The Story of the Lei Cheng Uk Han Tomb
FoundationThe Lei Cheng Uk Han Tomb in Sham Shui Po is two thousand years old; its bricks read Dai Gat Poon Yu, proving Hong Kong belonged to the Han empire.
- The Lei Cheng Uk tomb is an Eastern Han brick tomb two thousand years old.
- Its bricks read Dai Gat Poon Yu; Poon Yu was a Han county name.
- The tomb proves Hong Kong belonged to China since ancient times — one culture.
文體小知識：文化知識說明文把歷史和文化知識講得明明白白。這一篇帶你參觀李鄭屋漢墓，讀一讀墓磚上「大吉番禺」的故事。
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1Near the Lei Cheng Uk Estate in Sham Shui Po lies a brick tomb of the Eastern Han dynasty, two thousand years old. In 1955, while building resettlement blocks, the government discovered it, and archaeologists found more than fifty relics inside — pottery jars, bronze vessels and more. To protect the ancient tomb the plans were changed, and the Lei Cheng Uk Han Tomb Museum was built on the spot; the tomb was later listed as a declared monument of Hong Kong.
2The tomb's most fascinating find is writing on some of its bricks. When making the bricks, craftsmen carved patterns and words; one brick reads Dai Gat Poon Yu — Great Fortune, Poon Yu — and another bears the name Poon Yu. Dai Gat means a blessing of good luck; Poon Yu was the name of the Han county governing the Hong Kong area. These few characters tell us that two thousand years ago Hong Kong was already within the Han empire.
3The relics also show how Han people lived: pottery models of houses, granaries, wells and cooking stoves tell of a settled farming life; the fine bronze work shows superb craftsmanship. The tomb proves that Hong Kong and the mainland have been linked by blood and culture since ancient times — part of one Chinese civilisation.
4When visiting, follow the rules: view the tomb chamber through the glass and never touch the relics; keep quiet inside, and follow the museum's rules for photography — no flash. After two thousand years the relics are fragile; a single knock could destroy them forever. To cherish relics is to cherish the evidence of history.
5Hong Kong has many more historic sites, such as Kowloon Walled City Park, temples and walled villages in every district. On holidays, ask your parents to take you walking among them and read the stories behind the relics. The communities around us were part of Chinese culture over a thousand years ago — worth knowing and worth the pride of every Hong Kong child.
1Summary 重點摘要
The Lei Cheng Uk Han Tomb in Sham Shui Po is two thousand years old; its bricks read Dai Gat Poon Yu, proving Hong Kong belonged to the Han empire.
2Vocabulary cards Vocabulary
A tomb of the Han dynasty; the Lei Cheng Uk tomb is Eastern Han.
The later half of the Han dynasty, about two thousand years ago.
Precious objects left by history, such as pottery and bronzes.
A place that keeps and shows relics; the tomb is now a museum.
A monument protected by law, never to be damaged.
Words carved on tomb bricks, such as Dai Gat Poon Yu.
The Han county that governed the Hong Kong area.
The study of ancient remains, helping us know history.
Protecting and cherishing relics and monuments for the next generation.
3Step by step Steps
- Step 1: How the tomb was foundIn August 1955, while the government built resettlement blocks at Lei Cheng Uk Village in Sham Shui Po, workers levelling a hillside uncovered a brick-built ancient tomb. Archaeologists found over fifty burial objects inside — pottery and bronzes; judging from the bricks' form, it is a brick chamber tomb of the Eastern Han, about two thousand years old. To protect the tomb the building plans were changed, the Lei Cheng Uk Han Tomb Museum was built on the original site, and the tomb became a declared monument protected by law.
- Step 2: Reading the words on the bricksThe most fascinating part of the tomb is writing carved on some bricks: one reads Dai Gat Poon Yu — Great Fortune, Poon Yu — and others bear the name Poon Yu. Dai Gat is a blessing of good luck, perhaps left by the brickmakers themselves; Poon Yu was the Han county in the Nanhai commandery that governed the Hong Kong area. A few simple characters are precious historical evidence: two thousand years ago Hong Kong was already inside the Han empire, one country with the central plains.
- Step 3: Han life seen through relicsThe relics paint a picture of Han life: pottery models of houses, granaries, wells and cooking stoves show a settled farming life with care for home and food; bronzes such as mirrors and bowls, finely made, reveal superb craftsmanship. The early people of Hong Kong two thousand years ago lived much like the Han people across Lingnan — all part of Chinese culture. Each relic is a page of a solid, three-dimensional history book.
- Step 4: The bond between Hong Kong and the motherlandSome classmates think Hong Kong's history is only a hundred years old; the Lei Cheng Uk Han Tomb tells us otherwise: as far back as the Han dynasty people lived on this land, governed by Poon Yu county. From the Tang and Song on, people came south one after another, and the ties between Hong Kong and the motherland never broke. Hong Kong has been part of Chinese territory since ancient times, and Hong Kong culture flows in the bloodstream of Chinese culture. Knowing this history, we understand the land under our feet better and love it more.
- Step 5: Museum rules for visitorsWhen visiting the Lei Cheng Uk Han Tomb Museum, remember the rules: view the chamber through the glass and never touch the brick walls — bricks two thousand years old are fragile, and even sweat corrodes relics; keep quiet inside and enjoy slowly; follow the museum's photo rules and never use flash, for strong light harms relics; no running, no food or drink. Next door lies the Han Garden, worth a stroll too. Be a polite little visitor, and both museum and visitors are happy.
- Step 6: Be a little heritage pioneerRelics are treasures that cannot be made again: once one is lost, it is lost forever. Conservation begins with small acts: follow the rules at historic sites — no touching, no scribbling, take away not one brick or stone; admire old stone tablets in the countryside without climbing them; if you see anyone damaging relics, tell an adult or the caretaker. Hong Kong has many more declared monuments, such as the remains in Kowloon Walled City Park, temples and walled villages. On holidays ask your parents to take you round — be a little pioneer of heritage conservation.
5Worked example Example
Example: Your class visits the Lei Cheng Uk Han Tomb Museum. The docent asks: what do the four characters Dai Gat Poon Yu on the tomb brick tell us?
- Read the words: Dai Gat is a blessing of good luck, carved by the brickmakers long ago.
- Read the place: Poon Yu was the Han county governing the Hong Kong area, so Hong Kong was within the Han empire two thousand years ago.
- Link to history: this Eastern Han brick tomb and its fifty-odd relics prove Han people lived in the Hong Kong area.
- Talk of conservation: the government built the museum on the spot and listed it as a declared monument; never touch the relics, admire quietly.
- Answer: Dai Gat is a blessing of good luck; Poon Yu was the Han county governing this area. The characters prove that two thousand years ago Hong Kong was inside the Han empire — Hong Kong and the mainland have belonged to one Chinese culture since ancient times. We follow the rules, cherish the relics, and pass history to the next generation.
6Common mistakes Mistakes
7Quick check Quick check
Q1From which dynasty is the Lei Cheng Uk tomb?
Q2What four characters are carved on the brick?
Q3In which year was the tomb found?
Q4What is the Lei Cheng Uk Han Tomb now?
Q5May we touch the relics when visiting?
8Recap Recap
- The Lei Cheng Uk tomb is an Eastern Han brick tomb two thousand years old.
- Its bricks read Dai Gat Poon Yu; Poon Yu was a Han county name.
- The tomb proves Hong Kong belonged to China since ancient times — one culture.
- Follow museum rules: keep quiet and never touch relics.
- Conserving relics is everyone's duty — pass history to the next generation.