The Guanyin Festival, dedicated to the Bodhisattva of Compassion, remains one of Hong
Kong’s most vibrant and enduring religious and cultural traditions. Rooted in centuries-old
devotional practices, the festival embodies a unique convergence of spiritual reverence,
community life, and intangible heritage. This lecture explores the Guanyin Festival not only
as a religious observance but also as a living cultural tapestry—resonating with echoes of
compassion, resilience, and renewal in contemporary society. Drawing upon ethnographic
encounters, visual documentation, and heritage discourse, the talk will trace how the festival
continues to evolve while anchoring collective memory and identity in an ever-changing
urban landscape. In doing so, it invites reflection on the significance of intangible cultural
heritage as both a vessel of tradition and a wellspring of human connection.
Irene Lok, Ph.D. is a Visiting Scholar and Visiting Fellow at University of Cambridge and
Robinson College. An interdisciplinary scholar in Buddhist Studies. Her research spans
Buddhist murals and manuscripts in Dunhuang and Turfan, and Guanyin Sūtra in China. She
is an Honorary Art Advisor and Research Fellow at Jao Tsung-I Petite École at University of
Hong Kong and a member of the Chinese Association of Dunhuang and Turfan Studies. Her
first book, Contemplating the Mind at Ease: The Origin of the Guanyin Festivals and
Worship in Hong Kong (Cosmo Publishing, 2020) was awarded the Next Writer Publication
Funding Scheme and the Hong Kong Publishing Biennial Award (2021).
| Contact |
|---|
| Dr Noga Ganany: ng462@cam.ac.uk |