IDNO

N.54367.ELT

Description

Dang-ki (tang ki, spirit medium) festival at Lorong 29 Geylang, Singapore [Elliott's listing] probably Long Shan Ting 龙山亭 Chinese temple [suggested by beokeng.com].

A group of young mediums in white trousers are at the foot of a tao ch'iao (sword bridge), of which only the lower ladder is visible. On the right, one medium has fainted in the arms of another. In the foreground is a table with incense sticks, candles and a basket. On the left, another medium in a dark apron leans forward to reach for a sword. [EB 15/05/2018]

Place

SE Asia; Singapore; Geylang; Lorong 29; Long Shan Tin [龙山]

Cultural Affliation

Chinese

Named Person

Photographer

None

Collector / Expedition

Elliott, Alan J.A.

Date

1950 - 1951

Collection Name

Elliott Collection

Source

Format

Film Negative Black & White

Primary Documentation

Other Information

N.54307.ELT to N.54413.ELT were found inside the album now numbered A.158.ELT.

Publication: Image published in a Digital Lab Online Exhibition by Gemma Ovens, 2024. 'Chinese Spirit-Medium Possession: Exploring Ritual and Religion in the Photographic Archives of Alan J. A. Elliott' and captioned "A young tang-ki during an initiation ceremony. MAA N.54367.ELT." [source: https://www.museums.cam.ac.uk/story/chinese-spirit-medium-possession-singapore/, JD 12/02/2025]