Mah Jongg

       Mah Jongg  is a  rummy-like game  played with tiles rather than cards. The game originated in China, possibly around the time of Confucius. Supposedly, it was originally played only by the ruling classes; no one else was allowed access to this aristocratic mind-game. Eventually Ma Cheuck, the game of the Sparrows, was introduced to masses and  met with instant popularity.  Centuries later, as Chinese immigrants came to America, the game came with them.  When American players added  Joker tiles to the game, a new level of popularity was realized.
 

     Mah Jongg is enjoying a resurgence of popularity in several areas worldwide.  In America, not only middle-aged women are playing regularly, but college students have adopted it with fervor as well.
     In Japan, video arcades do not survive unless they include the popular electronic Mah
Jongg machines. A variety of internet and computer versions  are thriving, and  Mah Jongg jewelry is all the rage.  Mah Jongg tournaments and cruises are on the rise.  A classic game has 'legs'!!

Please note:  none of the items depicted here are for sale.  Most of them are things i've seen on e-bay.
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My own Mah Jongg set is made out of these very cool black tiles with bright colored markings.

Rare "enrobed" tiles draw   high prices and make .beautiful jewelry. .

Unusual tiles like these .2-toned beauties tempt women to collect braceletsin various colors. .

Mah Jongg bracelets are extremely popular right now.  I prefer the ones made of thin tiles, like these beautiful, rare celluloid ones.

     Mah Jongg can be played as a gambling game, but basically it is a game of strategy, and affords a wonderful opportunity for socializing (and snacking!).  It takes only a short time to learn, but skill continues to grow with experience.  This makes it a hobby that continues to be challenging and rewarding for years, decades, generations.
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    There are several versions of Mahj, but they all fall into two main categories:  American Mah Jongg and Chinese Mah Jongg.  American Mahj differs from the original Chinese in several ways:

It uses more tiles, including 8 Jokers.       It uses a card of Standard Hands;  these cards are changed annually.      The game is started with a "Charleston", in which unwanted tiles are passed from one  player to another.      Some hands involve sets of five, which require Jokers to complete.

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. Chinese set... 144 tiles.

No jokers     No racks     No english numbers.   Without racks, the case   can be  very compact.

Vintage Chinese set... bamboo tiles

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American set... 152 tiles  8 jokers, 4 racks, english numbers, and          usually a case big enough to hold it all.

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.    Supply sources, materials, pix, etc.  .

One-Dot makes a cool pendant. Purple-backed tiles  Anyone know  what this says?  Paperweight, modern   . .  Other Interesting Mah Jongg Stuff:   Short movie/documentary:  "Mah Jongg: The Tiles That Bind"        1998 - Directed by Phyllis Heller  & Bari Pearlman.        Very enjoyable.  Interviews with women who have played for many years, and also with people  ......who.grew up .with Mah Jongg in the home.  Humorous and also touching.        For more info:   http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0247494/ . . . ... .    .......... . .. Working on finding out more                 1950's Mah Jongg Score Calculator,.    .    .   . Wind Disks for betting about this picture....               .   .   .   .  .  England.       By Hamley Bros. It's in the Mahjong Museum in Chiba, Japan.   Special prize  if you can provide me with information!     What we REALLY want for Hannukah....  (I saw these both on ebay. Sold for a fortune.) .     .     .     .     . .        .  .     .     .     .     .    .    .  Magnificent Rosewood  .            Antique Mah Jong Table    .             .             .           Mah Jongg Chest . . . . Cool Mah Jongg Links:  National Mah Jongg League....   www.nationalmahjonggleague.org . This is where you get your annual card for American-style play.  Also, once you join, you can subscribe yearly  for online play.  It is so much fun playing Mah Jongg online with crazy Jewish ladies all over North America... what a trip!   Look for me there... my screen name is "Mahj&Chocolate." Mah Jongg Maven   .........   www.mahjonggmaven.com    What a great supplier of tiles, cases, racks, and accessories!  Pick a complete set, or custom-choose your components.  Asian or American tiles.  Really nice people, great service.  Incredible selection. Where the Winds Blow  .......  www.wherethewindsblow.com       Great Mah Jongg gifts, including personal checks!!  Tell 'em Esther sent you.... . . . Mah Jongg Solitaire online ......   www.lechinois.com/exercice/jeu/mah.swf    Just wanna play with the pretty tiles by yourself?   It's not like real Mah Jongg, but this game is so addicting! Match pairs of tiles until you remove them all.  Harder than it sounds..... More links I should know about?  Please e-mail me and let me know! ...