Hobbies And Interests
Origins
Mah-jongg is believed to have originated in China in the court of King of Wu more than 2,000 years ago. It was a game reserved for royalty. Commoners caught playing faced decapitation.
Worldwide
After mah-jongg was legalized for commoners in 500 A.D., the game was brought to many other countries, including England, Australia and, in 1920, the United States.
Sets
Traditional mah-jongg sets contain 144 tiles made of ebony and ivory that are housed in an oak or teak casket. Each tile is hand-carved with letters or symbols and the carvings are filled with paint.
Suits
The suits of tiles in mah-jongg include the circle suit, bamboo suit and character suit. There are also titles called flowers, winds and dragons.
Play
Four people play mah-jongg for 16 hands, with each player dealing four times. The goal is to be the first to complete a hand with four sets of three or four tiles and an identical pair of any suit.