Chek Chu - Our Community Heritage
Chik Chu - Past and Present
Chinese Text & photo by Mr Chan Yat Fong,98.5.5 [printed in Race Programme '98]
Stanley (Cantonese as Chik Chu or Chek Chue), though being a famous site in history, for many, is
just a spot for shopping and a day out on the south of Hong Kong Island.
The convenient transport, Chinese cuisine and big bargains in the street
market bring great satisfaction to people who come for a day of fun.
Stanley in Books and Journals
During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, Stanley has already got a growing
population while in the Chinese geography books of the same period,
the name of Stanley was repeatedly mentioned.
In 1938, a Chinese Scholar, Chen Gong-zhe wrote a book about the history
of Hong Kong. In this book, he described Stanley as follows: "After
crossing a slope people can see the grandeur of Stanley, the place where
British army first landed. Yet, they soon abandoned the place because of
the moist weather that brought epidemics around. There were a few cemeteries
as a multitude of people died of epidemics. Now the place has turned into
the hostels of St. Stephen's College. Stanley village was once a haunt
of bandits."
In 1949, a book edited by An-ping, "A Profile of Hong Kong", documented
the impact of British rule on Stanley. According to the book, when the
British arrived at Hong Kong, they first settled at Stanley, a fishing
village not far from Aberdeen. A dark-grey hillfort was built, it was
the first British prison in the Far East. Over 3000 people of different
races lost their freedom there.... On the peak of Wong Ma Kok Hill
stands the Stanley Fort. As it was a restricted army camp, Stanley was
not bustling with as much noise and excitement as that in Aberdeen.
Besides, the Church founded St. Stephen's College and a probation centre
for children nextby.
A Feng-shui master Zeng Zi-nan highly praised Stanley in his book.
He said the whole range of hills in Stanley could bring great fortune
to the entire area. It was mainly due to the beauty of Stanley Mound
(The Twins). Since the front and back peaks of Stanley Mound were
identical and looked like twins and a spur (Fein*) come out right
from between, the features, thus the strength are so outstanding as
if tigers coming out of the forest, dragons running down to the sea....
In 1996, the Southern District Board published a historic and geographic
guide to the southern side of Hong Kong Island. According to the book,
the name "Stanley" is to commemorate the British naval general who
defeated the leading bandit of the time, Cheung Pao-tzu, and occupied
the place. However, this story does not coincide with historical facts.
According to related historical literature, Cheung was defeated by the
Ching army and died in the second year under the rule of Emperor Daoguang
(1822 AD). Later, another gang of bandits headed by Xu Ya-pao were rampant
along the coastal areas from 1846 AD to 1851 A.D. They mainly robbed the
British vessels. Finally, they were captured by the British and were
locked up in Stanley Prison.
In 1849, the British army attacked Xu and his gang. Being out-numbered,
all the bandits were trapped. Xu boldly confessed as the murderer. He
then hanged himself in the prison. People believed he was such a brave
man that he would rather commit suicide than being insulted by the British.
The above materials quoted can help our young generation to know a bit more
about the past of Stanley. Almost all books and journals about Hong Kong
mentioned Stanley. This shows the importance of Stanley in the history of
Hong Kong.
Stanley - a bright prospect
The dragon boat races in Stanley Bay are different from others. Many
foreigners take part every year. Both Chinese and people of other nationality
join the races in harmony and laughter. The whole atmosphere is so joyous
that the audience feels like joining a global community. Our expat friends
usually arrange some unexpected programmes to amuse the audience. That is
one of the reasons why the dragon boat races in Stanley Bay are so fascinating.
In 1995, it was my honour to be invited by the Race Editor to write about
Stanley's heritage. In the article, all famous temples in Stanley have been
introduced in detail. That will not be repeated here. Recently the reclamation
work at Ma Hang has changed the whole view of Stanley. Squatters and cottages
were cleared and high-rise flats were built. Yet, all the historical sites
like Tin Hau Temple, Pak Tai Temple, Kwan Yin Monastery, and Tai Wong Temple
remain intact. When the new construction projects is completed, it will be
even more convenient for people to visit them.
Finally, I should also introduce the old historical building, Murray House,
which was built in 1844 during the Victorian period. It was originally located
in Central and was pulled down in 1983. Due to its historical value, the
Government decided to preserve it. All parts of the building are numbered
(there are four thousand high-quality granite blocks) and stored in Tai Tam.
The Executive Council has authorized the Housing Department to rebuild
Murray House at Ma Hang in Stanley. This plan includes the construction of
a six-storey high shopping arcade with an open-air tea garden. The complex
will be named "Stanley Plaza", with construction expenditure over six billion.
That of Murray House alone is about 1.7 billion and it will be completed by
September 1999, while "Stanley Plaza" will be opened in 2000. From then on,
Stanley will be even more prosperous. With all its cultural relics, Stanley
can form a good heritage walk blending cultural essence from the East and West.
Heritage walk in Chek Chue
[printed in Race Programme '95]
Many people complain that there isn't much to see in Stanley. In fact there
are some historic attractions of which visitors may be unaware.
Generally, visitors are forced to converge in the Main Street and outer
Ma Hang area as a large proportion of the Stanley Peninsula is either
restricted (the Fort, prison) or private (schools, residential) areas.
HEARSAY:
There are several stories connected to the origin of the district's
Chinese name CHEK CHUE, meaning "red pillar".
This name appeared in several official historical documents in southern
China, dating back to the Ming (1268-1644) and Qing (16344-1911) Dynasties.
They mentioned that Chek Chue was an important place for defence and
that some English people already stayed here since the Qing Dynasty.
According to (ed.) Lai C.W.'s book "Centenary History of Hong Kong"
(1948), the name Chek Chue Shan (Red Pillar Hill) derived from a big
cotton tree in early Qing. After a typhoon, all that was left of the
tree, was the strong trunk which stood firm for long, but with no bark
- like a red pillar when looked at from afar. When the CHAN's family
settled near the tree, they named the whole area as Chek Chue.
The other story says that as the numerous cotton tree flowers were in
blossom in spring, they made the area look like a red-hot pillar during
sunset. As to avoid using the word 'fire' - which conflicts with the
strong water element around according to Yin-yan, the word 'Chek'
(Red) was adopted. [Editor's remark: according to contemporary oral
reports of the Chan descendents, Hakka People usually introduced the
place in their dialect as Chak Chu (the thieves' place)to newcomers,
when pirates were abundant nearby in those days]
WATER DEFTIES & ANTIQUITIES
If you first ignore the shops but walk to the east end of the Main
Street, with some difficulties you'll find the Shui Tsein Temple
[A] next to a household on the rock stretching out from the seafront.
The old word TSEIN, meaning "the immortals", is most popular during
the "Six Dynasties" Period several hundred years ago. Besides, it is
only this temple in the Island worshipping solely this Water God.
(There is only a tablet, no statue)
Walking past the pubs, neighbouring the Stanley Residents Assn. is
the Tai Wong Temple [B]. Further into Ma Hang is the famous Tin Hau Temple
[C] which shows that Chek Chue used to be a fishing settlement as
Tin Hau is commonly worshipped by fishermen. The iron pots and 2 stone
lions outside and the big old bell inside were all made in the Qing Dynasty.
The undated big stone weight is probably also a century-old relic.
Besides other popular Chinese immortals, there on the wall is a tiger-skin
blackened by smoke. In 1942 one [of the four] ethnic Indian policeman from
the Stanlev Police Station [itself now a relic, built in 1858] shot dead a
tiger which weighed 240 Ib.
Up the path behind the Temple we can find the more comtemporary Kwun Yum
[Guan Yin] Temple [D] (and the big statue), which was founded by a Burmese
Chinese.
Along the seafront of Ma Hang to the S.W. we can find the small Pak Tai Temple
[E], built in 1805. On the 3rd day of the 3rd lunar month many fishermen
celebrate Pak Tai's birthday in the temple [also a parade].
If you are still un-impressed, maybe the relocation project in Ma Hang of the
former Murray Building (originally in Central, demolished in1987) may invite
you back.
"Rainbow Calligraphy", a special Chinese art form which is easily found at Stanley Market,
is illustrated on the left of our front page.It depicts the name of the Race.
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