Villain-beating ritual returns with a bang as many can't wait to get back at 'enemies'

Many people including tourists who want those who have touched their lives in a bad way cursed on "insects awakening day'' or "villain-hitting day'' - da siu yan in Cantonese - flocked to an area under the Canal Road flyover in Causeway Bay yesterday.

And women sorcerers providing services there said business had increased since the last time they gathered.

The term "insects awakening" represents hibernating insects awakened by spring thunder as the weather warms.

Lots of people queued at different booths under the flyover awaiting their turn to have their villains hit - a ritual popular in Hong Kong to curse enemies and to drive away bad luck.

Best performed by senior sorcerers, the machinations at HK$50 a session are aimed at laying curses, causing disliked people to stay away while bringing good luck to those who have been wronged.

It requires providing photographs of the targets or writing their names on "villain paper."

Then a sorcerer will set about striking photos or the paper with a shoe while chanting and burning paper tigers that represent bad people.

The sound of slapping shoes was overwhelming under the flyover as around 100 people awaited their turns. A few police officers were also there to maintain order.

Among the crowd was Miky from Taiwan who wanted her husband's mistress hit - a routine she is trying for a first time.

She did not know much about the other woman, only that she was about 30. And as she did not speak Cantonese the sorcerer was left to decide on the words.

And Miky decided it worked. "The villain was knocked out - very good," she said later.

Mainland visitor Qian was targeting several so-called friends who borrowed more than five million yuan (HK$5.6 million) from her more than 10 years ago to buy a property and never paid it back.

But Qian said she could only "beat the villain to vent my anger" and to comfort herself.

Chen from Dongguan remarked that "villain hitting" was like worshiping the gods, mainly to seek peace of mind.

With the fifth wave of Covid rampant in the early months of last year the rituals were suspended to avoid drawing a crowd and increasing the risk of virus transmission.

Since Covid-related restrictions were scrapped and social activities resumed, sorcerer Wong said, business this year was up 30 percent on the last time she was under the flyover.

Many customers this year were targeting mistresses, she noted.

But an assistant to one of the villain hitters explained that it was not always necessary to recite a series of chants for everyone.

And beating the villain only protects the clients themselves from more harm rather than hurting the villains.

stacy.shi@singtaonewscorp.com