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.

A villain hitter under the Canal Road flyover on March 5, 2021.

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.

In 2009, it was listed in Time magazine’s “Best of Asia” feature as the “Best Way to Get It Off Your Chest” item.

It was certainly a strange sight to see police officers gathering en masse under the Canal Road flyover to keep “villain hitters” away, as opposed to actual villains.

The annual “Awakening of Insects” day – known as ging zat, marking when insects come out of hibernation – falls on March 5 or 6 and is the best time of year for the villain hitting ritual to take place. This year it fell on March 5, but fell afoul of social-distancing rules.

As a result, what would have been the busiest time of year for “hitting” was sadly a very quiet day for villain hitters. One practitioner said she can make as much as HK$10,000 in a single day during ging zat.

Villain hitters wait for clients under the Canal Road flyover.

Some suggested that the ritual be taken indoors for ging zat, but the custom dictates that the ritual always be performed outdoors and preferably in a cool and shaded area; this is why the Canal Road flyover is the hotspot for “beatings”.

Plus, it is believed that if the ritual is conducted in an indoor space, it may bring bad luck to the person who paid for the service.

If you have a “hit list” of people in mind, then fear not. The ritual has returned after last week’s brief suspension and I am sure it will be in full swing once the city returns to its normal pace of life. And I’m also confident that there will never be a shortage of “villains” awaiting spiritual judgment from others.

Many times, the “villain” is a rival lover; if it is business-related it is often a horrible boss or a rival colleague.

If you are eager to pay for a villain hitting soon, then there are some rules you must bear in mind.

Your intended target can never be a pregnant woman. You must also refrain from using your target’s full name, as it is believed to bring bad luck. This may seem counter-intuitive to the ritual, but perhaps it’s considered too vicious of an attack if you name them in such a direct manner.

It is also ill-advised to “beat” someone who is powerful and highly influential, as it is believed this ritual will do little to cause any harm against such a strong individual. Some practitioners also believe that the curse may ricochet off your target and back on to you.

Finally, if you are performing the ritual yourself and use your own shoe, then make sure you don’t wear it afterwards – it will bring you bad luck. At least with a professional “hit woman” or “hit man”, they will have their own arsenal of footwear for performing “petty person beatings”.

People wait for a villain hitting ceremony on March 5, 2020.

At the end of the day, there are no real victims. The ritual is merely a symbolic means of seeking revenge against an enemy. Some might consider this a form of sorcery, but I think it is harmless, hilarious and rather entertaining. Otherwise, the government would not have listed it as an “intangible cultural heritage” of Hong Kong.

We have never heard of people actually getting hurt as a result of this ritual, have we? This villain hitting practice should be protected as local heritage and promoted as such when Hong Kong opens itself back up to the world.

Plus, maybe we should see it as a stress reliever. Imagine the sheer relief that these old ladies can provide once “villain beatings” resume in full swing after two years of pandemic-induced stress and anxiety.