Master Ko leading the Sa Jing ritual with LTCA at St. Helena, honoring Chinese farmworkers that helped build Napa County in 2023. Photo: Lotus Tao Culture Association
Ko Si Hing
Indigenous Cantonese Lung Moon Taoism Ritual Arts
Ko Si Hing is the master of the temple and Executive Director of the Lotus Tao Culture Association (LTCA), a cornerstone of community wellness and belonging that merges traditional Taoist practices with contemporary approaches. An immigrant from Hong Kong, Ko grew up immersed in the serene courtyards of temples, surrounded by the rhythmic chants and sacred rites of Keyi (rituals) where his father, a Fuji (planchette writing) master, communicated with the spirits of ancestral deities, bridging past and present through sandboard divination. These experiences shaped his understanding of Taoism—not as a belief system, but as a way of community love and care. Today, Ko leads key festivals and rituals in Chinatown, celebrating Chinese spirituality while encouraging younger generations to embrace their culture.
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Apprenticeship Program
2025
Wai Ming Lee will study Lung Moon (“Dragon Gate”) Taoist ritual through focused training in the Sa Jing purification ceremony under the mentorship of Ko Si Hing. This apprenticeship centers on preparing the apprentice to serve as 主科 (ritual leader), mastering the precise sequence of hand movements, footwork, solo chants, and ritual coordination required to guide the ceremony and set its spiritual tone. Through guided instruction and repetition, the apprentice will develop advanced techniques that integrate movement, sound, and spiritual intent, culminating in leading a complete Sa Jing ceremony to ensure the continued transmission of this ceremonial tradition within the community.
