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CHAPTER II.

KIND NUMBER OF TILES

Tiles are usually made of bone and bamboo, but in the best quality ivory replaces the bone portion. Bone is generally derived from cattle and is imported from the U.S. and China. Bones from cattle in Japan are too small to be used in the manufacture. Plastic tiles are now being moulded to take the place of the imported bone.

There are 136 tiles in a Set. However, every Set contains another set of 4 Blanks. These are kept in reserve in case some of the tiles are lost.

There are two kinds of Letter tiles and three kinds of Numeral tiles, making up five general kinds of tiles.

Color tiles

Wind tiles

(1) Color Tiles

4- Red Letter, or Red Dragon, tiles

4- Green Letter, or Green Dragon, tiles

4 - Blanks (neither letter. nor picture),

called White Dragon tiles

Total Color Tiles.............................. 12

(2) Wind Tiles

4 - East Wind tiles

4 - South Wind tiles

4 - West Wind tiles

4 - North Wind tiles

Total Wind Tiles ........................... 16

The Numeral Tiles are Won, Bamboo and Ball Tiles.

Won tiles

(3) Won Tiles (Won is the Chinese word for 10,000)

1 - Won to 9 - Won, 4 of each

Total Won Tiles ........................... 36

(4) Bamboo Tiles

1 - Bamboo to 9 - Bamboo, 4 of each

Total Bamboo Tiles ........................ 36

(1 - Bamboo is shown with the carving of a picture of a bird or a bamboo shoot)

Bambo tiles

Ball tiles

(5) Ball Tiles

1 - Ball to 9 - Ball, 4 of each

Total Ball Tiles.............................. 36

(Ball tiles are indicated by double circles)

There are other classifications

a. Old Head Tiles

1 - Won and 9- Won

1 - Bamboo and 9 - Bamboo

1 - Ball and 9 - Ball

Old Head tiles

Middle tiles

b. Middle Tiles

2- Won to 8 - Won

2 - Bamboo to 8 - Bamboo

2 - Balls to 8 - Balls

c. Letter Tiles

Color, or Dragon tiles, are often called the Three Original Tiles.

Wind Tiles - East, South, West, North.

See Illustration No.1