The history of walled villages in Hong Kong

The history of walled villages in Hong Kong can be traced back to the southward migration of population in the late Southern Song Dynasty. The earliest immigrants in Hong Kong were Hakkas. During the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), coastal bandits were frequent. Hakka people who came to Hong Kong to take root built high walls around their houses, and some even dug ditches to protect the river and installed iron gates to protect themselves. These villages surrounded by high walls are called walled villages.

Later, because of different languages, customs and land distribution, immigrants and indigenous people clashed with each other, and what's more, a large-scale walled village was built. Weichun preserves the oldest existing buildings in Hong Kong and creates a unique Weichun culture.

Most of the walled villages in Hong Kong are located in the New Territories, and most of them are concentrated in Yuen Long (including Ping Shan, Ha Tsuen, Pat Heung and San Tin), Kam Tin (including Kam Tin and Pat Heung), Fanling Sheung Shui (including Tai Po, Fanling, Sheung Shui, Sha Tau Kok and Ta Kwu Ling) and coastal valleys (including Sha Tin, Tsuen Wan and Tuen Mun). They used to be the "five major ethnic groups in the New Territories"-the Tang family. At present, only Yaqianwei Village in Wong Tai Sin is well preserved.

Each village has its own village head, ancestral hall and village rules and regulations. Villagers can prohibit strangers and vehicles from entering the village at any time. It is said that police patrols may not be allowed to enter the village in early years. The walled village culture not only plays an important role in the history of Hong Kong, but also can be seen in modern society.

Extended data

Eating potted vegetables in walled villages is one of the characteristics of Hong Kong.

Hot pot has a long history. At the end of the Southern Song Dynasty, Song Dinan fled the army of the Yuan Dynasty. When passing through the walled village in the New Territories of Hong Kong, he was warmly received by the villagers. But the villagers were anxious not to find enough utensils to hold food, so they took local materials, used wooden pots to hold vegetables and ate them around, and pots of vegetables came from this. Later, it evolved into a dish for 18 years old to entertain guests, big festivals and even wedding celebrations.

For the villagers in Weichun, potted dishes have special significance: first, they represent equality, and everyone eats together, regardless of wealth; Second, it symbolizes unity. Every year, a pot banquet is held, and everyone comes to attend, which enhances the sense of belonging and cohesion between clans. Pot-dish banquets are held in villages in the New Territories on festive days such as the occupation of new homes, the opening of ancestral temples or the lighting of Chinese New Year.

In a big round bowl, food is stacked one after another, which means "the bowl is full" and "food and clothing are secure". A pot full of vegetables has 9 to 12 floors, which can be eaten by 10 people and is very suitable for festive occasions.

In the past, villagers used local materials, mostly radish, taro, bean skin, pigskin and pork; Rich people will add cuttlefish, chicken, shrimp and other expensive ingredients at that time. Nowadays, eating potted vegetables has become a fashion trend with ever-changing tastes. Newly added high-priced materials such as delicacies, abalone and sea cucumber, as well as dried oysters, Nostoc flagelliforme and other ingredients representing good colors. In addition, there are vegetarian dishes to cater to different tastes and needs.

Baidu Encyclopedia-Weichun