China Power | Society | East Asia

Why Is Everyone Playing Mahjong? 

The centuries-old game is having a moment. But what happens when a tradition rooted in Chinese history becomes a lifestyle trend?

Mahjong is having a global moment. From designer tile sets and “mahjong parties” to growing numbers of clubs and classes, the centuries-old Chinese tile game is becoming trendy once again. But its resurgence raises questions about cultural exchange, commercialization, and what happens when a tradition rooted in Chinese history becomes a “lifestyle trend.”

Mahjong emerged in eastern coastal China in the mid 1800s, towards the end of the Qing Dynasty. Although its exact origins are debated, historians agree the game developed from earlier Chinese tile-based games.

In the early 1900s, mahjong spread across China and internationally, including to the United States, France and the United Kingdom. Annelise Heinz, historian of modern America, explained how American businesses marketed the game as an exotic Chinese novelty, often using Orientalist imagery in related advertisements and media.

American companies such as Abercrombie & Fitch helped commercialize mahjong. But Heinz argued that their success depended on Chinese manufacturing, commercial networks, and cultural expertise. Chinese merchants and community members imported and sold mahjong sets, and taught many White Americans how to play – yet their contributions are often overlooked.

Mahjong traditionally involves four players drawing and discarding from 144 tiles to create winning combinations. Strategy, probability, memory, and your ability to read your opponents all play a role. The social experience is also equally important.

Today, there are more than 40 iterations of mahjong played globally, with different versions having different rules and varying numbers of players and tiles. Chinese variants such as the Cantonese and Hong Kong styles differ from other versions such as Japanese riichi mahjong.

One of the most distinctive adaptations is American Mah Jongg. Developed in the 1920s, this version has its own rules, and a number of joker tiles that don’t exist in the original version. The spelling “Mah Jongg” reflects the commercial branding adopted during the American mahjong boom. This game was eventually standardized by the National Mah Jongg League.

In the United States, the current revival is centred largely on American Mah Jongg, while in Australia newer clubs such as Lucky Tiles are introducing players to the Hong Kong style.

In China, the history of mahjong has reflected broader shifts in society. During the late Qing and Republican periods (1912–49) the game moved from male-dominated gambling spaces such as teahouses and brothels into bourgeois homes and parlours. It became increasingly associated with women’s social lives, reflecting changing gender roles and attitudes toward leisure.

Mahjong has not always been viewed positively in China. Critics at different points in history have associated it with gambling or excessive leisure, with increased anxieties as the game became popular with women. Yet such criticisms have not diminished........

© The Diplomat