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5 Hong Kong film set superstitions, from rites to lucky red envelopes for death scenes

  • Hong Kong filmmakers are a superstitious lot. We examine five common rituals, from pig cutting to hiring a shaman to appease the spirits

Reading Time:3 minutes
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Andy Lau Tak-wah in a scene from the film Fat Choi Spirit. Actors in a death scene are given red envelopes contaning money to dispel bad luck. Photo: China Star Entertainment Group

Learn the ins and outs of feng shui, villain hitting, and fortunetelling as well as the dos and don’ts for cultivating good luck in our series on Chinese superstitions.

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In Chinese culture, show business is thought of as an “informal” trade because of the lack of a stable income and how you have to rely on popularity for success. That in turn has contributed to superstitions, many of which are observed on film sets.

Only when they are carried out, it is believed, can a production proceed without hiccups.

Here are five of the most prominent rituals and practices that the Hong Kong entertainment industry has adopted over the years.

The cutting open of a roasted pig is considered part and parcel of starting a new TV production. Photo: Sam Tsang
The cutting open of a roasted pig is considered part and parcel of starting a new TV production. Photo: Sam Tsang

1. A food party to start with a bang

It is standard practice for a new business to host a praying ceremony involving fruit, meat, candles, incense and liquor to receive blessings from the gods. The ceremony’s main event, however, is the cutting open of a roasted pig.
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