Mahjong - The Popular Chinese Game of Tiles
Mahjong, Májiàng, Màhjeung, Máquè, Màhjeuk; or the common English spellings of mahjongg, majiang, mah-jong or mah-jongg. No matter how you say it, it remains the popular Chinese game of skill, strategy, intelligence, calculation, and luck.
There are several theories regarding the origin of Mahjong, however, there is no evidence to support anyone of them.
One of the theories suggests that Confucius, the great Chinese philosopher, developed the game about 500 BC. The appearance of the game in various Chinese provinces coincides with Confucius’ travels at the time he was teaching his new doctrine. Also, according to myth, Confucius was fond of birds, which would explain the name “Mahjong” (meaning sparrow).
But there are problems with this theory… Confucius was northern Chinese and “Mahjong” comes from a westernized pronunciation of Yueyu (Cantonese) name for the game. In addition, there is little to no evidence of Mahjong’s existence prior to the Taiping era which eliminates Confucius as the likely inventor.
Another theory implies that Mahjong was developed from existing Chinese card and domino games around 1850. The most likely card game is “Mádiào” (AKA Ma Tiae - Hanging Horse; or Yèzí – Leaf) from the early Ming Dynasty. This card game is played with 40 cards which are similar in appearance to the cards used in Ya Pei. The cards are numbered from 1 to 9 in four different suits with four extra flower cards and are very similar to the numbering of Mahjong tiles today.
Other theories include Chinese army officers serving during the Tai Ping Rebellion created the game to pass the time. A noble living in the Shangai area created the game between 1870 and 1875. Or, the game was created around 1850 in the city of Níngpō by two brothers who created Mahjong from the earlier card game Mádiào.
Mahjong was banned in it’s homeland in 1949 when the People’s Republic of China was founded. The new Communist government forbid any gambling activates which were regarded as symbols of the capitalist corruption. After the Cultural Revolution, the game was revived and once again has become one of the favorite pastimes of the Chinese people.
There are several theories regarding the origin of Mahjong, however, there is no evidence to support anyone of them.
One of the theories suggests that Confucius, the great Chinese philosopher, developed the game about 500 BC. The appearance of the game in various Chinese provinces coincides with Confucius’ travels at the time he was teaching his new doctrine. Also, according to myth, Confucius was fond of birds, which would explain the name “Mahjong” (meaning sparrow).
But there are problems with this theory… Confucius was northern Chinese and “Mahjong” comes from a westernized pronunciation of Yueyu (Cantonese) name for the game. In addition, there is little to no evidence of Mahjong’s existence prior to the Taiping era which eliminates Confucius as the likely inventor.
Another theory implies that Mahjong was developed from existing Chinese card and domino games around 1850. The most likely card game is “Mádiào” (AKA Ma Tiae - Hanging Horse; or Yèzí – Leaf) from the early Ming Dynasty. This card game is played with 40 cards which are similar in appearance to the cards used in Ya Pei. The cards are numbered from 1 to 9 in four different suits with four extra flower cards and are very similar to the numbering of Mahjong tiles today.
Other theories include Chinese army officers serving during the Tai Ping Rebellion created the game to pass the time. A noble living in the Shangai area created the game between 1870 and 1875. Or, the game was created around 1850 in the city of Níngpō by two brothers who created Mahjong from the earlier card game Mádiào.
Mahjong was banned in it’s homeland in 1949 when the People’s Republic of China was founded. The new Communist government forbid any gambling activates which were regarded as symbols of the capitalist corruption. After the Cultural Revolution, the game was revived and once again has become one of the favorite pastimes of the Chinese people.
posted by I'm not Bob Vila... at
9:09 PM
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