Then & Now | Why Buddhist ritual of ‘saving lives’ is a death sentence for animals

Buddhist notions of “saving life” can be observed in various rituals across Hong Kong. Contrary to popular belief, most of these customs are not Chinese in origin, but are a consequence of the spread of (originally Hindu) beliefs following the introduction of Buddhism into China, mainly via the overland Silk Road from Central Asia, around 200BC. Such traditions became prominent when, during the long period of international openness that characterised the Tang dynasty (618-907), modified versions of Buddhist cultural practices became integrated into mainstream Chinese life.

Maritime links with Southeast Asia, where assorted Hindu-Buddhist kingdoms held sway for more than 1,000 years, reinforced such practices.

Because one of the principal tenets of Buddhism is to refrain from the taking of life, acting to rescue a creature otherwise ordained for death (usually to be slaughtered for food) is believed to bring merit. Saving fish or crabs in the market, for example, and releasing them into the wild, is a meritorious act believed to positively influence one’s own destiny. The mere fact of the animal’s release from captivity is deemed good enough; after the individual who released it has departed, that is the end of the matter as far as they are concerned.

Unfortunately, “fang sheng” (“giving life”) rituals frequently end in unpleasant early deaths for the creatures concerned. One obvious example is the small birds that are bred specifically to be sold for release. The bird market in Mong Kok – widely touted in tourism literature as one of Hong Kong’s “must-see” cultural attractions – has budgerigars, Java sparrows and finches destined to be purchased and freed by the pious. Signs on their cages and the relatively cheap prices charged for them make their purpose clear.