Making a traditional Chinese lantern by hand is a dying skill in Malaysia

A lantern that Chuen made which now hangs at a Chinese temple in Brunei. — CHUEN MUN WAI

Stroke by stroke, Chuen Mun Wai meticulously paints the batik-dyed fabric of a lantern. This has been the daily routine of the traditional Chinese lantern maker for the past two decades.

Traditional lanterns have been around for centuries and are at risk of “disappearing” today, said Chuen, 45, from Ipoh, Perak. He is a former draftsman, who now dedicates his life to keeping the traditional craft of making lanterns by hand alive.