Shortly before the Christmas rush started, I visited two cities in Guangdong viz.Swatow and Chiu Chow but for various reasons, I haven't had time to process the relevant photos. Now that I'm a bit less busy, I'll deal with them.
Not very many people may have heard of the name Lam Sai Hang (林世鏗). I certainly never knew him. He's a native of 惠縣葵潭镇玄武村 born there in 1931, emigrated to Hong Kong in 1959 and became one of its leading garment manufacturers and in 1984, branched into animal skin at his home village and later into construction industry and has since amassed a huge fortune and is now a director of one of the listed companies in Hong Kong. Not having received much education, he fully realizes the importance of educating the young. For that reason, he financed the building of more than 200 schools in the PRC, In addition, he helped build 8 hospitals, 10 bridges, several libraries and miles of roads. In 1995, he started to construct a group of palace style buildings at Swatow called Sai Hang Court (世鏗院) to preserve the Chiu Chow style of architecture which relies heavily on stone and wooden sculpture. He spent more than 8 years to complete the project which comprises 9 different sections and now houses more than 270 calligraphic works and more than 500 Chinese ink paintings. He is now made an honorary citizen of 汕頭市, 揭陽市, 惠州市, 汕尾市, 潮州市.
The name plague at the court yard of the group of houses
The entrance to Sai Hang Yuen
One side of the front external wall surrounding the courtyard and buildings
8 horses at the courtyard to symbolize his spirit of always moving forward
The plague of a dragon at the entrance to the courtyard, done in imitation of the one at the Imperial Palace in Beijing
A series of 9 houses to symbolize "long time"
Traditional porcelain decorations depicting various aspects of daily village life on the roof of one of the houses
A fountain with 9 dragons guarding the pearl at one side of the courtyard
The entrance to the main hall
Different halls are separated by gilt wooden carvings.
Another such gilt wood carving panel
A very elaborate wooden panel
A very lively octopus decorating the top corner of one of the pillars above another lacquered panel
Another such octopus
Two elephants decorating the side of another pillar above another lacquer panel
A dragon and a Methusalah
One of the lacquered panels depicting daily life in Chiu Chow
Another elaborate wood carving under the roof
Floral pattern in one of the horizontal panels linking two pillars under the roof
One sees that the front of each of the girders is equally decorated as they taper up the triangular roof on one of the side walls
Another such decorated girders in the middle of the roof
One of the marble paintings decorating the wall
Another such marble paintings
A third such paitings.
(To be cont'd)
Not very many people may have heard of the name Lam Sai Hang (林世鏗). I certainly never knew him. He's a native of 惠縣葵潭镇玄武村 born there in 1931, emigrated to Hong Kong in 1959 and became one of its leading garment manufacturers and in 1984, branched into animal skin at his home village and later into construction industry and has since amassed a huge fortune and is now a director of one of the listed companies in Hong Kong. Not having received much education, he fully realizes the importance of educating the young. For that reason, he financed the building of more than 200 schools in the PRC, In addition, he helped build 8 hospitals, 10 bridges, several libraries and miles of roads. In 1995, he started to construct a group of palace style buildings at Swatow called Sai Hang Court (世鏗院) to preserve the Chiu Chow style of architecture which relies heavily on stone and wooden sculpture. He spent more than 8 years to complete the project which comprises 9 different sections and now houses more than 270 calligraphic works and more than 500 Chinese ink paintings. He is now made an honorary citizen of 汕頭市, 揭陽市, 惠州市, 汕尾市, 潮州市.
The name plague at the court yard of the group of houses
The entrance to Sai Hang Yuen
One side of the front external wall surrounding the courtyard and buildings
8 horses at the courtyard to symbolize his spirit of always moving forward
The plague of a dragon at the entrance to the courtyard, done in imitation of the one at the Imperial Palace in Beijing
A series of 9 houses to symbolize "long time"
Traditional porcelain decorations depicting various aspects of daily village life on the roof of one of the houses
A fountain with 9 dragons guarding the pearl at one side of the courtyard
The entrance to the main hall
Different halls are separated by gilt wooden carvings.
Another such gilt wood carving panel
A very elaborate wooden panel
A very lively octopus decorating the top corner of one of the pillars above another lacquered panel
Another such octopus
Two elephants decorating the side of another pillar above another lacquer panel
A dragon and a Methusalah
One of the lacquered panels depicting daily life in Chiu Chow
Another elaborate wood carving under the roof
Floral pattern in one of the horizontal panels linking two pillars under the roof
One sees that the front of each of the girders is equally decorated as they taper up the triangular roof on one of the side walls
Another such decorated girders in the middle of the roof
One of the marble paintings decorating the wall
Another such marble paintings
A third such paitings.
(To be cont'd)
very nice story and buildings! happy new year!
回覆刪除[版主回覆01/05/2013 23:55:54]Thank you. You have a happy new year too.
Typical of the Chinese saying: 發財立品, 衣錦還鄉, 光宗耀祖.
回覆刪除But I must admit that Mr. Lam's philanthropic acts are rally laudable!
[版主回覆01/05/2013 07:21:44]Yes, he should be a model for all those who have build up fortunes more than their family could reasonably spend.
This is my home town too! But I have never stayed in the area so less connection with the place. Good to see the rich people spent some money to rebuild the traditional building and allow visitors to know the art of local architecture!
回覆刪除[版主回覆01/05/2013 07:22:22]Ah well, what a coincidence. You should be proud of him and what he did.
I hope that Lam Sai Hang will finance the maintenance of my temple.
回覆刪除[版主回覆01/05/2013 23:37:09]Write or email him !
I seem to remember watching a TV programme about 林世鏗 some time back. China needs more people like him.
回覆刪除[版主回覆01/06/2013 21:33:53]Yes, we need people who think a little more about other people and who do not think that profit should be the paramount factor in one's life.