Mah-Jongg, also written as Mahjong or Mahjonng, is (not) a Japanese board game for up to four people. However, it can also be played alone. Translated, it means something like “Sparrow Game” and it was discovered for the Western world by Joseph Park Babcock when he traveled to China in the 1920s and brought it back.
The History of Mahjong
Babcock not only brought the game back, he established fixed rules and developed it further for release in the USA. The name Mahjong was also established by him and he had it trademarked. However, the board game was widely imitated, which led to different spellings and today more than one type of Mahjong is known. The hemp sparrow serves as a symbol for the Mahjong game and is traditionally seen on the tile with the number one.
In this sense, Mahjong is not a Japanese board game and the idea originated from China.
Nevertheless, it can still be found under this search term. Babcock got the basic idea from a Chinese game, which itself is said to be several centuries old. There, it has undergone constant development over the years. The city of Ningpo or the province of Fukien in China could be the place of origin. However, he could not provide concrete evidence.
The theory that Mahjong is 4,000 years old could not be clearly proven. The first substantiated facts about the game were found in the second half of the 19th century. China and Japan were quickly enthusiastic about the Japanese board game Mahjong, and it spread accordingly rapidly. At times, it even needed its own factories to meet the demand.
However, the interest could not last forever, and so Mahjong lost its popularity again. Until today, where we have rediscovered it through PC games and smartphone apps. However, we primarily refer to Mahjong as a Japanese board game without the electronic entertainment.
Mahjong – Board Game Buying Guide
We would like to highlight several Mahjong products, as this Japanese board game can be ordered in various versions. The first variant is an elegant Mahjong case in a burl wood design. It appears very sophisticated and compact, offering just enough space as needed, making it ideal for travel.
For around 59 euros, you get an excellent Japanese board game, and existing buyer reviews are consistently positive. It should be noted that some Mahjong board games, like the one presented here, feature Arabic characters as an addition. This is due to the game’s popularity in Middle Eastern countries, so it’s not always exclusively Japanese characters. Special feature: This Mahjong board game includes printed wooden sticks, which can be used to play an alternative version.
The second variant lacks these sticks, which is why this Mahjong design box (partner link/advertisement*) is slightly cheaper at around 47 euros. The box is also dark-colored and comes with not only tiles but also matching dice. Most buyers are very satisfied with this product, and many were surprised by the high quality despite the low price. This is a Mahjong board game for the budget-conscious.
A completely different design is offered by this bamboo Mahjong game box (partner link/advertisement*). It also includes Arabic characters, but everything appears hand-painted. The bamboo box is wrapped in a fabric pattern, giving it a unique exterior. The game contents include the classic number of tiles, printed wooden sticks, and four dice. Customer opinions are mostly satisfied, though at the low price of about 37 euros, the quality differences compared to the other two models are noticeable.
Mahjong board game number four (partner link/advertisement) was crafted in a very classic design, but with light Hevea wood, which also gives it a high-quality appearance. It truly is high-quality, with 144 intricately painted tiles and a sturdy box that protects them during transport.
However, we couldn’t find any dice or wooden sticks as additions for other Mahjong variants. Thus, this set only allows playing the pure Mahjong of Chinese and Japanese ancestors. After reading customer reviews, the approximately 50 euros for this Japanese board game seems justified.
Finally, we have a Mahjong game without Arabic characters (partner link/advertisement). It also comes in a very sturdy wooden box, and the thick tiles are particularly notable. The box is made of Samena wood, while the manufacturer uses Hevea wood for the tiles. The game box can be easily opened using the semi-circular indentations and has received only good reviews overall.
The Rules – Instructions for Mahjong
On this page, we explain the rules of Mahjong. The PC and smartphone variants are only a small excerpt of the actual version. Mahjong as a board game allows participation of up to four players, and therefore the rules are more complex. At the end, points are counted according to a specific scheme and the winner is declared.
The Preparations
Most Mahjong board games come with 144 tiles. However, the traditional variant has only 136 tiles, with the eight tiles of the main color left out. Before the game begins, each player takes a seat at one of the four sides. According to Mahjong rules, the oldest player has the right to shuffle the face-down place tiles.
They stack these four tiles on top of each other and roll two dice. They then count this number starting with themselves clockwise until reaching one. The player thus determined draws the top place tile, then the next player draws the second, and so on.
One tile bears the name “East Wind” and its owner is appointed as the round leader according to Mahjong rules. The West Wind player sits opposite, and this preparation comes from the cardinal directions that should be represented in the Mahjong game. The South Wind must therefore sit to the right hand of East Wind, with North Wind opposite them.
Important Mahjong Rule: Building the Wall
The setup is carried out as follows. Each player receives 34 tiles and places them face down in front of them in two rows of 17 tiles stacked on top of each other. When playing with flower and season tiles, it’s 36 tiles with two rows of 18 tiles each. These four walls are then placed together to form a square with corners. Some see this as a reference to the Great Wall of China in the Mahjong board game.
According to Mahjong rules, East Wind takes the dice again and counts down starting with themselves using the rolled points. Moving clockwise determines a player who then rolls the dice again. East Wind now begins counting from the right corner of their wall, again clockwise. They count as many tiles as the dice show. If a high number is rolled, they continue counting on their left neighbor’s wall. The chosen tiles are removed and placed on the stack to the right of the gap.
These are referred to as loose tiles that mark the end of the wall (dead end). To the left of the gap begins the “living end.” Now the actual part of the game begins, as each player takes three times in succession with the others two stacks of two tiles each. East Wind starts, after which each player draws a 13th tile. East Wind is then allowed to draw a 14th tile.
Mahjong Rules: The Action Begins
The goal of each player is to obtain a “complete game pattern”. To do this, they can draw and discard tiles to improve their hand. Players aim to collect valuable symbols to score many points during the final counting. New tiles are drawn from the wall, and players can pick up tiles discarded by their opponents. A complete game pattern consists of four sets and one pair.
The sets become more valuable the higher their combination is (triplets, quads, sequences, etc.). The player then calls “Mahjong” and ends the round. A game of Mahjong typically lasts about 60 minutes. Every good Mahjong set comes with a booklet containing the Mahjong rules.
The Gameplay Flow in Mahjong
Everything happens clockwise, and the rolled East Wind begins the round. They discard their fourteenth tile, and the next player can either take this tile or draw one from the wall in front of them. They may then declare one or more sets (see below) and must discard a tile before the next player’s turn begins.
When a player decides to pick up a discarded tile, they must be able to form something with it (pair, triplet, quad, sequence). They must also immediately display this set face-up. The strategy comes into play when a player can call a tile, which simultaneously skips over an opponent. For example, if East Wind discards a tile, West Wind calls it, then North Wind must skip their turn.
The Figures
The simplest combination in Mahjong is the pair. It consists of two identical tiles. A complete game pattern specifically requires one pair. It is also called the “final pair,” and only when this is achieved is the player allowed to call Mahjong, as dictated by the rules.
The next higher figure is a triplet, also called “Pong.” As the name suggests, we have three exactly identical tiles here. If a player discards a tile with which another player can form their triplet, they must call “Pong” loudly and take it. They must then reveal their tiles and the drawn tile openly.
A “Kong,” on the other hand, describes a quartet and consists of four identical tiles. As with Pong, there is a concealed variant (formed only from one’s own hand and wall) and the open Kong. This is crucial for the point score in the later evaluation. The word Kong must be called when you want to complete your concealed triplet into a quartet with a tile discarded by an opponent. Through calling, players usually recognize the value of the tile sequence, even if it’s not yet openly displayed.
Lastly, there are the sequences (Chow). These refer to tiles that can be laid in sequence from a basic color (e.g., 5, 6, 7). Laying sequences with more than three tiles is not allowed. Also, the trump color cannot form a Chow. A Chow may only be called by the player sitting to the right of the player who just discarded the tile.
Game End and Scoring
When a player completes their game pattern, they call Mahjong and the round ends. Alternatively, it can happen that the wall shows only fourteen tiles, meaning seven stacks of two tiles each. The second variant leads to a kind of draw; there is no winner, the tiles are reshuffled while keeping the seating positions.
Now for the point distribution according to the formed figures:
Pairs:
- Two points for two dragons.
- Pairs of your own position (e.g., North Wind) are worth two points.
- Pairs of other winds are worth nothing.
Triplets (Pongs):
- Open triplets of 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 count as two points.
- Open triplets with 1 or 0, dragons or winds count as four points.
- Combinations with concealed tiles are counted double.
Quartets (Kongs):
The Kong is worth four times the value of the Pong. So an open quartet of 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8 is worth eight points, etc.
Sequences don’t count for any points. Furthermore, according to the Mahjong rules, there are additional possibilities. The one who can call Mahjong gets 10 or 20 bonus points. Then there’s also the “Robbing the Kong” or doublings. These special Mahjong rules are explained in more detail in the small booklets that come with the game boxes.