While there were similar games to mahjong throughout China’s history, historians trace the origins of the game we recognize as mahjong today to mid-to late nineteenth century China, near the end of the Qing Dynasty. Some historians have suggested that mahjong evolved from a combination of the card game madiao with other tile games, such as pai. The game morphed during that time and grew popular with the Chinese citizens who lived in urban areas. It was so popular that scholars and government officials considered it dangerous for the new Republic of China.
The game gained popularity in America during the 1920s and the National Mah-jongg League was formed in 1937. The National Mah Jongg League continues to this day and is considered the authoritative source for American Mah-Jongg rules of play.
To learn more about the history of Mahjong and its popularity in America, try these articles:
- What the Surprising History of Mah-jongg Can Teach Us About America
- How Mahjong Became American
- “Performing Mahjong in the 1920s.
- "The game people played: mahjong in modern Chinese society and culture."
- How Mahjong Works
The library has many good books and eBooks on the history of mahjong and how to play. Here’s a small sampling:
- Mahjong. A Chinese Game and the Making of Modern American Culture by Annelise Heinz
- Mah Jongg: The Art of the Game by Ann M. Israel
- Teach Yourself. Play and Win Mah-Jong by D. Brine Pritchard
- The Great Mahjong Book: History, Lore and Play by Jelte Rep
- Winning American Mah Jongg Strategies: A Guide for the Novice Player by Elaine Sandberg
Ready to play? You can borrow a Mahjong set from our Library of Things collection.
You can also register for the Mahjong: History and How to Play program on September 10 and Mahjong Game Night on September 24.
For seniors, the Arlington Heights Senior Center has drop-in Mahjong on Mondays and Thursdays and the Arlington Heights Park District holds Beginning Mahjong classes.