Book Review
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Book Review "Hong Kong: A Cultural History" by Michael Ingham
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Historian Michael Ingham provides an extensive account of Hong Kong's rich cultural
past, tracing its development from prehistoric origins to the modern global metropolis, in his
book published in 2007. Ingham explores the various elements that have shaped Hong Kong's
unique culture in colorful and captivating prose, covering everything from its architecture, food,
language, politics, and art to its hybrid identity. The book, which aims high, synthesizes a
multitude of scholarly works and sources to give important background information on the
interactions between politics, economy, and culture throughout Hong Kong's history. For many
years to come, Ingham's epic narrative—which is incredibly readable—will be the definitive
cultural history of Hong Kong.
Summary
Ingham takes readers on a trip through the cultural history of Hong Kong, starting in the
ancient era and ending in the present. He starts by describing Hong Kong's beginnings as a
distant fishing village home to Tanka boat people, and then traces its development into a
significant trading port under Imperial China. Hong Kong's change quickens when the British
take it in 1841. Ingham describes how Hong Kong took on the characteristics of a colonial
metropolis, with sections set aside for British expatriates and a Chinese population that was
mainly divided (Ingham, 2007).
The advent of Cantonese opera, the adoption of Western schooling, the blending of
Chinese and Western architectural forms, and the development of Cantonese food are just a few
of the everyday aspects he examines. There are significant disruptions to daily life during the
Japanese occupation of Hong Kong in World War II. Hong Kong has to reinvent itself again in
the postwar era as a result of the influx of Chinese immigrants that fuel the city's economic
expansion. Pop culture from Hong Kong spreads throughout Asia and the diaspora as the city
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thrives and becomes a major hub for trade and finance. However, issues with identification and
the 1997 transfer are still present. Hence, Ingham offers a comprehensive picture of how internal
social change and external influences have combined to shape Hong Kong culture.
Evaluation
With its many advantages, Michael Ingham's comprehensive cultural history of Hong
Kong is an engrossing and reliable resource on this singular city. Firstly, Ingham has an
outstanding mastery of the academic literature on Hong Kong from a variety of disciplines,
including art, architecture, sociology, anthropology, and history. The book vividly depicts Hong
Kong's complicated past thanks to its extensive research and broad scope, all written in an easy-
to-read way. Academic jargon that could be confusing to average readers is absent from Ingham's
eloquent and vivid prose.
Ingham contextualizes the changing gender and class dynamics of the 1920s by vividly
describing the practice of wealthy Chinese merchants keeping concubines and buying mui tsai
child brides. The book offers a wealth of well-chosen examples and anecdotes to illustrate
broader cultural shifts. Ingham builds a multi-layered understanding by emphasizing each
chapter on different aspects such as language, cuisine, religion, arts, and sports through a clever
use of theme framework. Despite being largely chronological, Ingham regularly establishes links
across various eras to show the continuity of culture.
Among the book's shortcomings, the most obvious is how little of the modern era is
covered; Ingham covers the post-1980 era in his last two chapters more quickly than in the
previous ones. In light of Hong Kong's swift development over the past few decades, a more
thorough examination of current occurrences such as the 2019 protests would offer vital context.
In addition, some critics contend that the book takes a decidedly Western perspective, giving
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Chinese ethnography and ideas on Hong Kong identity less weight than colonial British
perspectives (Hamilton, 2019).
Significance
A significant void in the academic literature is filled by Michael Ingham's thorough 2007
cultural history of Hong Kong, which offers a comprehensive one-volume survey of the topic
from the premodern era to the present. Few publications provide such a comprehensive yet
cohesive story, even if many volumes explore different aspects of Hong Kong culture in detail,
such as its literature, movies, or architecture (Sobehrad & Sobehrad, 2022).
Ingham's work
summarizes and expands upon decades of scholarly inquiry by synthesizing a multitude of earlier
scholarship and primary sources into a cogent grand narrative. Its readability for a broad
audience sets it apart as well; although Hong Kong's intricate hybrid culture may appear
unfathomable to outsiders, Ingham skillfully distills its intricate development into a
comprehensible style without going overboard.
The book's importance is in its ability to illustrate the enormous change and continuity in
local identity from historical periods of colonialism, world war, industrialization, and global
integration—especially in light of Hong Kong's quickly changing cultural terrain in the previous
20 years. Ingham's Cultural History offers a critical viewpoint on the cultural foundations of
Hong Kong at a time when discussions about the city's relationship with China are still
developing. This book provides a thorough overview of Hong Kong's cultural evolution from a
remote outpost to a global metropolis, making it a valuable resource for researchers studying the
area as well as for locals planning for the future. Hong Kong: A Cultural History, published
fifteen years ago, is still a valuable resource.
Conclusion
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In summary, Ingham's book offers deep insights and careful research into Hong Kong's
complex history, bringing this important subject to life for readers. While more focus on current
affairs and non-Western perspectives would strengthen the work, its value in filling a gap in
academic literature is undeniable. For both scholars and general interest readers seeking to
understand Hong Kong's cultural identity, Ingham's book remains an indispensable starting point
despite its limitations. His skilled storytelling and thorough investigation of Hong Kong's past
make this a compelling and educational read that continues to enlighten audiences about this
cosmopolitan city.
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References
Hamilton, L. P. (2019).
The “Narrative State”: A New Methodology for British Expatriate Hong
Kong Writing
(Doctoral dissertation, University of Sheffield).
Ingham, M. (2007).
Hong Kong: a cultural history
. Oxford University Press.
https://global.oup.com/academic/product/hong-kong-9780195304794?lang=en&cc=us
Sobehrad, S. J., & Sobehrad, L. J. (2022). Medieval History in the Modern Classroom.
Medieval
History in the Modern Classroom
, 1-100.
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