INTERNATIONAL GAME NEWSLETTER

Mahjong

Renee Cruz

The Game of Mahjong

http://kaleidoscope.cultural-china.com/en/11K8164K12924.html

The Theories of How

Mahjong Came to Be
There are many theories as to how

people around a square table. Instead

Mahjong came to be. One theory was

of a traditional board game played

that Mahjong originated in the court

with cards, it is played using tiles

of the King of Wu. It is said that a

similar to that of dominos. Bone tiles

beauty lived in the seclusion in the

were introduced instead of cards, as

court and to keep herself from

that was a convenient method to

boredom she invented the game

clearly see all the tiles that were

known as Mahjong. She carved

discarded, and for players to see their

domino-shaped pieces out of ivory

own hands. The goal is to be the first

and bamboo. When she was finished,

player to get a complete hand-four

she invited three of her maids to play

sets of three and a pair. Play is

her newly invented game. Another

basically a process of players picking

theory which seems to have

up new tiles and discarding tiles they

originated from the West suggest that

What is Mahjong?

don't want until a player has a

Confucius was responsible for the

Mahjong is a traditional Chinese

complete hand-and, thus, becomes

development of the game as some of

game that dates back to the 1800s. It

the winner. You want tiles to make

the tiles resemble some of his

is typically a game played by 4

sets.

teachings. The final theory speculates

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that the Mahjong evolved from the

card game known as Ma Diao

Wilmington Advanced 12-

bamboo (numbered 1-9).

Tile

Note: bamboo is a picture of a bird

(hanging horse) during the Ming

WMPA Rules

*Ballsresembles dots (numbered 1-

Dynasty.

Novice

9)

The Different Types of

The differences in rules among these

Mahjong

variations is generally very subtle.

There are over twenty different

variations of the game as it is played
somewhere in the world:

Alan's Zung Jung

American Classical

American Modern

Australian

British Official

The objective of the game is still

pretty much the same.
The most significant and important
versions of Mahjong are Chinese
Official and Hong Kong.

What Youll Need:

*Chinese characters (numbered 1-9)

There are also "honor tiles:"
*Winds(north, south, east, westmarked N, S, E, W on the tiles);
*Dragonsare called the dragons,
but are actually three different picture
tiles: "White dragon, looks like a
white box; "Red dragon a red
Chinese character; and "Green

Mahjong set (preferably an English

dragon, a green Chinese character.

version if you can't read Chinese)

Step 2: Set up the Table

4 players

Canada Mahjong

To set up the table, place all the tiles

1 table (preferably square)

Chinese Classical

in the center of the table and mix

4 seats

them up. At this point in time, the

Chinese New Style

Chinese Official

Chinese Transitional

Dutch League Rules

European Classical (same as

There are 34 types of tiles and consist

European Contemporary in 4

of four

winds 1.0)

of each

French

one.

German

There

Hong Kong

are

Internet Mahjong Server

three

Italian Official

Japanese Classical

Japanese Transitional

Japanese Modern

Korean Style

Mahjong Masters Million

Taiwanese 16-Tile Mah Jong

Lets Get
Started!
Step 1: Learn the Tiles
Mahjong has between 136-144 tiles.

tiles do not need to be face down.

Each player should build a "wall" of
tiles. The wall should be two tiles
high and 17 tiles long. It is at this
point that the tiles should be face

main
suits:

*Bambooresembles sticks of

down on the table. The four walls

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should be placed in a square. This

stack.

characters

square wall of tiles is the communal

4. Tiles are drawn in a CLOCKWISE

* Three of a kind=three identical

deck, from which the players will

direction around the communal wall

tiles; for example, 9, 9, 9 bamboo; 3,

draw their hands and pick up tiles

of tiles. Player 1 takes two stacks

3, 3 characters; 3 north wind; or 3

during the game.

(four tiles). Then the player to his

red dragon.

Step 3: Pick up Tiles

right (Player 2) draws the next two

*Pair = two identical tiles; for example, 2

1. Each player rolls the dice; the

stacks. Then the player to his/her

north wind; 2, 2 characters; or 11

player with the highest score becomes

right (Player 3) draws two stacks, and

bamboo.

the "chief. "

finally Player 4.

Step 6: Begin to Play

2. The "chief" rolls again to decide

5. Players draw tiles three times

For every go, players must:

who will start the game. Counting

(three sets of 4). The fourth time the

1) Pick up a tile: A tile from the wall OR

him/herself as1and the player to

players draw, they all draw only one

his/her right as "2, he/she continues

tile. Then Player 1 picks up one more.

counting in a counter-clockwise

6. Each player should now have 13

direction until he/she hits the number

tiles (except for Player 1who

rolled on the dice. That person will be

should have 14). Tiles should be

the first person to pick up tiles from

placed in front of the player as in the

tiles-four sets of three and a pair (10). If

the wall, and the person to begin play

picture.

another player discards the tile you need

(called Player 1)

Tip: These complex rules for picking

to complete your hand, you can peng and

3. Player 1 will always pick tiles from

up tiles simply ensure that the person

pick it up. [Note: You can pick up the

the wall in front of him/her. Helshe

who starts the game is chosen fairly,

winning tile, regardless if the tile is to

will throw the dice again and add this

and that the tiles are drawn at

complete a run, a three-of-a-kind, or a

number to the number the chief

random. These rules ensure the game

pair]. When you have a complete hand,

rolled. The combined number of the

is fair.

two rolls will determine where in the

Step 4: Aim of the Game

wall the player will begin picking up

The aim is to become the first person

pieces. For example, if they have a

to get a complete hand of four sets of

combined number of 12, he/ she will

three ("runs" or "three of a kind") and

count the 12th stack of tiles, counting

a pair.

from the right to left (you always

*A run=three of the same suit in

count from right to left) (4). He/she

sequence; for example, 3, 4, 5

will begin to draw after the 12th

bamboo; 7, 8, 9 balls; or 4, 5, 6

chi (to complete a run); and

2) Discard a tile: The tile picked up from
the wall OR a tile from the hand.

Step 7: Winning
When you pick up your final tile to
complete your hand, you will have 14

you win the game.

For the next game, the person to the right
of Player 1 will become Player 1.

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Mahjong in The States

The League
https://www.nationalmahjonggleague.org/league.html

The National Mahjong League was founded in 1937, and is dedicated to the exposure of Mahjong across America. Each year
this website changes the hands and rules of to add a bit more excitement to the beloved game of Mahjong. To this day The
League has accumulated 350,000 members.
Here you will find that The League

Publishes the American version of the rules.

Supplies the Official Standard Hands and Rules Cards each year.

Sells merchandise for playing the game and replacing missing playing pieces.

Answers questions and arbitrates disputes about individual games.

Makes numerous donations to charitable organizations

Below is a video that explains Mahjongs history in the states.

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The World Series of Mahjong

http://worldmahjong.com/

World Mahjong Limited was founded by a team of international media and entertainment professionals who are based in
the Greater China region and well-versed in the management of high-profile international sporting and entertainment
events. This website has multiple tabs for you to explore. They offer an overview of the past Mahjong Tournament, an
explanation of what Mahjong is, new press releases, and links to online games.

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Mahjong Videos

Below are a few videos that I came across. Each video shows Mahjong in a different way. I feel that students who
were visual learners would use this as a tool to further their knowledge on this topic. I also wanted to add a few fun
elements that made the topic of Mahjong more exciting. Enjoy.

How to Play Mahjong:

How to Hand Carve Mahjong Tiles:

Mahjong 101: