Continuing the spirit of craftsman – Inheritance and Innovation of Hand-Carved Mahjong Skills
The “Inheritance and Innovation of Hand-Carved Mahjong Skills” project aims to preserve and develop traditional skills. After three years of hard work and investment, we are committed to promoting the continuation of this cultural heritage.
This project includes “A Study of Hand-Carving Mahjong” – Hong Kong’s first hand-carved mahjong teaching picture book (in Traditional Chinese only) and a collection of “A Study of Hand-Carving Mahjong (Video Tutorial)” (in Traditional Chinese only). These materials introduce traditional hand-carved mahjong techniques in an interesting and easy-to-understand way, providing basic learning steps for beginners, hoping to pass on the skills and spirit of hand-carving mahjong masters to the next generation.
Starting from the most basic skills, under the guidance of senior masters, we will re-visit Hong Kong’s Intangible Cultural Heritage – “Mahjong Tile Making Technique”. Learn to carve mahjong tiles with your own hands, integrate your personal creativity with traditional skills, and continue Hong Kong’s unique “hand-carved mahjong” culture. Together, we can hand-carve mahjong tiles and rejuvenate the traditional craftsmanship.
A Study of Hand-Carving Mahjong
“A Study of Hand-Carving Mahjong” is Hong Kong’s first picture book (in Traditional Chinese only) that combines illustrations, pictures, and text to systematically document the work process of hand-carved mahjong craftsmen in an accessible way. It provides detailed instruction on various aspects of the craft, including the tools used in hand-carving mahjong tiles, carving techniques for circles, characters, and bamboo suits, while also narrating the history of the mahjong manufacturing industry and sharing the aesthetics of mahjong.
Since 2018, we have been documenting Hong Kong’s mahjong tile-making craftsmanship through illustrations while our team records these gradually disappearing stories in writing. Today, we are finally able to present this content in an illustrated book format, thanks to the support of many passionate individuals!
This illustrated book is available for free to the public, hoping to guide you through the craftsmanship and dedication of Hong Kong’s hand-carved mahjong masters: breathing new life into a set of hand-carved mahjong tiles filled with human touch and warmth!
In order to facilitate understanding and learning with the picture book, we specially produced “A Study of Hand-Carving Mahjong (Video Tutorial)” (in Traditional Chinese only). This short video series uses interesting shooting techniques to easily explain the key points of hand-carved mahjong techniques. This not only increases everyone’s interest in the art of hand carving mahjong and their respect for the craft, but also hopes that in the future, people will take over this art, so that Hong Kong’s unique craftsmanship can be continued across the ages.
As long as the next generation maintains this traditional Hong Kong skill and records the important content, the skill of hand-carved mahjong will have a chance to continue!
Instructional videos
The 15-episode video series consists of 7 units that will provide an in-depth introduction to hand-carved mahjong tools and techniques. Master craftsman Cheung Shing Chung demonstrates skills such as carving circles, character strokes, bamboo, proper posture, and knife handling techniques, breaking down the sequence of carving strokes. The videos feature animations by illustrator Karen Aruba, while also sharing creative mahjong tile-making processes and industry development stories through interviews. We sincerely invite everyone to participate and witness the vitality of this craft. The 7 units include:
- Overview of Tutorial Videos
- Understanding Hand-Carved Mahjong Tools
- Hand-Carved Mahjong Techniques – Circles
- Hand-Carved Mahjong Techniques – Character Strokes
- Hand-Carved Mahjong Techniques – Bamboo
- Hand-Carved Mahjong Techniques – Coloring
- The Birth of Creative Mahjong
Origin of Plan
In 2018, I discovered by chance that “Mahjong Tile Making Technique” had already been included in Hong Kong’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list since 2014. At the same time, I noticed some hand-carving mahjong masters still working quietly, and their interviews mentioned that there were only a handful of hand-carving mahjong craftsmen left in Hong Kong, suggesting that “Mahjong Tile Making Technique” might face extinction. As a third-generation member of the industry who grew up in a mahjong factory, I felt a responsibility and mission to document these disappearing stories of Hong Kong.
In recent years, I’ve had a profound reflection. Although I’ve put in considerable effort to preserve hand-carved mahjong techniques and collect oral history, I’ve realized that learning hand-carved mahjong craftsmanship in Hong Kong is extremely challenging, with many obstacles to overcome. These include the lack of teaching materials, absence of organized and systematic guidance, shortage of instructors, and limitations in materials and tools and career development paths for the next generation. When considering how to innovate hand-carved mahjong techniques, I particularly focus on which elements of the craft can create value. Are there alternative approaches? I hope to pioneer a form that combines traditional carving art with modern crafting techniques to pass on hand-carved mahjong skills, allowing young people to develop their potential.
Through this illustrated book and video series, I sincerely invite you to explore the spirit of Hong Kong’s hand-carved mahjong craftsmen. Their exquisite craftsmanship serves as the best testament to preserving this “Intangible Cultural Heritage.”
計劃由來 – 非遺與我
張凱欣
項目總監
序 – 麻雀情緣：方寸間的美學
吳秋全
香港恒生大學藝術設計與文創產業系兼任教授
序 – 記存手工藝的溫度
吳文正
文化葫蘆創辦人
Inheritor of the Art of Making Mahjong Tiles
