Tung Wah Coffin Home
東華義莊
1899, Streetscapes, Landscapes & Infrastructural Facilities 街貌、景觀及基礎建設
“Coffin House” is almost unheard of in modern days. Conceptually, we can call it “coffin hotel”. In the late 19th Century, many Chinese travelled abroad to make a living. They wanted to be buried in their motherland after they passed away. Due to Hong Kong’s unique position as a free port, the city became a hub for burial. Dating back to 1875, Tung Wah Coffin House covered area over 6,000 square meters, with gateways, pavilions, gardens, rooms and halls constructed according to Feng Shui. Its unique style integrated the essence of Chinese and Western architecture, making it a valuable heritage site, which have twice won local and international heritage conservation awards in recent years. It is one of the few operating facilities across the globe that offers temporary storage of coffin and urns.
「義莊」對現代人來說是非常陌生的名詞，用潮語來說就是「棺材酒店」。十九世紀未大量華人遠赴海外謀生，死後落葉歸根的覌念濃厚，要故鄉安葬；基於香港獨特的自由港地位，自然成為回藉歸葬的中杻。「東華義莊」的歷史可追溯至1875年，佔地六千多平米，根據風水學佈局，其中的牌坊、涼亭、花園、大小莊房及大堂，建築獨特，涵蓋整世紀的中西建築精髓，近年更兩獲本地及國際的重要文物保育大獎，為極具價值的文物建築，亦為當今世上少數仍然運作的棺木寄厝設施。
文及攝影：岑延威 (香港註冊建築師)
http://www.etnet.com.hk/www/tc/diva/art_hkac_detail.php?id=29063&page=1
