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Cultural Preservation · Handicraft · Hong Kong Economy · Mahjong
Cheung Shun-king, a 65-year-old Hong Kong artisan, actively preserves the dying craft of hand-carved mahjong tiles by holding workshops, as only three or four carvers remain in the city, with his sets selling for at least $400.
The article, published April 25, 2019, details Cheung's efforts to combat the decline of this traditional art form, which is being replaced by mass-produced tiles and digital versions of the game. Cheung's 100-square-foot shop in Kowloon serves as a hub for his work, where he meticulously carves 144-tile sets over nearly a week.
These hand-carved sets command a price of at least $400, a tenfold premium over factory-made alternatives, reflecting their unique craftsmanship. Cheung's workshops aim to educate the public, including students like 28-year-old Adrian O’Sullivan, on the intricate skills required, though he does not expect them to become master carvers.
The decline is attributed to younger generations' reduced interest in physical mahjong and the shift to mobile gaming, leading to a significant reduction in mahjong stores from over ten on his street to just one or two.
