Fanling Wai Explained

Fanling Wai
Native Name:粉嶺圍
Native Name Lang:zh-hant
Settlement Type:Walled village
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:Hong Kong
Subdivision Type1:District
Subdivision Name1:North
Subdivision Type2:Suburb
Subdivision Name2:Fanling
Established Title:Established
Established Date:1572–1620
Founder:Pang Clan
Unit Pref:metric
Pic:Fanling Wai 2017.jpg
Piccap:Aerial view of Fanling Wai
T:粉嶺圍
Y:Fán léhng wàih
J:Fan2 leng5 wai4

Fanling Wai is a village in Fanling, North District, Hong Kong, built by the Pang Clan. It is composed of a walled village and its two extensions:[1] Ching Wai or Chung Wai (or) – the only walled hamlet of Fanling Wai and also the first hamlet to be built, Pak Wai, and Nam Wai .[2] [3]

History

Fanling Wai is the centre of the Pang Clan, who arrived in Hong Kong during the Southern Song dynasty (1127-1279).[4] The wai (walled village) was constructed in the early part of the Wanli (1572–1620) reign of the Ming dynasty.[5]

The ancestors of the Pang Clan of Fanling Wai were settled in Gansu province, in China, and moved to Jishui County in Jiangxi province in 739, and later, during the Northern Song dynasty (960- 1127), they moved successively to Chaozhou and Dongguan.[2] [5] Pang Kwei, the founding ancestor of the Pang Clan, moved from Dongguan to Lung Shan, now known as Lung Yeuk Tau of Fanling, in 1190. He then moved to Fan Leng Lau in 1220 and established a village over there. As the population of the clan increased, they moved westward to settle in Fanling Wai and other places.[6]

Features

Fanling Chung Wai is recognisable with the distinctive pond and layout including features such as cannons and watchtowers. All these elements were crafted to form an integral part of the village setting. The entrance is at the central axis of the walled village with village houses built connected to the walls and seven rows on the left and right of the central axis. Three circular gun holes are on the façade wall of the entrance gate-tower with three painted white circles for feng shui reasons. The cannons of Fanling Wai were buried during the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong (1941–1945), and were only excavated in 1986. They are now on display on a cement platform in front of the walled settlement.[3]

The Pang Ancestral Hall, also called Tai Tak Tong, is located in Fanling Pak Wai. It was moved to the present site in 1846 due to feng shui reasons. It was rebuilt in 1884.

The Tsz Tak Study Hall in Fanling Nam Wai was built in 1846. It provided education for the village children, with 20 to 30 children being taught there. In 1936, it housed the government subsidized Fanling Public School. Its function as a school ceased in 1957, when a separate school complex was constructed to its north-east. The hall is also used for ancestral worship of the Sze-yan lineage.[7]

A Sam Shing Temple, dedicated to Pak Tai, Kwan Tai and Man Cheong, was erected by the Pang clan in the area. It was moved to its present location, west of Ling Hill and along Jockey Club Road, in 1948.[8]

Conservation

The entrance gate-tower, together with the southwest and northwest watchtowers of Fanling Chung Wai are Grade III historic buildings.[9] They were rebuilt in 1986. The Pang Ancestral Hall is a Grade I historic building, while the Tsz Tak Study Hall is a Grade II historic building and the Sam Shing Temple is a Grade III historic building.

Further reading

External links

22.4975°N 114.1353°W

Notes and References

  1. Chan. Kwok-shing. 1997. Negotiating the Transfer Practice of Housing in a Chinese Lineal Village. Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society Hong Kong Branch. 37. 63–80. 1991-7295.
  2. Historic Building Appraisal: Pang Ancestral Hall, Fanling Pak Wai, Fanling
  3. Book: Chan, Kwok-shing . 2012 . A Localized Culture of Welfare: Entitlements, Stratification, and Identity in a Chinese Lineage Village . Rowman & Littlefield. 30–31. 9780739166871.
  4. Web site: Fanling & Sheung Shui: Historical Background . 2002 . Planning Department . 20 February 2016 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160220175758/http://www.pland.gov.hk/pland_en/press/publication/nt_pamphlet02/fss_html/hist.html . February 20, 2016 .
  5. [Antiquities and Monuments Office]
  6. http://www.aab.gov.hk/form/brief_information_grade3.pdf Brief Information on Proposed Grade III Items. Items #978, 979, 980.
  7. Web site: Brief Information on Proposed Grade II Items. Item #520 . 20 February 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160303212156/http://www.aab.gov.hk/form/brief_information_grade2.pdf . 3 March 2016 . dead .
  8. http://www.aab.gov.hk/form/brief_information_grade3.pdf Brief Information on Proposed Grade III Items. Item #1070
  9. http://www.aab.gov.hk/form/AAB-SM-chi.pdf List of the 1,444 Historic Buildings in Building Assessment