ABSTRACT
One of the common, yet frequently overlooked features of the urban Hong Kong streetscape are the small red structures known as Earth God shrines. These shrines have been inconspicuously distributed throughout Hong Kong for generations. The simplest comprise a slender plaque and a small incense pot, while the more complicated include these elements mounted within a constructed shrine box, which is elaborately adorned (Figure 4.1). Most often such shrines are placed by the sides of shop fronts and apartment doorways as a guardian of wealth. Considerable scholarly attention has been paid to the history and folklore of these simple shrines, so this chapter will focus on their relevance in the modern urban world of Hong Kong. For, although these shrines are still pervasive, the tradition is ever-changing. This chapter highlights the Earth God shrines as an element of the evolving intangible cultural heritage (ICH) of Hong Kong, deserving of recognition.
