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INTRODUCTION

THE MAH JONGG GAME

Mah jongg is called “Mahjek,” which means “sparrow,” by Cantonese players. The derivative of this name is uncertain, but it may have something to do with the sound of the sparrow and the fact that mah jongg is such a noisy game. It may also describe the players’ arms and how they constantly and quickly move the tiles, looking similar to jumping sparrows. Or it may refer back to the old days when seamen played mah jongg at sea and the wind blew the game cards (mah jongg was originally played with cards) like a group of sparrows flying away.

For the Chinese, as well as many other Asians, mah jongg is a way of life, a favorite pastime that has been fully absorbed into the daily culture. Indeed, in many societies, the typical topic for opening a conversation is talk of weather or sports, but arguably the most prevalent icebreaker in the Chinese community is the previous evening’s mah jongg score. The game is played at home, in private clubs, and at social occasions—birthdays, wedding banquets, holidays—and is a popular way of entertaining business clients.

Regular mah jongg players idolize the game, which has resulted in such rhetoric as mah jongg “truthfully expresses one’s individuality” or “provides the opportunity to express personal freedom and indulge in self-satisfaction” being commonly heard. For many, the game offers not only an occasion for socializing, but also, a way to demonstrate one’s ability to be one’s own boss, without being swayed by adverse comments from opponents.

Despite its captivating appeal, devotees are often at a loss to explain why the game exerts such a hold on them. Some claim that its strategic maneuvers simulate real-life challenges. Once the game starts, players cast all their cares behind them as they immerse themselves totally into a world of expectation and anticipation. The game’s seemingly endless variations make it difficult to judge an opponent’s strength, thus adding to its intrigue. Since no two games are the same, each presents a unique set of challenges as well as opportunities.

A more immediate reason for the game’s popularity is that it is simple to learn and relatively easy to play. Players also claim that it relieves hypertension, subdues repression, and improves mental concentration and alertness. After an exhausting week at work, it is hard to find a better therapy than to sit down with relatives and friends, four to a table, over a sea of tiles. The familiar cries of “Sheung,” “Pung,” and the victorious “Sik,” dispel all cares as this fantasy world is entered.

The history of mah jongg has been obscured by time, although it is believed to have evolved from a card game first played a millennium ago. Legend has it that a fisherman devised it to distract his fellow sailors from yearning to return to shore whenever they were hit by rough seas. Many centuries later, the love affair with the game has not only endured but intensified. Today, people from all walks of life take to mah jongg as a favorite pastime.

The Cantonese often refer to the game as “mahjek,” which means “sparrow,” although the origin of the term is uncertain. Maybe it has something to do with the noisy, garbled sounds that the tiles make when they are being shuffled. Another explanation could be that the players are constantly moving the tiles in a manner that mimics hopping sparrows. Yet another view contends that in the old days when sailors played the game at sea, it was likely that the strong breeze would have tossed some cards away, evoking the image of a flock of darting sparrows.

In the last few decades, the migration of Asians to the West has increased dramatically. As a result, mah jongg has become more popular in Western societies, a trend that has heightened the need for a good English-language book on the game. It is all the more surprising that very few mah jongg books written by Asians have ever been published in English. Even the handful that have are of limited use, since they cover only the Western and Japanese versions of the game, which are not played by, or known to, most Asians.

With this vacuum acknowledged, this book seeks to introduce authentic Chinese mah jongg to the English-speaking world. It is believed that this is the first book of mah jongg to cover fully the instructions of the original basic 13-tile game, also known as the Cantonese Game and the Old Rules Game. For completeness, the book also includes the most popular variations in Chinese mah jongg, the Shanghai Game, the 16-Tile or Taiwanese Game and the 12-Tile Game. It is hoped that this book will seduce new players with the unique appeal and pleasures of the game, thereby keeping the mah jongg tradition alive for many generations to come.