My Hong Kong | Why Hong Kong’s traditional ‘villain hitting’ ritual is the perfect pandemic stress reliever, and the rules to follow when picking a target
- Done to ‘curse’ one’s enemies – rival lovers, horrible bosses – the villain hitting ritual is harmless, hilarious and above all, entertaining
- Whether you pay a professional villain hitter or perform the ritual yourself, there are some guidelines to follow, such as not targeting too powerful a person
For the first time in decades, the ritual of “villain hitting”, known as da siu yan in Cantonese, that takes place under the Canal Road flyover between Causeway Bay and Wan Chai was briefly suspended in a bid to deter large gatherings.
If you’re not familiar with the ritual, then let me quickly explain.
Villain hitting is a Cantonese custom commonly practised in Hong Kong and Guangdong province in southern China. It is done to “curse” one’s enemies; the ritual involves getting a photo of the intended recipient or writing their name on a piece of paper and then hitting it with a shoe while reciting chants.
You can pay anything between HK$50 (US$6.40) and HK$500 to a professional “villain hitter” – who are usually elderly women – or you can buy your own DIY kit. Some “villain hitters” have taken the ritual online to increase their customer base. There is even an app you can download.
Of all the social-distancing restrictions that have been enforced, this is certainly a unique one that’s particular to Hong Kong. There’s something so indelible about the ritual; it has a Hong Kong je ne sais quoi to it.
