Hong Kong has a rich culture and immense diversity due to influence from Western countries combined with influence from China. After becoming an economic center that is considered to be one of the wealthiest cities in the world, Hong Kong diversified even further by housing individuals from all over the world with the hopes of engaging in business and other ambitions. Throughout its history, the people of Hong Kong have had many different religions, races, socioeconomic standings, cultures, values, and beliefs; however, one in particular that I would like to highlight is the Cantonese culture. Ninety-five percent of individuals in Hong Kong speak Cantonese, while only fifty percent of individuals speak Mandarin, and fifty percent of individuals speak English.
Oftentimes, representation of Asian culture in Western countries is focused on China, Japan, and Korea; however, even within these three countries, there is an incredible diversity of cultures that is often overlooked or simplified. When examining Chinese culture, Western media often focuses only on Mandarin culture, and neglects the many different regions and cultures within China as a country, including Cantonese culture and traditions. Furthermore, Southern and South East Asian countries are completely neglected in Western media and are rarely mentioned, much less represented in a comprehensive lens.
Cantonese erasure is especially prevalent, in which the focus in media is mostly towards East Asian cultures and languages, while the rich diversity within Asian culture is not celebrated nor addressed. In Hong Kong’s past, Cantonese culture has been pushed back by British colonialism, and in recent years, Cantonese culture has been restricted by China’s government. Throughout all of these changes, it is important to celebrate Cantonese culture while it exists, and encourage the preservation of Cantonese values and traditions.
The story below is an abridged version of a tale from Cantonese folk-lore that highlights important cultural values within Hong Kong culture, including social hierarchy and respect within families, selflessness, individualism, and a warning about the consequences of greed.
Ah Xiang and His Pet Snake
There once lived a boy named Ah Xiang, who lived with his mother. Ah Xiang's mother worked long hours to care for Ah Xiang, and care for his needs. Ah Xiang never lacked clothes or food, thanks to the efforts and sacrifices of his mother.
On the way to school one morning, he found a small snake and put it in his pocket. Later, in his classroom, he put the snake in his calligraphy pen drawer before the master entered. At lunch time, when he had to return home to eat, he took the snake home and secretly gave it some leftovers. He did this everyday--taking the snake to school, bringing it home, and feeding it scraps. Eventually Ah Xiang had to leave school in order to work in the fields. By this time the snake had grown considerably larger, as Ah Xiang!
Ah Xiang’s elderly mother suddenly came down with a pain in her liver. The pain became worse and worse until she was no longer able to work and was confined to bed. All Ah Xiang could do was to sit by his mother's bedside and pray.
A wandering monk happened to pass through the village, and learning of the woman's illness from neighbors, showed up at Ah Xiang's doorstep.
Having looked at the mother, he said to Ah Xiang, "Your mother needs to swallow slices of a large serpent's liver, and then she will be fine."
Ah Xiang thanked the holy man, who then left. He looked at his beloved pet, then took a knife and sat down beside the snake's large head.
He said to the snake, "Friend, I have raised you from the time you were just a tiny snake. I need your help now. Please forgive me for what I must do. Please open wide so that I may crawl in and cut off slices of your liver."
The snake obediently opened its jaws, and Ah Xiang crawled in.
Hmm, he thought to himself, Mother couldn't possibly eat all of this. I'll just cut off enough for her to eat in one mouthful.
He proceeded to slice off a thumb-sized piece of liver. The snake didn't seem to mind.
Ah Xiang exited the snake and had his mother chew and swallow the portion he had cut off. Within a day, she was completely well. As for the snake, it didn't seem to be any the worse.
A few days later, Ah Xiang started thinking, What if Mother becomes ill again? A little more liver couldn't hurt her, just in case. What if the snake suddenly dies? Would I still be able to use the liver? If I couldn't, would I ever again be able to find such a huge snake? No. I'd better take all the liver I possibly can now. I can always dry it.
He took a knife and again asked the snake to open its jaws. It did and he climbed in and once again made his way down to the liver.
He started slicing away. Three thumb-sized pieces of liver dropped off the snake, and still Ah Xiang continued to cut.
Hmm, thought Ah Xiang, so far, so good. Maybe just a bit more.
By the sixth or seventh slice, the snake started to hiss, shudder, shake and roll. It then clamped its jaws shut, never to open them again. Ah Xiang slowly perished in the body of his beloved pet snake.
