Deities

Flow Into Roots : Anita Chan Lai-ling Gallery, Fringe Club, Hong Kong

2025

Many deities in Chinese culture emerge from the human imagination of nature. Metal shaped Kwan Tai symbolises loyalty and righteousness. Wood gave birth to the Wishing Tree, realising wishes. Water formed the Sea God, Tin Hau (Mazu), protector of sailors. Fire created the Fire Dragon to drive away disease. Earth nurtured the Earth God (Tudigong), ensuring safe travels. The five elements (Wu Xing) balance and influence each other, driving nature’s constant change and growth.

Throughout the development of human society, we plundered wealth, destroyed forests, polluted waters, emitted harmful gases, and encroached on the land. Hong Kong’s grand ceremonies seek divine blessings, but do we truly deserve nature’s gifts? Incense bridges humans and nature, yet this connection must be rooted in respect and balance. Only by recognizing our coexistence can these rituals hold meaning.

許多神明都誕生自人類對於自然的崇拜和想像。金為關帝，因性情忠義被追崇。木生長出助願望實現的許願樹。水造就了天后保佑航行平安。火鍛鑄出有祛病消災之效的火龍。土孕育了土地公庇佑出行平安。五行代表平衡，也代表制約。自然萬物的變化與發展都來自五行之間的運動。

然而縱觀人類社會的發展，我們掠奪財富，破壞森林，污染水源，排放有害氣體，侵佔土地。香港每年都會舉行盛大的儀式來祭拜神明，當我們焚香祈福時，我們是否應該反思自己是否值得自然力量的庇護？香是人類與自然交流的媒介，只有將這種交流建立在平等與相互尊重的基礎上，這些祭拜儀式才有它存在的意義。