Tong Sam Chong (唐三藏 ‘First Monk of China’) on his way to India, Haw Par Mansion (Tiger Balm Garden), Hong Kong
Collection
Identifier
JC-s861
Notes
University of Bristol - Historical Photographs of China reference number: JC-s861. The Haw Par Mansion and Tiger Balm Garden was built in Tai Hang Road, Hong Kong, in 1935, for the Burmese-Chinese tycoon and philanthropist Aw Boon Haw (1882-1954), the ‘Tiger Balm King’ and brother of Aw Boon Par. The garden was opened to the public in the early 1950s and demolished for redevelopment in 2004. The sculpture garden displayed scenes from Chinese folklore, including Buddhist and Confucian themes relating to life, death, happiness, sadness, joy, evil and justice. The mansion is now used for cross-cultural exchanges and by Haw Par Music. The Buddhist monk Tong Sam Chong (Tang Sanzang 唐三藏) is the central character in the C16th novel ‘Journey to the West’. The fictional Tang Sanzang is based on a seventh century monk named Xuanzang (玄奘), who travelled to India and brought back Buddhist texts. This photograph is sometimes captioned: ‘Tong Sam Chong Getting Buddhism Bible’.
Location
Estimated Date
1950s
Material
Paper
Media
Black and white photograph
