Chinese roots
Modern Mahjong developed in China during the nineteenth century from earlier Chinese card and tile traditions. Regional rules, vocabulary, and table customs evolved as the game spread.
A global game
Travel, trade, and migration carried Mahjong to new communities around the world. Players adapted equipment and rules while preserving the game’s social rhythm: gathering, building hands, reading the table, and sharing time together.
Mahjong in the United States
Mahjong became a major American craze in the 1920s. Over time, American players developed standardized practices that include racks, jokers, the Charleston, and a published card of hands. Jewish American women were especially important in sustaining and popularizing this form of the game across generations.
Many traditions, one name
“Mahjong” refers to a family of related traditions rather than one universal ruleset. American, Hong Kong, Japanese riichi, Taiwanese, and other forms should be approached on their own terms and with respect for the communities that shaped them.