Designing Love, at Mid-Autumn 2026: In the Mood for Mahjong 「愛在中秋」2026：一副麻雀，幾代回憶
English 英 & Chinese 中：Fête Chinoise Editorial Team (Deborah Lau-Yu, Christina Li, Kayla Lo)
Photography: Ikonica Images, Fête Chinoise Team, Waddington’s Auctioneers
As Featured in 2026 Fête Chinoise Design Annual
Each year, the Love at Mid-Autumn Collector’s Mooncake Gift Set reinterprets shared cultural memory within diaspora households in an elegant and meaningful way. Thoughtfully curated design, when rooted in storytelling, has the power to create invaluable connections between our cultural nostalgia and contemporary lifestyle. This year, our team chose to honour the well-loved game of mahjong.
Mahjong has evolved into many variations over time, with each region developing its own set of rules. Yet across cultures, the tile-based game remains a beloved pastime. In many Asian households, mahjong is a ritual of togetherness: the four-player game brings people around the table, uniting generations, creating energetic chatter, and strengthening community bonds.
「食糊啦！」那一聲乾脆俐落的「食糊」，不只是勝負揭曉的瞬間，更是一種節奏、一種情懷、一種聯繫 —— 從港產片、節日喜慶到家常便飯，它總能瞬間喚起你我他的共同回憶。麻雀，從來不只是博奕遊戲，而是一種生活場景的縮影。
每年，「愛在中秋」的珍藏版月餅套裝都旨在以優雅而深刻的方式，重新演繹移民家庭的集體回憶。精心考量、富故事性的設計，不僅是一種視覺語言，更是一種文化轉譯 —— 在當代生活之中，細緻連結海外華人對傳統的情懷。今年，我們以被譽為「國粹」的麻雀出發，從設計角度，重新閱讀這項熟悉卻層次豐富的文化符號。
麻雀隨時間演變出無數版本，不同地區又自成一套規則。在香港，我們稱之為「麻雀」；台灣多稱「麻將」；而國際間則普遍以 Mahjong 或 Mahjongg 為名。從粵式、台式、國標，到日本立直麻將（Riichi Mahjong），保守估計已有超過二十種主要玩法體系， 若連同地區進化的玩法與規則 ，實際玩法可延伸至數十甚至上百種。
Originating in China in the mid-19th century, mahjong evolved from earlier Chinese card and domino games and is deeply embedded with cultural symbolism. The three suits: Dots, Bamboo, and Characters represent ancient Chinese currency systems. Each suit consists of nine tiles, with the number nine symbolising longevity and eternity in Chinese culture. The four winds correspond to the cardinal directions and affect the flow of the game, while the flower tiles echo the beloved “Four Gentleman” of traditional Chinese art—plum blossom, orchid, chrysanthemum, and bamboo. Seasonal tiles, as the name suggests, represent the four seasons. Altogether, mahjong reflects a poetic broader Chinese worldview.
The game itself is endlessly intriguing—who would imagine that 144 tiles could yield such complexity? It requires strategy, logic, mathematical thinking, observation, focus, and sharp memory. It is believed that playing mahjong supports cognitive function and helps alleviate the onset of dementia!
在許多亞洲家庭中，麻雀是一種凝聚情感的方式：四人圍桌而坐，讓不同世代相聚，在談笑之間加深情誼。這種文化亦孕育出一套獨特而生動的語彙 ——「食糊」、「自摸」、「碰」、「上」、「聽牌」、「截糊」，到講究牌型的「清一色」、「混一色」、「十三么」、「大四喜」，以及耳熟能詳的「天糊」、「地糊」。這些術語早已超越遊戲本身，成為我們日常語境的一部分，用以形容時機、運氣，甚至人生的佈局與轉折。
麻雀起源可追溯至十九世紀，多認為源自中國傳統的紙牌與骨牌遊戲，設計與文化緊密相連。筒、索、萬三種花色代表古時貨幣，每色從一到九排列，其中「九」是中國傳統文化中極為重要的數字，寓意長久與圓滿；四風牌對應東南西北四個方位，影響遊戲流轉；花牌中的梅、蘭、菊、竹呼應「花中四君子」；春夏秋冬則對應四季。從一副牌的結構與圖案中，可以窺見詩意而廣闊的中式世界觀。
麻雀本身趣味無窮。誰能想到，一百四十四張牌竟能演化出如此複雜多變的組合？打麻雀考驗策略、邏輯、數學、觀察力、專注力及記憶力，也被廣泛認為有助鍛鍊大腦，延緩認知退化。
The craftsmanship behind mahjong adds another layer of cultural depth. Before the advent of mass production, mahjong tiles were meticulously handcrafted from bamboo, bone, or wood, earning the nickname “the bamboo war.” This labour-intensive process made each set unique, embodying hours of skilled craftsmanship, an art form increasingly rare in today’s fast-paced world. Uncle King of Hong Kong’s Biu Kee Mahjong, featured in our Design Annual 2023 and in person at our 2024 Signature Event, is one of the last remaining handcraft mahjong makers in the city, continuing to preserve and promote this cultural heritage.
Our mooncake tin design pays tribute to this rich tradition while offering an education bridge for the next generation. Drawing inspiration from vintage Mahjong sets, including collections from Waddington’s Auctioneers, our committee members, and our Editor-in-Chief, we studied variations in tile design, from characters to floral motifs, carving strokes and symbolic details. We then dreamt up and hand-illustrated our own interpretation.
麻雀背後的工藝，更為其文化厚度增添一層質感。在機械量產尚未普及的年代，每一張麻雀牌皆以骨、木或竹手工雕刻製成，故有「竹戰」之稱。每一道刻紋、每一筆圖案，皆凝聚匠人的時間與技藝，獨一無二。香港標記蔴雀匠人景叔曾在 2023 年《設計薈賞》亮相及親臨我們 2024 年度的農曆新年晚宴酒會，他是香港僅存的幾名手工麻雀工藝師之一，持續守護及傳承這門逐漸稀有的文化遺產。
我們的月餅罐設計，正是向這段深厚傳統致意，並作為橋樑，讓下一代了解這項傳統遊戲。我們從古董麻雀牌中汲取靈感，參考包括沃丁頓拍賣行藏品、委員會成員及主編的珍藏，研究牌面上文字結構、花卉紋樣、雕刻筆觸與象徵符號，並以手繪方式呈現當代詮釋。
The lid reimagines a mahjong table. At its centre, the traditional “one dot” is adorned with intricate floral patterns. The “four walls” depict advanced winning hands, while familiar game elements including dice, dealer markers, and wind indicator are thoughtfully incorporated. The rim of the lid is encircled by the titles of films featuring iconic mahjong scenes. From Andy Lau in Fat Choi Spirit to Michelle Yeoh in Crazy Rich Asians, these moments in cinema reflect how mahjong has long stood as a cultural symbol across generations and geographies.
Inside the mooncake tin, we designed a special leaflet that introduces the basic rules of mahjong, offering an accessible entry point for beginners. Our mooncake mold features an interpretation of the “one bamboo” tile, traditionally illustrated with a bird. We reimagined this motif and added delicate floral elements, while the border subtly references bamboo.
月餅罐的蓋子就像一張麻雀台。我們把「一筒」的花紋置於中央，配以優雅花卉裝飾；周圍的「四方城」展示了不同的贏牌組合，從清一色、大三元、大四喜到十三幺，旁邊則放有起莊牌、骰子、風向莊和花牌。蓋子側緣則由不同電影名稱環繞，這些電影中都曾出現過經典麻雀場景。從《嚦咕嚦咕新年財》裡的劉德華到《我的超豪男友》裡的楊紫瓊，銀幕上的麻雀場景反映出其跨世代、跨地域的文化魅力。
月餅罐內，我們設計了一本小冊子，介紹麻雀的基本玩法，方便初學者參考。月餅模則以「一索」上的雀鳥為靈感，搭配花卉圖案呈現花鳥意象，並以竹紋邊框呼應索子的造型及古時的竹製麻雀。
Mahjong’s appearance and rules have evolved over time, yet the game remains vibrant in modern society. In recent years, mahjong has grown increasingly popular among younger generations, with restaurants and community centers frequently hosting mahjong gatherings. Whether to connect with cultural roots, explore a new hobby, meet new friends, or enjoy an activity with elders at home, these moments collectively help the game’s legacy to endure. At the same time, many global luxury brands have introduced novelty mahjong sets guided by their clients’ love for the game and their own brand aesthetics, confirming mahjong as a desired symbol of lifestyle and refined taste in the fashion and luxury space.
Through this design, we pay tribute to mahjong‘s beauty, elegance, and cultural depth, grounding our interpretation in its cultural roots. While reimagining tradition, we hope to allow more people to appreciate the meaning behind the game. If our project sparks your curiosity or inspires you to see mahjong in a new light, we would love for you to share your comments and add to the cultural momentum.
儘管麻雀的形式與規則不斷演變，它在當代社會依然生機勃勃。近年來，麻雀越來越受到年輕人喜愛，餐廳和社區中心也常舉辦麻雀聚會。無論是為了尋找文化歸屬感、培養興趣、結識新朋友，或與長輩共度歡樂時光，這些活動都讓麻雀得以傳承。同時，許多國際奢侈品牌都推出以自家美學主導設計的麻雀套裝，印證麻雀在時尚與奢侈品領域中備受追捧，已成為精緻生活品味的象徵。
透過這次設計，我們向麻雀的美學、優雅與文化底蘊致敬，從文化根源出發，希望在詮釋傳統的同時，讓更多人欣賞麻雀背後的深意。若這份設計能喚起你對麻雀的好奇，或啟發你以嶄新視角重新認識這個遊戲，我們誠邀你分享感受，一起延續這份文化熱情。
2026 Love at Mid-Autumn National Art & Colouring Contest
Further Reading
Our mooncake tin design pays tribute to this rich tradition while offering an education bridge for the next generation. Drawing inspiration from vintage Mahjong sets, including collections from Waddington’s Auctioneers, our committee members, and our Editor-in-Chief, we studied variations in tile design, from characters to floral motifs, carving strokes and symbolic details. We then dreamt up and hand-illustrated our own interpretation.