History of Hong Kong

This article details the history of Hong Kong.

Imperial China

The territory has been settled by Han Chinese since the Han Dynasty. The ancient tomb at Lei Cheng Uk has been commonly linked to the Eastern Han Dynasty. Hong Kong's history during Three Kingdoms, Southern and Northern Dynasties is less known owing to the lack of records and archaeological findings. A statue at the Castle Peak Monastery is said to illustrate a Buddhist itinerant monk of the Southern dynasties.

Related Topics:
Han Chinese - Han Dynasty - Ancient tomb at Lei Cheng Uk - Eastern Han Dynasty - Three Kingdoms - Southern and Northern Dynasties - Castle Peak Monastery - Buddhist - Southern dynasties

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Guangzhou flourished as an international trading center during the Tang Dynasty. The so-called "Tuen Mun area" (which can be thought of as the area from Lantau Island to Dongguan in Guangdong) served as an outer port, naval base, salt production and anchorage area. Pearl has been exploited since the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms. Still, no significant residence occurred until major migrations from other parts of China to Hong Kong during the Song Dynasty (960-1279). Salt production was stepped up under state apparatuses. This is evidenced by excavations of coins, fishery and farming utensils. All this was reduced by Mongolian conquest to a mere anchorage for the exiled Song government which controlled the area of present day Kowloon City.

Related Topics:
Guangzhou - Tang Dynasty - Dongguan - Salt production - Pearl - Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms - Song Dynasty (960-1279) - Mongolian - Kowloon City

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In 1276, the Southern Song Dynasty court left for Fujian, then to Guangdong by boat, fleeing Mongol invaders after the surrender of Emperor Gong of Song China in Hangzhou. Any hope of resistance rested in two young princes, who were Emperor Gong's brothers. The older boy, Zhao Shi was declared emperor at age nine, and in 1277, the imperial court sought refuge first in Silvermine Bay (Mui Wo) on Lantau Island and later in today's Kowloon City (see Sung Wong Toi). The older brother became ill and died, and was succeeded by the younger, Zhao Bing, aged seven. When in 1279 the Song army was defeated in its last battle, the Battle of Yamen, against the Mongols in the Pearl River Delta, a high official is said to have taken the boy emperor in his arms and jumped from a clifftop into the sea, drowning both of them. These emperors are also believed to have held court in the Tung Chung valley, which takes its name from a local hero who gave up his life for the emperor. Hau Wong, an official from this court, is still revered as a god in Hong Kong.

Related Topics:
1276 - Southern Song Dynasty - Fujian - Emperor Gong of Song China - Hangzhou - Zhao Shi - 1277 - Silvermine Bay - Mui Wo - Sung Wong Toi - Zhao Bing - 1279 - Battle of Yamen - Pearl River Delta - Tung Chung - Hau Wong

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The Mongolian conquest of the Song Dynasty pushed even more Han Chinese refugees into the area including the descendants of the Chinese patriotic leader Wen Tianxiang. The five families of Hau (Hou, 候), Tang (Deng, 鄧), Pang (Peng, 彭) and Liu (Liao, 廖) and Man (Wen, 文) were claimed to be among the earliest recorded familial settlers of Hong Kong. Despite the immigration and light development of agriculture, the area was still relatively barren and had to rely on salt, pearl and fishery trades.

Related Topics:
Wen Tianxiang - Hau - Tang - Pang - Liu - Man

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