The Cenotaph

The Cenotaph, a monument in Hong Kong, was erected in 1923 on Chater road in central to commemorate the soldiers who died during the first World War. After the Second World War, the monument was used to commemorate the martyrs of the two wars.

Cenotaph

synonym

Hong Kong peace monument generally refers to the peace Monument (Hong Kong statutory Monument)

The Cenotaph, located in Queen's Statue Square, central, Hong Kong, was unveiled on May 24, 1923 by the then governor of Hong Kong, sir Stuart. It is the first monument built in Hong Kong to commemorate the victims of the first World War.

The monument to peace is built with fine cut stones. The base is in the shape of a ladder. The upper part of the monument is designed with steps and gradually narrowed upward. The top is a rectangular sarcophagus decorated with stone wreaths. The monument to peace belongs to the classical Renaissance architectural style. It is built with pure Roman and Greek architectural principles established by Archaeology and academic research, and its exterior design is well proportioned. The design of the Peace Memorial seems to be very simple, but in fact, it adopts the elegant style of classical architecture.

On December 18, 2009, the Peace Memorial was rated as a first-class historical building in Hong Kong by the Hong Kong Antiquities Advisory Board

. On November 22, 2013, the Peace Memorial was listed as a statutory monument in Hong Kong under the Antiquities and monuments Ordinance.

Historical evolution

On May 24, 1923, the monument to peace was unveiled by the then governor of Hong Kong, sir Stuart. At first, the monument to peace was only engraved with the words "the glorious dead" and the year of the first World War (1914-1918).

After the Second World War, the year of "1939-1945" was inscribed on the peace memorial tablet to commemorate the victims of World War II.

In the 1980s, eight Chinese characters, corresponding to three English characters, "the glorious dead", were engraved on the side of the Peace Memorial, which clearly indicated that the Peace Memorial was built to commemorate all the victims, especially those who died in battle for Hong Kong.

Main buildings

The monument to peace is made of fine cut stones. It is located in the center of the stepped rectangular granite platform and is reached by four cross shaped footpaths. The surrounding grass is neatly trimmed and is built with granite parapets, columns and railings. On the top of the stone tablet is the Roman numeral mcmnix, which represents 1919, the year of the Treaty of Versailles.

The base of the monument is in the shape of a ladder. The upper part of the monument is designed as a wall step and gradually narrowed upward. The top of the monument is a rectangular sarcophagus decorated with stone wreaths. There was not much decoration, only stone moldings for the base and sarcophagus, wreaths on the top and sides, and six permanently fixed copper flagpoles.

Architectural features

The monument to peace belongs to the style of classical Renaissance architecture. It is built according to the pure Roman and Greek Architecture established by Archaeology and academic research, and its appearance design is symmetrical.

The design of the Peace Memorial seems to be very simple, but in fact, it adopts the elegant style of classical architecture. The four sides of the monument are not parallel. If it extends upward, it will gather at 1000 feet above the ground. The horizontal plane is a curved surface, designed as the cross section of a sphere whose center is 900 feet underground. The monument adopts the construction technology of slightly convex lines on Greek columns, which creates the illusion of straight lines on the curved surface.

History and culture

Design prototype

The Hong Kong Peace Memorial is modeled entirely on the Whitehall Peace Memorial in London. Designed by Sir Edwin rutchens, the Whitehall peace monument was built in 1919 to mark the first anniversary of the armistice of the first World War. It was originally made of wood and plaster. Shortly after that, the British authorities decided to build a permanent and solid monument in view of the importance attached to the National Monument by the public. The last monument to peace, built of Portland limestone, was unveiled in 1920. Many war monuments in Britain, Canada, New Zealand and Bermuda adopt the design of Whitehall peace monument.

memorial service

Historically, Hong Kong has held commemorative ceremonies at the Hong Kong Animal and plant park, Queen's Statue Square and St. John's Cathedral on the Sunday closest to November 11 (known as "Peace Memorial Day") every year. However, since 1981, it has been merged into an annual commemorative event held at the Peace Memorial to commemorate the victims of the two world wars.

Since 1998, the official commemorative ceremony of the peace day has been held every year at the memorial niche of the Hong Kong City Hall on the Chung Yeung Festival. The chief executive and senior officials of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region will also attend the ceremony. In addition, the Hong Kong veterans' Federation continued to hold memorial activities at the Peace Memorial on the day of Peace Memorial Day.

Cultural relic value

The peace memorial is the first and only memorial to commemorate the victims of the first World War in Hong Kong. It reflects the mourning and memory of Hong Kong Society for the victims of the two world wars. The peace memorial has become a famous landmark in central, adjacent to the old Supreme Court and the Hong Kong City Hall. It is an integral part of the historic buildings in Victoria's old city.

protective measures

On December 18, 2009, the Peace Memorial was rated as a class I historic building by the Hong Kong Antiquities Advisory Council.

On November 22, 2013, the Peace Memorial was listed as a statutory monument in Hong Kong under the Antiquities and monuments Ordinance.

Tourism information

Address: Queen's Statue Square, Chater Road, central, Hong Kong.

Transportation: Hong Kong MTR central station / Hong Kong Station; take Tram (Dingding car) and get off at Queen's Square.

Address: Queen's Statue Square, Chater Road, central, Hong Kong Island

Longitude: 114.160531

Latitude: 22.281631

Ticket information: no ticket.

Chinese PinYin : Xiang Gang He Ping Ji Nian Bei