A Heritage of the Lai Surname in Pat Heung

There are many private studies in the villages of the New Territories. And I never get tired of them. Although many of them adopt similar architectural layouts and purposes as Qing dynasty village structures, they do give out different vibes when you visit. Oftentimes I find that my words do not do justice to these antique buildings. Therefore I encourage all my readers to make the effort to see them and feel the spirit that breathes in these buildings. The Chik Kwai Study Hall had an air of serenity about it, mainly because the ancestral altar in the rear hall is exceptionally well-kept. It impressed me to be quite a bit simpler, and minimalist, than many other elaborate ancestral altars that I have seen in the traditional ancestral worship venues in Hong Kong. The Chik Kwai Study Hall was bult before the British took over the New Territories in 1899. The Lai’s of Pat Heung came to Hong Kong from Jiangxi during the Song Dynasty. During the Ming dynasty, the 13th ancestor Lai Wui-wan led his clansmen to settle down in Pat Heung by establishing this village called Lai Uk Tsuen (meaning the “House of the Lai’s”). In Qing dynasty, Lai Kam-tai built the Chik Kwai Study Hall to offer education for the Lai children. During the 1930s, it also served as the venue for ancestral worship, community gatherings and weddings. The study hall closed its doors throughout the duration of WWII. Thereafter, it became a kindergarten offering modern education. This kindergarten was closed in the 1970s. The traces of a former decoration for the Chik Kwai Kindergarten remains still now on the back wall of the rear hall. The Chik Kwai Study was named a Declared Monument in 2007. #patheung #chikkwaistudyhall #hongkongheritage #newterritories #hongkonghistory #qingdynasty #privatestudy #villageschool #china