Commonly typified as elements of good and evil, yin and yang in fact speak to the greater dynamic of opposing entities seeking to find balance. While even numberings evoke the semblance of parity in Western thought, in Chinese culture, balance is not seen as merely achievable through dualism. Without the presence of a third element present as an anchor, it is impossible to bring stability to opposing forces.
The recurring presence of ‘three’ in Chinese customs and symbols can be found throughout everyday life. The importance of three (三, phonetically pronounced “saam” in Cantonese) originates from its similarity in pronunciation to 生 “saang”, which means “to be born”. As it is believed that human life is marked by three key stages - birth, marriage and death - the superstitions associated with ‘three’ holds great influence over Hongkongers. It is also emphasised in the Buddhist and Taoist consecration through the use of three sticks of incense: one for heaven, one for the earth (with reference to the dead) and one for the living. While each stick of incense in practice honour the Emperor, the Empress and ourselves respectively, the practice of three in Chinese customs can also be seen as a superstitious way of accumulating one’s good fortune. “拜得神多自有神庇佑” (the more one prays, the more the Gods will aid you) reflects the way Hongkongers see the significance of praying.
The balance created through the grouping of three stems of incense is reflected in the architecture of Beijing’s Forbidden City. As the Chinese proverb 龍為天 鳳為地 天地交泰 陰陽和合 (Dragon is the sky, Phoenix is the earth, sky and earth intersect, the balance of yin and yang) notes, in order to achieve balance the Emperor and Empress’ living chambers must be built separate and opposite each other. The hall built through the centre is what is necessary to bring harmony between yin and yang.
Today, this superstitious grouping of three built into the Forbidden City has been adapted into Hong Kong homes. In a city where efficiency prevails, the need for convenience extends to spiritual protection. Aids to ward off evil spirits or to protect homes can easily be sought by making a pilgrimage at the city’s various temples or handily by having a pasted amulet above the doorway. Homes are sacred spaces that require protection; doorways, as the entrance and exit of a home, are ideal paths for evil spirits and bad luck to enter. The door, the security gate and the amulet serve as a three-pronged shield to bridge the opposing forces of the home and the public domain.
Amulets, coloured in red and with Chinese characters printed in gold either horizontally or vertically, are superstitious good luck charms aiming to provide protection. But in order to achieve a harmonious dynamic throughout a home, windows (considered openings to the outside world) need a three-pronged shield to bridge the competing forces. Made up of only two layers - the glass pane and the 窗花 “cheung fa” (window grille in Cantonese which loosely means window flower), amulets are needed to achieve balance. While ‘cheung fa’ (dating back to the Song Dynasty) historically were used as amulets to address matters from good health to good luck, today the festive paper motif has evolved to become an iconic metal window guard design installed to prevent children from falling from windows.
By drawing from what once was the Cheung Fa’s purpose, I was inspired to create my version of the missing anchor necessary to bring stability to the opposing forces. By blending the Taoist amulet (符, pronounced fu) scripture for peace and prosperity for the home and Buddhist consecratory instrument of the incense, the third layer I have created is what now stands outside of the glass. It acts as a protective layer shielding evil and bad spirits from entering through the tired transparent division and its metal grille counterpart from the public sphere on Queen’s Road West. In this old part of town where deaths soared during the 1890’s during a Cholera outbreak and damned spirits and bad feng shui pervade, such superstitious practice is important to keeping balance in everyday life.
Although we may no longer hold customs and traditions in the same regards as those before us, invisible narratives of superstition continue to permeate through society. Despite being seemingly inconsequential, the need and importance of having “three” is interwoven in the fabric of Hong Kong’s history and culture. We pray for the aid of luck, but what we have forgotten is that we are forever the sons and daughters of the heaven above, with gods and ancestors looking down on us.
