A HONG KONG SPIRIT-MEDIUM TEMPLE
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dubbing themselves "the 19 Brothers" formulated plans for the construction of a new temple in Kwun Tong. With the assistance of leaders from the wider Hong Kong Chiu-chow community they managed to effect peaceful occupation of 4,000 square feet of Crown land immediately behind blocks 18, 19, and 20 of the new estate. The new site was dedicated in 1963 and at the same time the local cult was incorporated as a branch of the predominantly Chiu-chow syncretic cult known as "Tak Kaau The Virtuous Teaching."
10
Today, Tai Wong Ye gives evidence of being one of the most popular, if not prosperous, temples in Kwun Tong. It boasts approximately 200 ritual associates known as "tan sang," claims nearly 1,000 worshippers a month, and at the time of original field research was serviced by four spirit-mediums. Members of the temple association are virtually unanimous in attributing the cult's success to the efficacy of their "kei tung," especially the senior one who was first possessed in the Lo Fu squatter village. Below we discuss in more detail the role of "kei tung" and the personal characteristics of those who perform that role at Tai Wong Ye Temple.
Tai Wong Ye Temple: The Spirit Mediums
As mentioned above the mediums who serve the Kwun Tong temple are known by devotees as "kei tung." In a literal sense the term refers to a young man who does "spirit writing," i.e., the first character, "kei," means the process of spirit writing as performed in a basin filled with sand, and the second character, "tung," indicates a young man who assists in ritual activity. In combination the characters may be used in their literal sense of one who only does spirit writing or they may be used for a spirit medium. Even though mediums are able to do spirit writing, it is by no means necessary that one be a medium to perform that ritual. Henceforth in this paper we shall employ the word "kei tung" with sole reference to the type of mediums who service Tai Wong Ye Temple.
To date Jordan has published the most detailed study of the Chinese "kei tung," devoting special attention to life history events relating to the initial experience of spirit possession. Like shamanistic religious specialists elsewhere, the "kei tung" insists that he has been chosen by the deity rather than vice-versa. The initial possession experience ordinarily occurs at a time of personal crisis and is manifested by behavior that the actor is unable to interpret.
A HONG KONG SPIRIT-MEDIUM TEMPLE
21
dubbing themselves "the 19 Brothers" formulated plans for the construction of a new temple in Kwun Tong. With the assistance of leaders from the wider Hong Kong Chiu-chow community they managed to effect peaceful occupation of 4,000 square feet of Crown land immediately behind blocks 18. 19, and 20 of the new estate. The new site was dedicated in 1963 and at the same time the local cult was incorporated as a branch of the predominently Chiu-chow syncretic cult known as Tak Kaau The Virtuous Teaching."
10
Today, Tai Wong Ye gives evidence of being one of the most popular, if not prosperous, temples in Kwun Tong. It boasts ap- proximately 200 ritual associates known as tan sang ✯, claims nearly 1,000 worshippers a month, and at the time of original field research was serviced by four spirit-mediums. Members of the temple association are virtually unanimous in attributing the cult's success to the efficacy of their kei tung, especially the senior one who was first possessed in the Lo Fu squatter village. Below we discuss in more detail the role of kei tung and the personal charac- teristics of those who perform that role at Tai Wong Ye Temple.
Tai Wong Ye Temple: The Spirit Mediums
As mentioned above the mediums who serve the Kwun Tong temple are known by devotees as kei tung. In a literal sense the term refers to a young man who does "spirit writing", i.e. the first character, kei à, means the process of spirit writing as performed in a basin filled with sand, and, the second character, tung, in- dicates a young man who assists in ritual activity. In combination the characters may be used in their literal sense of one who only does spirit writing or they may be used for a spirit medium. Even though mediums are able to do spirit writing it is by no means necessary that one be a medium to perform that ritual. Henceforth in this paper we shall employ the word kei tung with sole reference to the type of mediums who service Tai Wong Ye Temple.
To date Jordan has published the most detailed study of the Chinese kei tung devoting special attention to life history events relating to the initial experience of spirit possession. Like sha- manistic religious specialists elsewhere the kei tung insists that he has been chosen by the deity rather than vice-versa. The initial possession experience ordinarily occurs at a time of personal crisis and is manifested by behavior that the actor is unable to interpret
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