The tradition of paper crafting is part of Hong Kong's cultural heritage

Summary

Kenneth Mo, a paper artisan in Hong Kong, crafts traditional lanterns and paper decorations for the Mid-Autumn Festival, a holiday celebrating the harvest and the full moon. Mo’s passion for preserving the craft began at 13, and after years of study, he turned it into a business. Despite Hong Kong’s decline in paper crafts, Mo remains dedicated to passing on this cultural heritage, teaching the next generation and ensuring the art stays alive. His custom lanterns, including unique designs like the Chinese unicorn head, continue to serve as a vital part of local festivals.

Takeaways

• 😀 Kenneth Mo operates a small paper artisan shop in Hong Kong's Northern New Territories, preparing for the Mid-Autumn Festival.
• 🌕 The Mid-Autumn Festival is celebrated during the Autumn Harvest when the Chinese believe the Moon is at its brightest.
• 🎉 Lanterns are an ancient tradition of the festival, used for decoration and to make wishes, with the rabbit lantern being especially popular.
• 🐰 The rabbit lantern symbolizes a character from Chinese mythology, the Jade Rabbit, who lives on the Moon with the Moon goddess, Chang'e.
• 🎨 Kenneth Mo creates custom lanterns, including larger ones and unique designs like the Chinese unicorn head used in traditional dance performances.
• 📅 Mo’s interest in paper crafts began at the age of 13, when he repaired a damaged paper lion head used in a lion dance.
• 💼 After studying the craft, Mo transitioned from being a tour guide to opening his own paper crafts shop at age 25, where he’s now been in business for 27 years.
• 🎒 Mo handles between 200-300 custom orders for lanterns and crafts during the festival, reflecting the high demand for his work.
• 🏙️ Despite the decline of paper crafts in Hong Kong, Mo believes his work is crucial in preserving the city’s cultural heritage.
• 📚 Mo is dedicated to passing on his craft by teaching students and has started a charity to help preserve this intangible cultural heritage for future generations.

Q & A

What is the Mid-Autumn Festival, and how is it celebrated in Hong Kong?

The Mid-Autumn Festival is a traditional Chinese holiday that occurs during the Autumn Harvest. It is celebrated when the moon is believed to be at its brightest. The festival is marked by customs such as making wishes with lanterns, decorating homes, and celebrating with family and friends. Lanterns, particularly the rabbit lantern, are a significant part of the celebration.

Why is the rabbit lantern so popular during the Mid-Autumn Festival?

The rabbit lantern is the most popular lantern during the Mid-Autumn Festival because it references a character from Chinese mythology who is said to live with the Moon Goddess, Lady Chang'e. The rabbit is believed to symbolize longevity and the Moon itself.

What is the significance of Kenneth Mo's paper lanterns in Hong Kong's Mid-Autumn Festival?

Kenneth Mo's lanterns are significant because they are traditional and handcrafted. While many smaller lanterns are produced in factories, Mo makes larger, custom pieces, such as a Chinese unicorn head lantern used in traditional dance. His work helps preserve the cultural heritage of the city, especially in the face of the decline in paper crafts.

How did Kenneth Mo become interested in making paper lanterns?

Kenneth Mo’s interest in making paper lanterns began at the age of 13 when he tried to repair a paper lion head that had been damaged during a traditional lion dance. This sparked his fascination with paper crafts, leading him to study the craft and eventually turn it into a business.

What did Kenneth Mo do before starting his own business?

Before starting his own business, Kenneth Mo worked as a tour guide. He eventually left his job at the age of 25 to open his own store dedicated to crafting paper lanterns and decorations.

What role do Kenneth Mo’s lanterns play in preserving Hong Kong's cultural traditions?

Kenneth Mo’s lanterns are vital in preserving Hong Kong’s cultural traditions, especially as paper crafts have seen a decline. He creates custom pieces that support traditional festivals like the Cheung Chau Bun Festival. Mo believes that without the continuation of these crafts, the traditions would be incomplete and eventually fade away.

What is the importance of Mo’s charity in relation to preserving the craft?

Kenneth Mo’s charity plays a key role in ensuring that the craft of paper lantern making is passed on to future generations. The charity teaches students how to create traditional paper crafts, which helps prevent this intangible cultural heritage from being lost over time.

What does Kenneth Mo mean when he says the craft is in danger of disappearing?

Kenneth Mo refers to the risk that traditional paper crafts could become extinct, as they are already considered an intangible cultural heritage. If these crafts disappear, future generations may only learn about them through textbooks, rather than experiencing them firsthand.

What is Kenneth Mo’s vision for the future of paper lantern crafts?

Kenneth Mo is hopeful that the tradition of making paper lanterns will continue because festivals require the participation of multiple generations. He believes that as long as senior family members pass the craft on to younger generations, the tradition can be preserved.

How long does Kenneth Mo plan to continue his work in the paper lantern craft?

Kenneth Mo plans to continue his work in the paper lantern craft until his hands can no longer function. He is committed to doing his part to ensure that the tradition remains alive for years to come.