Study Notes: Hong Kong in the Past

Hello, time travellers! Are you ready to take a journey into the past? In these notes, we're going to explore what Hong Kong was like a long, long time ago. We'll find out how our home got its name, what life was like for the first people who lived here, and discover some amazing stories from history. It's going to be a fun adventure!


1. Where is Hong Kong and How Did It Get Its Name?

Before we travel back in time, let's look at our map!

Finding Hong Kong on the Map

Hong Kong has a very special spot in the world.

  • It's on the southeastern coast of China.
  • It's right next to a big body of water called the South China Sea.
Imagine our home is like a special doorway, connecting China with many other places across the ocean!

The Story of the "Fragrant Harbour"

Have you ever wondered what "Hong Kong" means? It's a beautiful name with a cool story!

Long ago, people in this area used to trade a special kind of wood called agarwood. This wood had a very sweet and wonderful smell, especially when burned. The wood was brought to the shores of Hong Kong to be shipped away on boats.

Because of the lovely smell from the wood, people started calling this place "Hong Kong" (香港).

  • 香 (Heung) means "fragrant" or "sweet-smelling".
  • 港 (Gong) means "harbour".

So, Hong Kong means Fragrant Harbour! Isn't that a lovely name?

Did you know? Agarwood is sometimes called "the wood of the gods" because it smells so nice and is very rare!

Key Takeaway

Hong Kong is located on the coast of southeastern China. Its name means "Fragrant Harbour" because it was once a place where sweet-smelling agarwood was traded.


2. A Peek into the Past: The Song Dynasty

Let's rewind time to a period called the Song Dynasty. This was almost 1,000 years ago! An important story from this time happened right here in Hong Kong.

A Special Rock: The Sung Wong Toi Story

In Kowloon City, there is a famous rock called the Sung Wong Toi. This name means "Terrace of the Song Kings". This rock tells the story of two young boy emperors from the Song Dynasty.

The story goes that these two young emperors were escaping from their enemies. During their journey, they came to Hong Kong and stayed here for a little while to hide and rest. The people later carved words on a giant rock to remember their special visit.

Don't worry if this seems tricky at first! Just remember: Sung Wong Toi is a special place in Hong Kong that reminds us of two young emperors from the Song Dynasty who visited a long time ago.

Key Takeaway

The Sung Wong Toi rock helps us remember a time during the Song Dynasty when two young emperors briefly stayed in Hong Kong. It connects our home to a big chapter in Chinese history.


3. Living Inside the Walls: Walled Villages

Imagine living in a village that has big, strong walls all around it. That's a walled village! People in early Hong Kong built these for a very important reason: protection.

Why Build Walls?

Life could be dangerous back then! The walls helped to keep everyone safe from...

  • Pirates who might attack from the sea.
  • Wild animals, like tigers! (Yes, there were once tigers in Hong Kong!)
  • Enemy clans or bandits.

Think of it like a mini-castle for the whole community, where everyone looked out for each other.

What's Inside a Walled Village?

These villages were like small towns. Inside the walls, you would find:

  • Houses where families lived close together.
  • An ancestral hall, a special building to honour the family's ancestors.
  • Sometimes, a watchtower to spot danger from far away.

These walled villages are an amazing window into Chinese culture. They show us how important family and community were to the people who lived here.

Quick Review Box
What? A village with walls around it.
Why? For protection from dangers like pirates.
What does it teach us? About traditional Chinese culture and the importance of community.

Key Takeaway

Walled villages were built by early residents for protection. They show us a lot about traditional Chinese culture and how people lived and worked together safely.


4. Jobs in the Old Days: Life and Work for Early Residents

What did people do for work before there were tall buildings and busy streets? They used the nature around them—the sea and the land—to make a living. Let's look at the main jobs of early Hong Kong residents!

Salt Making (The Salt Fields)

Because Hong Kong is by the sea, saltwater was everywhere! People collected this water and used the sun to turn it into salt, which was very valuable for preserving food.

How they did it (step-by-step):

  1. They let seawater flow into flat, shallow fields called salt pans.
  2. The hot sun would shine on the water, causing the water to evaporate (turn into air).
  3. What was left behind? Salt! Workers would then scrape it up.
Pearl Fishing

The waters around Hong Kong were once full of oysters, and some oysters have beautiful pearls inside! Brave divers would go deep into the sea to collect these oysters, hoping to find a precious pearl. It was a very difficult and dangerous job.

Farming

People also used the land to grow food. They planted crops like rice and different kinds of vegetables in fields. This was very important so that everyone in the village had enough to eat.

Fishing

Of course, with the big sea right there, fishing was one of the most common jobs! Many people were fishermen. They would go out on boats to catch fish, which they could eat with their families or sell at the market.

Let's Remember! A Simple Trick
Think of the four main jobs of early Hong Kong people with S.P.F.F.
S - Salt Making
P - Pearl Fishing
F - Farming
F - Fishing

Key Takeaway

The life and work of early Hong Kong residents were closely connected to the environment. Their main economic activities were salt making, pearl fishing, farming, and fishing.