Mah-jong is a board game of Chinese origin which has fascinated generations. But where exactly does it come from? When was Mahjong created? Let's discover the roots of this fascinating game and how it has evolved over the centuries.
When was Mah-jong created?
Unlike other games whose origins are well documented, there is no no exact date about the creation of Mah-jong.
However, most historians and gaming experts agree that theappearance of Mah-jong between 1850 and 1870 in China. It should be noted that this period corresponds to the end of the Qing dynasty, a time of significant social and cultural change.
What is certain is that Mahjong experienced a real boom at the beginning of the 20th century, spreading rapidly throughout China and beyond its borders. This Chinese board game is arrived in the United States in the 1920s thanks to Joseph P. Babcock, an American businessman.
The evolution of Mahjong over time
Although the precise origins of Mah-jongg remain unclear, we do know more about its origins. evolution from the late 19th century onwards.
As mentioned earlier, Joseph P. Babcock played a crucial role in this popularization by publishing simplified rules and marketing Mah-jong sets adapted to the Western market.
This period marks the golden age of Mahjong in the West, with tournaments, clubs, and significant media coverage. As it spread throughout the world, Mahjong adapted to local cultures, giving rise to gave rise to numerous regional variants.
Mahjong styles and variations
The diversity of mahjong variants bears witness to its cultural richness and its adaptability. Here's an overview of some of the best-known :
| 🀄Style | ⭐Popularity | 🕹️Type (Physical or Digital) | ✅Particularity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Classic Chinese Mahjong | China (origin) | Physical | Traditional rules, played with 144 tiles, no flowers or seasons. |
| Hong Kong Mahjong | Hong Kong and Southeast Asia | Physical | Simplified version with flowers, seasons and standardized scoring rules. |
| Japanese Mah-jong (Riichi) | Japan | Physics and Numerics | Adding the system Riichi (hand declaration) and dora (bonus). |
| American Mah-jong | UNITED STATES | Physical | Game with special scorecards and Joker tiles, very popular with clubs. |
| Taiwanese Mah-jong | Taiwan | Physical | You play with 16 tiles in hand, complex combinations and longer styles. |
| Korean mah-jong | South Korea | Physical | Reduction to 104 tiles, excluding bamboo tiles from 2 to 8. |
| Modern Mah-jong (Competitive) | International | Physics and Numerics | Standardized rules for competitions by the World Mahjong Organization. |
| Singapore Mah-jong | Singapore | Physical | Similar to Hong Kong, includes unique combinations for scoring. |
| Mah-jong Solitaire | International | Digital | A popular computer game that involves matching pairs to clear the screen. |
| Online Mahjong | International | Digital | Play online, solo or against other players, on platforms such as Free Mahjong or Mahjong Soul. |
| Mah-jong Mobile | International | Digital | Smartphone versions, often with single-player or multiplayer modes. |
Even if we we don't know when Mah-jongg was created.Generally speaking, it first appeared between 1850 and 1870 in China, under the Qing dynasty. Its introduction to the West in the 1920s, thanks to Joseph P. Babcock, marked a major turning point in its history.
By becoming a global phenomenon, the Mahjong has diversified into many variations. each with its own specific characteristics. From tea rooms to digital platforms, Mahjong continues to fascinate and unite players around the world.
Just like Mahjong, you should know that there are different Solitaire variants to discover.
English