Funerary urns (金塔 ), New Territories (新界), Hong Kong
Collection
Identifier
NA22-28
Copyright
© Crown copyright 2011
Notes
University of Bristol - Historical Photographs of China reference number: NA22-28. From an album in The National Archives referenced as: ‘HONG KONG 9. Work of the Chinese and British Boundary Commissioners delimiting the New Territories, 1898 (CO 1069/452)’. Known as 金塔 ('kam tap' or 'jin ta'), the pottery urns are used to store the bones of ancestors. On an auspicious day, the bones are placed in an urn after being removed from the initial burial site. For more on this practice see Rubie S. Watson and James L. Watson, 'Geomancy, Politics and Colonial Encounters in Rural Hong Kong' in Frances Pine and João de Pina-Cabral, eds., 'On the Margins of Religion' (New York: Berghahn Books, 2008), p. 207. Crown copyright image reproduced by permission of The National Archives, London, England. The National Archives give no warranty as to the accuracy, completeness or fitness for purpose of the information provided. This image may be used only for purposes of research, private study or education. Applications for any other use should be made to The National Archives Image Library, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 4DU, UK. Telephone: 020 8392 5225. Fax: 020 8392 5266. Infringement of the above condition may result in legal action.
Caption in album or on mount
28 / Potted ancestors
Location
Date
1898
Material
Paper
Media
Black and white photograph
Repository
The National Archives, London
