Mahjong is a popular indoor game that originated in China in the 19th century. It is a tile-based game played with 4 people, but some versions also allow game play for 3 people. Chinese Mahjong spread worldwide, including in the USA, and people began to enjoy playing this game of strategy, skill, and luck.
Like all games, Mahjong tiles games also underwent several modifications and changes as they traveled around the world. Therefore, the American Mahjong tiles are different from Chinese Mahjong tiles. Although the rudimentary rules and functions are similar, some tiles are different.
Before we get down to differentiating the American tiles from the Chinese ones, it is important to understand the story behind Mahjong tiles.
Mahjong Tiles
Mahjong tiles have a meaning that must be well understood before you start playing. Each traditional tile consists of 3 simple suits, 2 honor suits, and 1 optional suit. The first group of 3 simple suits contains stone, characters, and bamboo. The set includes winds and dragons, and the last optional suit is that of a flower.
All the suits and symbols have their meaning, and you must know what they stand for to be able to play and win the game. Grasping the game’s concept can be overwhelming for a beginner, but once you get acquainted with the suits and tiles, it is extremely fun. One must also remember that the tiles are set with every version.
Mahjong’s Journey to America
The game is believed to have originated in Shanghai and soon became popular in other parts of the country. The American expatriates were not excluded from the influence; they also began to understand the Mahjong set and took part in the game.
Tourists and entrepreneurs brought this game back to America in the 20th century. And the game quickly became popular with the citizens.
Parker Brothers, a game manufacturer, played a large role in popularizing this game in America. They delved deeply into understanding the mechanism and developing the country’s own Mahjong tiles games. People were interviewed, documents were researched, surveys were made, and more. Finally, by the mid-20th century, Americans were well in touch with Mahjong and started to enjoy the game much like a native one.
How American Mahjong Tiles are Different from Chinese Mahjong Tiles
Although Mahjong became popular in America, it was not so without some changes. Mahjong has a great scope; thus, every country has come up with its own versions, like Korean Mahjong and Japanese Mahjong. The tiles are not the same, which makes all the difference.
The American version includes the use of the Joker and the Charleston. The Asian versions do not generally have jokers, which changes the equation. Due to these inclusions, American Mahjong has 8 tiles more than the Chinese one. The former has 152 tiles, and the latter typically comes with 144 tiles.
As you may have guessed, Joker tiles are very important in the American version. However, they are not exclusive but are also used by some other versions. Jokers act as wild cards. Their benefits and how and when they can be used vary from one version to another. For American Mahjong, the Joker can be used as a replacement or substitute for any tile. However, one must have it included in a group of at least 3.
The Charleston is a unique aspect of the American version, which levels the game to a certain extent. It is a tile exchange that takes place before each hand. The players involved pass three tiles to the left, right, and across. Everyone must participate in the first Charleston, and a second can occur if all players unanimously agree to it. If even a player refuses, it cannot occur. A courtesy Charleston is also a part of this game, but it is not mandatory and is the players’ choice.
America has not only borrowed the game from China but has also made the best use of Mahjong tiles to come up with an interesting version. Mahjong is a social game and can be played with either family or friends. Although it is not as popular as chess or scrabble, it still is one of the most intricate, interesting, and intelligent games.
Mahjong Tiles 