During my Major Self Directed Project I focused on cultural and heritage design. One particular aspect of culture that fascinates me is the tradition of ‘Villain Hitting’ (Da Siu Yan).
The primary purpose of this ritual is to drive away bad luck, resolve grievances, and improve fortune by beating a paper effigy that symbolises ‘villains’ or ‘enemies’. This is a traditional Cantonese folk practice in Hong Kong and Guangdong Province, China and it has a deep connection to my personal background.
From a psychological perspective, the aim should be to de-emphasise feudal superstitions while highlighting the mental health and stress-relief benefits of traditional culture, reinforcing its positive aspects. Interestingly, within Guangdong province itself, this practice is not as prevalent. In contrast, Hong Kong, despite being a more modern and cosmopolitan city, has managed to preserve this tradition more effectively. Many tourists from mainland China and Taiwan specifically travel to Hong Kong for the ‘beating villains’ ritual, as it is much harder to find in mainland China, where the focus is more on prayer and emotional release.