Museum of Lu Ban's carpentry skills opened in Macao

This year marks the tenth anniversary of Macao's historical center being listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005.[Photo/IC]

An exhibition room displaying carpentry techniques of extraordinary ancient Chinese carpenter, engineer and inventor Lu Ban was opened to public for free on Tuesday as part of celebration activities marking the tenth anniversary of Macao's historical center listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The small museum, covering an area of 172 square meters, was jointly conceived by Macao's Cultural Affairs Bureau and the city' s Carpentry Trade Union to promote the recognition of Lu Ban's contributions, as well as preserve traditional handicraft techniques and enrich Macao's cultural and touristic resources.

More than 80 traditional wooden tools are on display in the exhibition hall, including saws, planes, drills and ink markers. There are information boards with Lu Ban's story and inventions, videos showing methods to use carpentry tools, components of buildings constructed according to the "mortise-and-tenon" structure, and tools available for visitors to handle.

A carpenter surnamed Huang, who has been done woodworking for more than 50 years, said that one woodwork requires a day of carpentry labor by hand, but it just needs two hours through mass production. However, traditional handmade wooden crafts pursue fine workmanship.

He also wished more Macao youth could involve in spreading and developing the classical carpentry skills.

Acting President of Macao's Cultural Affairs Bureau Leong Hio Ming said the museum would preserve and pass on the precious cultural legacy to the future generation.