Historic Building Appraisal

394 Pages·2010·5.44 MB·English

1
Historic Building Appraisal
Tsang Tai Uk
Sha Tin, N.T.

Tsang Tai Uk (曾大屋, literally the Big Mansion of the Tsang Family) is also Historical
called Shan Ha Wai (山廈圍, literally, Walled Village at the Foothill). Its Interest
construction was started in 1847 and completed in 1867. Measuring 45 metres by
137 metres, it was built by Tsang Koon-man (曾貫萬, 1808-1894), nicknamed
Tsang Sam-li (曾三利), who was a Hakka (客家) originated from Wuhua (五華)
of Guangdong (廣東) province which was famous for producing masons. He
came to Hong Kong from Wuhua working as a quarryman at the age of 16 in
Cha Kwo Ling (茶果嶺) and Shaukiwan (筲箕灣). He set up his quarry business
in Shaukiwan having his shop called Sam Lee Quarry (三利石行). Due to the
large demand for building stone when Hong Kong was developed as a city since
it became a ceded territory of Britain in 1841, he made huge profit. He bought
land in Sha Tin from the Tsangs and built the village. The completed village
accommodated around 100 residential units for his family and descendents. It
was a shelter of some 500 refugees during the Second World War and the name
of Tsang Tai Uk has since been adopted.

The sizable and huge fortified village is a typical Hakka three-hall-four-row Architectural
(三堂四横) walled village. It is in a Qing (清) vernacular design having a Merit
symmetrical layout with the main entrance, entrance hall, middle hall and main
hall at the central axis. Two other entrances are to either side of the front wall.
Four 3-storey high corner towers are at its four corners with wok yee (鑊耳)
gable walls. A metal trident is installed at the tower against intrusion of evil
spirits. Residential units were built along the four walls and in rows in the
middle. The walled village was constructed with green bricks with granite
dressing. Its walls support its pitched roofs of timber rafters, purlins and ceramic
tiles.

It is the only sample of a fortified Hakka village in the territory to witness the Rarity
very well-off of the Tsangs.

It is a unique walled village of high built heritage value. Built Heritage
Value
Parts of the walls and floors were plastered with cement. Though a number Authenticity
of units and structures are added to the village, its main form is still retained.
The village took 20 years to complete. The ancestral hall at its central axis in Social Value
the middle of the main hall was first built with his two residential rooms on & Local
either side. Other houses and courts were added in the 20 years. Gun holes were Interest
provided along the walls and its four corner towers as pirates and bandits were
active at the time. A board engraved with Tai Fu Tai (大夫第, the Mandarin’s
Mansion) is hung above the entrance of the ancestral hall as the villager founder
purchased the title from the Qing government. A carved screen at the ancestral
hall with inscription praising the ancestors’ family dated 1878 was written by a
famous calligrapher. Agricultural farming was the major economic activity of the
family and declined over the years. Some of the house units are still occupied by
members of the Tsangs.
Historic Building Appraisal
2
Shrine
Kat Hing Wai, Kam Tin, Yuen Long

Kat Hing Wai (吉慶圍) established in the Chinghua reign (成化, 1465-1487) Historical
of the Ming (明) dynasty was one of the oldest villages in Kam Tin (錦田). The Interest
ancestors of the Tangs had settled in Kam Tin as far back as in the Southern
Song dynasty (南宋, 1127-1279). The walls enclosing Kat Hing Wai were built
by Tang Chue-yin (鄧珠彥) and Tang Chik-kin (鄧直見) in the early years of the
Kangxi reign (康熙, 1662-1722) of the Qing (清) dynasty to protect the villagers
from pirates and other enemies. In the 1899 occupation of the New Territories by
the British army, the walls were partly destroyed and the wrought iron gate at its
front entrance was seized and then stored in the residence of the then Governor
of Hong Kong, Sir Henry Blake, in Ireland. After decades the iron gate was
returned with the help of a notable member of the Tang clan, Tang Pak-kau (鄧
伯裘, 1876-1950), and reinstalled back to the entrance. Parts of the enclosing
walls were repaired after the Japanese Occupation (1941-1945). The moat
surrounding Kat Hing Wai except the northern and eastern portions was filled up
in the early 1980s.

The existing wai of Qing dynasty design is some 8,500 square metres in a Architectural
near square form around 84 metres by 88 metres with a symmetrical plan having Merit
6 rows of west-facing dwelling units on each side divided by the east-west
central axis. Four watchtowers were built at its four corners whilst its entrance
gate is at the west-facing wall at the central axis with the shrine at the far
opposite end of the eastern wall. Attached to the walls, some 6 to 7 metres high,
were small houses. The entire wai was constructed mainly of green bricks.

The shrine is a one-hall pitched-roof building with the altar at the northern
end wall housing tablets of the ancestors and of over 20 deities for worship. The
gables of the shrine are the most outstanding features, in wok yee (鑊耳) design,
having curling grass pattern on their friezes. Corbelling eaves are on the
enclosing walls easy for draining the rainwater.

Being one of the biggest preserved walled villages in Hong Kong and its Rarity
over 700 years’ historic tie with Kam Tin, Kat Hing Wai is extremely rare.

It is a typical sizable wai of the Qing design having high built heritage value. Built Heritage
Though quite a number of old village houses have been replaced by modern ones Value &
and repairs to the wai has not been at all satisfactory, its authenticity has not been Authenticity
affected.

The entrance gate, shrine and the corner watchtowers are inter-related having Group Value
their own group value.

Due to its lengthy history, size and outlook attractions, Kat Hing Wai has Social Value,
been frequently visited by tourists and locals. Villagers in the wai still participate & Local
in activities of Kam Tin such as Tin Hau Festival (天后誕) and Da Chiu (打醮). Interest
Historic Building Appraisal
3
Entrance Gate
Kat Hing Wai, Kam Tin, Yuen Long

Kat Hing Wai (吉慶圍) established in the Chinghua reign (成化, 1465-1487) Historical
of the Ming (明) dynasty was one of the oldest villages in Kam Tin (錦田). The Interest
ancestors of the Tangs had settled in Kam Tin as far back as in the Southern
Song dynasty (南宋, 1127-1279). The walls enclosing Kat Hing Wai were built
by Tang Chue-yin (鄧珠彥) and Tang Chik-kin (鄧直見) in the early years of the
Kangxi reign (康熙, 1662-1722) of the Qing (清) dynasty to protect the villagers
from pirates and other enemies. In the 1899 occupation of the New Territories by
the British army, the walls were partly destroyed and the wrought iron gate at its
front entrance was seized and then stored in the residence of the then Governor
of Hong Kong, Sir Henry Blake, in Ireland. After decades the iron gate was
returned with the help of a notable member of the Tang clan, Tang Pak-kau (鄧
伯裘, 1876-1950), and reinstalled back to the entrance. Parts of the enclosing
walls were repaired after the Japanese Occupation (1941-1945). The moat
surrounding Kat Hing Wai except the northern and eastern portions was filled up
in the early 1980s.

The existing wai of Qing dynasty design is some 8,500 square metres in a Architectural
near square form around 84 metres by 88 metres with a symmetrical plan having Merit
6 rows of west-facing dwelling units on each side divided by the east-west
central axis. Four watchtowers were built at its four corners whilst its entrance
gate is at the west-facing wall at the central axis with the shrine at the far
opposite end of the eastern wall. Attached to the walls, some 6 to 7 metres high,
were small houses. The entire wai was constructed mainly of green bricks.

The shrine is a one-hall pitched-roof building with the altar at the northern
end wall housing tablets of the ancestors and of over 20 deities for worship. The
gables of the shrine are the most outstanding features, in wok yee (鑊耳) design,
having curling grass pattern on their friezes. Corbelling eaves are on the
enclosing walls easy for draining the rainwater.

Being one of the biggest preserved walled villages in Hong Kong and its Rarity
over 700 years’ historic tie with Kam Tin, Kat Hing Wai is extremely rare.

It is a typical sizable wai of the Qing design having high built heritage value. Built Heritage
Though quite a number of old village houses have been replaced by modern ones Value &
and repairs to the wai has not been at all satisfactory, its authenticity has not been Authenticity
affected.

The entrance gate, shrine and the corner watchtowers are inter-related having Group Value
their own group value.

Due to its lengthy history, size and outlook attractions, Kat Hing Wai has Social Value,
been frequently visited by tourists and locals. Villagers in the wai still participate & Local
in activities of Kam Tin such as Tin Hau Festival (天后誕) and Da Chiu (打醮). Interest
Historic Building Appraisal
4
Watchtower (northwest) & Enclosing Walls
Kat Hing Wai, Kam Tin, Yuen Long

Kat Hing Wai (吉慶圍) established in the Chinghua reign (成化, 1465-1487) Historical
of the Ming (明) dynasty was one of the oldest villages in Kam Tin (錦田). The Interest
ancestors of the Tangs had settled in Kam Tin as far back as in the Southern
Song dynasty (南宋, 1127-1279). The walls enclosing Kat Hing Wai were built
by Tang Chue-yin (鄧珠彥) and Tang Chik-kin (鄧直見) in the early years of the
Kangxi reign (康熙, 1662-1722) of the Qing (清) dynasty to protect the villagers
from pirates and other enemies. In the 1899 occupation of the New Territories by
the British army, the walls were partly destroyed and the wrought iron gate at its
front entrance was seized and then stored in the residence of the then Governor
of Hong Kong, Sir Henry Blake, in Ireland. After decades the iron gate was
returned with the help of a notable member of the Tang clan, Tang Pak-kau (鄧
伯裘, 1876-1950), and reinstalled back to the entrance. Parts of the enclosing
walls were repaired after the Japanese Occupation (1941-1945). The moat
surrounding Kat Hing Wai except the northern and eastern portions was filled up
in the early 1980s.

The existing wai of Qing dynasty design is some 8,500 square metres in a Architectural
near square form around 84 metres by 88 metres with a symmetrical plan having Merit
6 rows of west-facing dwelling units on each side divided by the east-west
central axis. Four watchtowers were built at its four corners whilst its entrance
gate is at the west-facing wall at the central axis with the shrine at the far
opposite end of the eastern wall. Attached to the walls, some 6 to 7 metres high,
were small houses. The entire wai was constructed mainly of green bricks.

The shrine is a one-hall pitched-roof building with the altar at the northern
end wall housing tablets of the ancestors and of over 20 deities for worship. The
gables of the shrine are the most outstanding features, in wok yee (鑊耳) design,
having curling grass pattern on their friezes. Corbelling eaves are on the
enclosing walls easy for draining the rainwater.

Being one of the biggest preserved walled villages in Hong Kong and its Rarity
over 700 years’ historic tie with Kam Tin, Kat Hing Wai is extremely rare.

It is a typical sizable wai of the Qing design having high built heritage value. Built Heritage
Though quite a number of old village houses have been replaced by modern ones Value &
and repairs to the wai has not been at all satisfactory, its authenticity has not been Authenticity
affected.

The entrance gate, shrine and the corner watchtowers are inter-related having Group Value
their own group value.

Due to its lengthy history, size and outlook attractions, Kat Hing Wai has Social Value,
been frequently visited by tourists and locals. Villagers in the wai still participate & Local
in activities of Kam Tin such as Tin Hau Festival (天后誕) and Da Chiu (打醮). Interest
Historic Building Appraisal
5
Watchtower (northeast) & Enclosing Walls
Kat Hing Wai, Kam Tin, Yuen Long

Kat Hing Wai (吉慶圍) established in the Chinghua reign (成化, 1465-1487) Historical
of the Ming (明) dynasty was one of the oldest villages in Kam Tin (錦田). The Interest
ancestors of the Tangs had settled in Kam Tin as far back as in the Southern
Song dynasty (南宋, 1127-1279). The walls enclosing Kat Hing Wai were built
by Tang Chue-yin (鄧珠彥) and Tang Chik-kin (鄧直見) in the early years of the
Kangxi reign (康熙, 1662-1722) of the Qing (清) dynasty to protect the villagers
from pirates and other enemies. In the 1899 occupation of the New Territories by
the British army, the walls were partly destroyed and the wrought iron gate at its
front entrance was seized and then stored in the residence of the then Governor
of Hong Kong, Sir Henry Blake, in Ireland. After decades the iron gate was
returned with the help of a notable member of the Tang clan, Tang Pak-kau (鄧
伯裘, 1876-1950), and reinstalled back to the entrance. Parts of the enclosing
walls were repaired after the Japanese Occupation (1941-1945). The moat
surrounding Kat Hing Wai except the northern and eastern portions was filled up
in the early 1980s.

The existing wai of Qing dynasty design is some 8,500 square metres in a Architectural
near square form around 84 metres by 88 metres with a symmetrical plan having Merit
6 rows of west-facing dwelling units on each side divided by the east-west
central axis. Four watchtowers were built at its four corners whilst its entrance
gate is at the west-facing wall at the central axis with the shrine at the far
opposite end of the eastern wall. Attached to the walls, some 6 to 7 metres high,
were small houses. The entire wai was constructed mainly of green bricks.

The shrine is a one-hall pitched-roof building with the altar at the northern
end wall housing tablets of the ancestors and of over 20 deities for worship. The
gables of the shrine are the most outstanding features, in wok yee (鑊耳) design,
having curling grass pattern on their friezes. Corbelling eaves are on the
enclosing walls easy for draining the rainwater.

Being one of the biggest preserved walled villages in Hong Kong and its Rarity
over 700 years’ historic tie with Kam Tin, Kat Hing Wai is extremely rare.

It is a typical sizable wai of the Qing design having high built heritage value. Built Heritage
Though quite a number of old village houses have been replaced by modern ones Value &
and repairs to the wai has not been at all satisfactory, its authenticity has not been Authenticity
affected.

The entrance gate, shrine and the corner watchtowers are inter-related having Group Value
their own group value.

Due to its lengthy history, size and outlook attractions, Kat Hing Wai has Social Value,
been frequently visited by tourists and locals. Villagers in the wai still participate & Local
in activities of Kam Tin such as Tin Hau Festival (天后誕) and Da Chiu (打醮). Interest