Next to the Guanyin Temple of Shan Zhen Tong in Kowloon Tong｜The patron saint who is strong on the outside and soft on the inside: local traditional intangible cultural heritage – Tuas Wang Zha Zuo’s craftsmanship exhibition

Description

According to Chinese folklore, in the seventh month of the lunar calendar, the gates of hell are opened, and ghosts roam the world. If there is no management, something big may happen. This duty was originally performed by the compassionate Guanyin Master, but his kind face might not be able to convince the ghosts, so he transformed into the ferocious-looking Master King to perform this duty. Therefore, at large Dharma gatherings such as the Bon Festival and Qingming Festival, you can often see the Great Master standing nearby. Master Xia Zhongjian, the founder of Tianbao Lou Zhazuo, received funding from the Intangible Cultural Heritage Office of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department to organize an exhibition and guided tour of Tua Shi Wang Zhazuo with the theme of "The Patron Saint of Strong Externally and Softness Inside" to promote the Zhazuo culture. and Chinese culture.

Zhazuo is a folk craft with a long history, passed down from generation to generation. The craftsmanship is also included in Hong Kong's first representative list of intangible cultural heritage, belonging to the traditional handicraft category. The size of Tuas King is based on the size of the head. Traditionally, the unit is "yuan". The ratio of head to height is 1:4. A seven-foot-tall master needs to be equipped with a two-yuan head, and a four-foot-tall one is equipped with a half-yuan head.

The steps to make the Tuas King begin with tying the shoes, then tying the head, then tying the upper and lower body, and finally tying the paper and assembling. The Great Master King is a military commander, and his design and color selection must be like a general's. The Guangfu-style warrior king is in the posture of sitting on a mountain and fighting a tiger. He raises his hands and feet, wears armor, and has a handsome flag on his back. He has the power to suppress wandering ghosts.
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The armor-making skills of King Tuashi have almost been lost, and nowadays they are mainly modified by simple printing. The traditional methods of making nails include folding and cutting the nails. Folding the nails requires slow work and meticulous work. The cut sand paper is folded into a rhombus shape line by line, and then slowly pulled out to become a three-dimensional armor, decorated with soft Handmade crepe paper. With a pair of skillful hands and simple paper materials, you can create hard and beautiful armor.

"The Patron Saint who is strong on the outside and soft on the inside" exhibits his craftsmanship. Details are as follows:

Date: 4 Dec, 2024 - 10 Dec, 2024

Guided tour dates: December 7, 8, and 9

Guided tour registration method: https://forms.gle/kGA2kci9ZXKHzfMJA