train services to the rest of China...
at the beginning of the 20th century, the village was separated into Shui Wai and Tai Po Tau. A three-story watchtower was built in Tai Po Tau for defending purposes, however, it was demolished in the 1980s.
Apart from being a place for ancestral worship, it was used as a shuk (study hall) for preparing clan members for important imperial examinations. For some time, it was used as the premises of Kai Chi School http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kai_Chi_School_1.jpg which was subsequently relocated in 1953. Now, it is a venue for holding clan meetings and traditional festival functions.
The design
There are three halls and two courtyards in the King Law Ka Shuk. It is a traditional Chinese building.Its design is functional with elegant ornamental features. Geometric plaster mouldings can be found on the roof ridges and wall friezes. While for the internal eave boards, patterns of leafy and motifs are used. To support the roof, there are two drum terraces, with each having two granite columns, in the front of the study hall. An altar with six levels, which is beautifully carved, can be found in the main chamber of the study hall. It is made in Guangzhou in 1932 to place the soul tablets of the ancestors from Yuen-leung to King-law.There is a slab above the main entrance, which is moulded with four Chinese characters denoting "King Law Ka Shuk". The characters were written by a well-known calligraphist Tang Yi-nga, who is the son of one of the descendants of the Tang lineage of Dongguan, Tang Yung-Kang. Tang Yung-Kang is also famous for being the Han Lin Yuan Shue Kat Sz(Scholar of the Royal Academy
Royal Academy
The Royal Academy of Arts is an art institution based in Burlington House on Piccadilly, London. The Royal Academy of Arts has a unique position in being an independent, privately funded institution led by eminent artists and architects whose purpose is to promote the creation, enjoyment and...
) in the tenth year of Tongzhi
Tongzhi
Tongzhi is a term which literally means "same will" or "same purpose" in Chinese. Idiomatically, it means "comrade". It has taken on various meanings in various contexts since the 20th century, and now its use among the younger generation is slang for members of the LGBT community. The term was...
reign (1871) of the Qing dynasty
Qing Dynasty
The Qing Dynasty was the last dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912 with a brief, abortive restoration in 1917. It was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China....
.
Restoration
The restoration was commenced on 3 November 1998 and completed in January, 2001.This construction work was funded by the HKSAR Government, monitored by the Antiquities and Monuments Office
Antiquities and Monuments Office
Antiquities and Monuments Office was established when the Antiquities and Monuments Ordinance was enacted in 1976, to preserve Hong Kong's monuments under appropriate protection....
of the Leisure and Culture Services Department and carried out by the Architectural Service Department. Other participants included professional conservators from HK, Mainland China and the UK, as well as the villagers from Tai Po Tau Tsuen.
In September 1998, before initiating the restoration of the building, in order to ensure that King Law Ka Shuk was properly documented and to allow better understanding of the construction methods, design, materials used and the functions of the building, the Antiquities and Monuments Office commissioned the Guangdong Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology to conduct a detailed cartographic survey and recording about the history of the building, also to produce a conservation plan about the restoration. The experts took one month's time to complete the on-site cartographic survey. After that, they produced a full set of measured drawings and plans for the restoration of the building, which include a site plan, floor plans, elevations , sections, roof plans and details like the altar, doors and windows of the study hall.
The major objectives of the restoration were not only to fully repair the building, but also to restore it into an architectural style of the Qing Dynasty to the greatest extent, in which dynasty it was firstly built. Some improvement works like re-laying the front courtyard as well as the provision of lighting and power supply for some night time functions or celebrations were also conducted. In order to successfully restore the building into its original appearance, modern materials like cement and steel were removed. However, for reminiscene, two original parapets and the ancestral altar were preserved. Additionally, the murals on the facade, the altar, the woodcarvings and name boards, for example, were all restored by a group of specialist conservators. In addition, the altar, which was specially ordered from Guangzhou by the Tang clan during the restoration in 1932, is the most dedicate relic in the ancestral hall. Dr. John Hurd from the United Kingdom was commissioned by the Antiquities and Monuments Office to help restore the altar and other relics. The altar was re-gilded and brought back to its original splendour. Other relics were also carefully restored by him and his team.
Among all the rituals of restoration of traditional Chinese buildings, ridge purlin raising is the most significant one. During the restoration, ridge purlin raising ceremony took place on 3 June 1999, in which all senior members of the clan participated.