The night markets of Taipei have many ways of playing two-person mahjong. Players sit opposite each other with just two parallel stacked walls between them. The play is fast and a winner soon declares.  In some versions there’s no scoring, you just play to win. In some there’s no honour tiles, only suits. In the version we chose there’s limited scoring and just one suit (usually characters or wan). But as it also has the 3 dragons and 4 Winds it creates a play not too dissimilar to Chinese Competition Rules but faster, simpler and almost as much fun.

Looking at Sichuan Mahjong as an example, I raise the question of variations in the rules as being universal, not simply reducible to an issue of cultural appropriation.

It’s often said that Chinese Republican sets have tiny tiles compared to the ones made today. This beautiful set in our collection denies this and adds to the diversity of design in the period.

How different is American Mahjong from the game played in China? We take a look at different rules, different sets and different approaches to the value of our favourite game.

Looking closely at an old Frankenstein bone and bamboo mahjong set to see how and where the discrepancies lie in the appearance and structure of replaced tiles.

Ceramic mahjong tiles produced in the 1920’s are rare. When I came across a complete set of 148 tiles in its original box, with wood scoring sticks, ceramic wind indicators, bone dice and wooden stands, I was beyond excited. Read on and share the details of this incredible find.

When mahjong became an international craze in the 1920’s sets hand-carved on bone in China travelled across the world in plain cardboard boxes, where they were repacked into boxes produced by the importer. Few of those early plain transport boxes remain, but I found one complete with it’s unused set and accessories.

Uncovering the mystery of the the characters on the flower and season tiles in this vintage mahjong set.

The Ningbo Mahjong Museum is in a beautiful garden setting and tells one story of the evolution of the game. There are many complete sets on display from China, Japan, Korea, the US and the UK, but without dating or boxes or catalogue. Read up before you go!

A 1924 British mahjong set that tells us the game was not only wildly popular but that many rule books had already been written.

Wind indicators allow players to keep track of their changing seat wind as well as the round wind. We explain how.

Not all sets have picture tiles and their inclusion has a contested history

Popularly known overseas as ‘dragon’ tiles, these red, green and white tiles have been associated with Confucian values and with the Imperial court.

Mahjong spread overseas from Shanghai to become a 1920’s craze.

Mahjong evolved from a long line of dice and card games, using bamboo tiles that were already popularised.

Ningbo claims a leading role in the history of mahjong.

Taicang in Zhejiang claims to be the original site of mahjong.