Mahjong

Understand

History

Mahjong is a relatively new game compared to its much older counterparts of Go, Xiangqi, and Shogi: It is believed that the game was developed in China in the 19th century. There are some disputes about its origin - while most believe that mahjong originated from Ningbo, some suggest that it is from Fujian or Guangdong. Wherever its origin, most believe that mahjong was spread to North China, Japan, and the rest of the Asian world from Ningbo after being introduced there. Each region started developing its own variants once mahjong was introduced. Mahjong has been associated with gambling and organised crime from its start. Combined with opium smoking and time wasting at the time, it has been seen as a social issue. Local governments in East Asia have therefore tried to ban or restrict mahjong, such as a total ban of mahjong during the Cultural Revolution (1966–1976), when it was seen as a "corrupted capitalist game". These bans against mahjong have usually led to unsuccessful outcomes: The Chinese government finally gave up on banning mahjong in 1985, and in 1998, they promulgated a standardised version of mahjong known as Modern Competition Rules (MCR, 国标麻将 guóbiāo májiàng in Mandarin) in an attempt to reconcile regional rule differences for national and international competitions, but this is rarely played outside official tournaments - the vast majority of people play their local variant in casual settings. The Japanese, Cantonese (the most common version played in Hong Kong) and Taiwanese versions are by far the most prominent in pop culture today. Thanks to recent advancements in computer technology and the Internet, there are many mahjong video games people can play, mostly online. You can download any of them and play with anyone, or see livestream tournaments online. From smoky teahouses to online platforms, the complex legacy of mahjong continues to reflect its cultural significance, and you can still see a mixed attitude about mahjong among people today - while many people still play mahjong when they want to kill time, other people see it as a problem that needs to be addressed.

Rules

Mahjong is a traditional game with pluralistic rule

Talk

The language you need to learn depends on what languages players speak. Knowing it can create a better watching or playing experience, as the game is usually used for relationship building. Certain words must be used to tell other players about your tiles during a mahjong game. Fortunately, they are limited and easy to pronounce, and are not difficult to understand. You may want to see the "Rules" section above or a mahjong glossary for them. The names of each scoring hand are more complicated, but they are only used when playing mahjong. More experienced players are willing to teach, so starters don't need to learn them.

See

Museums You might have heard that there's a mahjong museum in Chiba, Japan. Sadly, it has been closed since 2012. Fortunately, however, the museum's entire collection was purchased by an avid Chinese collector and can now be viewed at the Chongqing Mahjong Museum in Chongqing, China.

1 Chongqing Mahjong Museum (重庆麻将博物馆) (Ciqikou, Chongqing, China). (updated Nov 2025) 2 Ningbo Mahjong Museum (麻将起源地陈列馆) (inside the Tianyi Pavilion in Ningbo, China). It was the house of Chen Yumen (陳魚門), inventor of modern mahjong. You can see some interesting things about mahjong there. (updated Nov 2025) 3 Mah-Jong & Tea Culture Museum, 60 Baiyunsi St, Qingyang District, Chengdu, Sichuan. Opened in 2008. It has 500 pieces of exhibits. (updated Nov 2025)

Do

Cities in East Asia do have mahjong venues, but legal restrictions can vary in different jurisdictions. You should check them before playing. For starters, playing video mahjong games on computer devices is a better idea. Any popular mahjong games are okay, just remember not to download mahjong solitaire - you should have seen something that looks like Mahjong Soul (mahjong), not Vita Mahjong (mahjong solitaire). Playing mahjong in your friend's home may also be an option.

Watch Mahjong has developed into a professional sport in Japan. Thousands of professional players join tournaments with hundreds to thousands of dollars in prizes available. The most popular leagues are M.League and Nihon Pro Mahjong, while hundreds of tournaments are also available. Thanks to their perfect Internet environment, most mahjong tournaments in Japan are available on YouTube. Abema can also be seen. In addition, online mahjong also provides online tournaments, so you don't need to worry about where to watch. China also has national mahjong tournaments using MCR. If you prefer on-site tournaments, check out each league's tournament information and buy tickets from them.

Learn

People in general learn mahjong from experienced players, who are usually someone they personally know. If there are no experienced players who can teach you, any mahjong video game's tutorial can give you an idea, while you should check which variant the game plays. If you are considering a systematic learning of mahjong, there are still lectures available. In Japan, some mahjong venues provide such lectures. Check where you can find one at kenko-mahjong Japan Kenko-Mahjong Association. The Japan Professional Mahjong League also provides such lectures. They teach the Japanese variant in Japanese. In Hong Kong, there are several licensed mahjong "schools", which are business establishments which allow the public to play mahjong inside. You can find them in densely populated areas such as Mong Kok, Yau Ma Tei and Sham Shui Po in Kowloon and Wan Chai on Hong Kong Island. These businesses generally open from noon to midnight every day and geared towards Cantonese-speaking customers. Players have to pay a portion of their winnings each round to the business. To keep the games moving at a faster pace, the businesses slightly modified some rules. The term "school" is a white lie for the government and the business to avoid the gambling ban. But since 2024, one of these schools, 1 Hong Kong Mahjong Company in Wan Chai, have started to offer actual classes to teach mahjong beginners. 2.5-hr Cantonese classes are offered twice-monthly on weekend mornings for $188 HKD, while English and Mandarin classes are offered occasionally for $488 HKD. Class schedule and registration details are posted on the school's Facebook page.

Buy

Plastic mahjong sets are inexpensive and can be bought in mahjong stores. Most larger cities in East Asia may have some, while many department stores or toy stores may also sell them. If you want to splurge, there are handcrafted and painted mahjong sets or made of exquisite materials that can set you back for $250 or even thousands of dollars. Electronic mahjong desks can be very expensive and only sell in mahjong stores, but you usually don't need one - a simple desk with chairs is enough to play, and modern mahjong venues provide electronic mahjong desks.

1 Biu Kee Mahjong (標記蔴雀), G/F, 26F Jordan Rd, Hong Kong, ☏ +852 2730 4028. Daily Noon-10PM. Sells hand carved mahjong tiles. (updated Jan 2026) 2 East King Mahjong shop, Hankou branch (東方不敗麻將專賣店 漢口門市), 台中市西屯區漢口路二段46號, ☏ +886 4 2314 6562. 10:00–22:00. East King (東方不敗) is a Mahjong brand popular in Taiwan. You can find it in most cities in Taiwan. The Hankou branch is the foundation branch of the brand. (updated Feb 2026)

Stay safe

The link between mahjong and gambling is rather sensitive, and criminal organisations are often involved. As a result, many people hold a negative view of mahjong. If you want to play, it is best to play with friends you already know. Do not play mahjong that involves betting money in any form, as such games are prone to common scams or easily involved with criminal organisations. In the worst cases, you could face criminal charges. The legitimacy of mahjong venues (or mahjong schools) varies, or can even be tricky, across different jurisdictions. Generally speaking, legal mahjong venues should strictly prohibit ga