Mahjong is a popular tile-based game among the members and friends of the Chinese community. Yet, traditional mahjong patterns have not changed much over the past centuries.
With this observation in mind, Forest No.7 design studiohas joinedhandswith localillustrator and graphic designerNingLo to launch “Tâi-uân-lâng’sMahjong” (TaiwaneseMahjong).
According to a statement Forest No. 7 wrote on the crowdfunding platform “zeczec,” the design concept is to use the scenes from everyday life and arranged them according to the traditional mahjong patterns.
More importantly, laser engraving is used so that players can still feel the titles through the touch.
Everyday elements such as Taiwan fruits, pearl milk tea, scooters, blue and white flip flops, and even Taiwan’s nature, temples, and indigenous culture, such as Formosan black bear and fishing boat of Orchi, have become titles on mahjong this original game.
This mahjong dot suit is composed of various kinds of fruits, such as pineapples in dot No. 1 and mangoes in dot No. 6, echoing the title of Taiwan “Kingdom of Fruits.”
Also, one bird in the bamboos suit is transformed into a beautiful Taiwan blue magpie resting on sugarcane, while No.2-9 strings with bamboos are turned into sugar canes.
就連颱風來襲保護台灣的護國神山中央山脈、蟾蜍、台北101也成為麻將圖案「中」、「發」、「白板」。
Even the Central Mountain Range, the toad, and Taipei 101 have become mahjong titles, replacing the Red, Green in the Dragons and the whiteboard.
Asked about her inspiration, Lo said that making people feel close to life is very important to her when creating her work.
“It is easy to overlook everyday details,” she wrote, adding that while being nourished by this land, she would like to arouse the memory about this land.
這已經不是7號森林首次推出特色麻將,早先,7號森林曾推出棒球麻將,獲得球迷與麻將迷廣大回響。
This is not the first time Forest No.7 has introduced special mahjong. Earlier on, Forest No.7 introduced baseball mahjong, which has received wide acclaims from mahjong and baseball fans.
As of this writing, “Taiwanese Mahjong” has successfully raised NT$633,748 (US$22,205) since its launch on Nov. 10 on the fundraising platform “zeczec“, far exceeding the fundraising goal of NT$200,000 (US$7,007).
The mahjong design has been very well received in Taiwan. In the future, “Taiwanese Mahjong” will have a chance to rise to the international stage and let the world see Taiwan’s daily life at the mahjong table.