The Dual Altar: Synthesizing the Spiritual Capital of Hong Kong’s Elite
The Dual Altar: Synthesizing the Spiritual Capital of Hong Kong’s Elite Having spent the past few days dissecting the spiritual behaviors of Hong Kong’s upper echelon—first through the lens of Chinese folk religion and subsequently through the prism of the Catholic establishment—I find it necessary to now draw these two distinct threads together. To view […]
The Gilded Equinox: Lunar New Year Among Hong Kong’s Elite – Part 1b
The Gilded Equinox: Lunar New Year Among Hong Kong’s Elite -Part 1b Today is Monday, the 16th of February, marked on the calendar as Nin Saam Sap (New Year’s Eve), the final operational day of the Year of the Snake. If yesterday’s Tuen Nin Fan was characterized by the static geometry of the round table […]
The Gilded Equinox: Lunar New Year Among Hong Kong’s Elite- Part 2: The First Solstice and the Architecture of Lai See
The Gilded Equinox: Lunar New Year Among Hong Kong’s Elite -Part 2: The First Solstice and the Architecture of Lai See Today is Tuesday, the 17th of February, designated as Chor Yat—the first day of the Lunar New Year. If the previous night was defined by the frenetic expulsion of the old, today is characterized […]
The Gilded Equinox: Lunar New Year Among Hong Kong’s Elite -Part 3: The Opening of the Year and the Tabletop Oracle
The Gilded Equinox: Lunar New Year Among Hong Kong’s Elite -Part 3: The Opening of the Year and the Tabletop Oracle Today is Wednesday, the 18th of February, known in the lunar calendar as Chor Yi, or more significantly, Hoi Nin (The Opening of the Year). If yesterday was defined by the hermetic seal of […]
The Gilded Equinox: Lunar New Year Among Hong Kong’s Elite -Part 4: The Geometry of Avoidance and the Grand Walk
The Gilded Equinox: Lunar New Year Among Hong Kong’s Elite Part 4: The Geometry of Avoidance and the Grand Walk Today is Thursday, the 19th of February, or *Chor Saam*—the third day of the Lunar New Year. If the first two days were defined by the centripetal force of gathering the clan, today is defined […]
The Gilded Equinox: Lunar New Year Among Hong Kong’s Elite -Part 5: The Return of the Kitchen God and the Soft Open
The Gilded Equinox: Lunar New Year Among Hong Kong’s Elite -Part 5: The Return of the Kitchen God and the Soft Open Today is Friday, the 20th of February, designated as Chor Say—the fourth day of the Lunar New Year. If yesterday, the day of the “Red Mouth,” was characterized by silence and avoidance, today […]
Romance in the Harbor: A Chronicle of Hong Kong Love (Part 6)
Romance in the Harbor: A Chronicle of Hong Kong Love (Part 6) We have examined the tangible structures of Hong Kong romance: the public housing estates, the colonial hotels, the expatriate bars, and the tycoon banquet halls. However, human behavior is rarely driven by architecture alone. It is driven by stories. This is Part 6 […]
Romance in the Harbor: A Chronicle of Hong Kong Love (Part 7)
Romance in the Harbor: A Chronicle of Hong Kong Love (Part 7) We have previously analyzed the cultural scripts that dictate the behavior of Hong Kong’s elite. Yet, scripts require a stage. In a city defined by its density and verticality, the location of a romantic encounter is as significant as the encounter itself. This […]
Romance in the Harbor: A Chronicle of Hong Kong Love (Part 8)
Romance in the Harbor: A Chronicle of Hong Kong Love (Part 8) We have previously mapped the physical high ground of the city, noting how the elite utilize geography to isolate themselves. However, isolation does not guarantee simplicity. The occupants of these private clubs and luxury suites are rarely monocultural. They are often products of […]
Romance in the Harbor: A Chronicle of Hong Kong Love (Part 9)
Romance in the Harbor: A Chronicle of Hong Kong Love (Part 9) We have arrived at the conclusion of our inquiry. Over the past eight entries, we have dissected the romantic infrastructure of Hong Kong. We have analyzed the economics of the “Golden Handcuffs,” the architecture of the “Nano-Flat,” the sociology of the “Tiger Mom,” […]