This game, with its chunky, colourful tiles, originated in China during the 19th century. Today, the clack of mahjong tiles rings out in parlours and homes, from China to the United Kingdom. This article covers how this game made its way around the world, the rule changes it underwent, and why so many myths surround mahjong.
Mahjong Historical Facts
- The name 'mahjong' comes from the Chinese word for sparrow (麻雀 - máquè).
- Mahjong was banned in China starting in 1949, as part of the crackdown on gambling.
- Shanghai-based American Joseph Babcock brought the game to the US in the 1920s.
- In 1937, the American Jewish community founded the National Mah Jongg League.
Where Did Mahjong Come From and When Did It Emerge?
Contrary to popular belief, mahjong is not an ancient Chinese game. The version we play today originated sometime during the 1800s, late in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1912).
With that misconception cleared up, we can talk about mahjong historical facts. For starters, records show that the game got its start in China's Eastern provinces, particularly around Shanghai and the Yangtze River delta. From there, it made its way north to Ningbo, and further inland.
Mahjong has its roots in popular Chinese card games. It's comparable in objective and purpose to rummy2, the card game so popular in Europe and elsewhere in the world. In fact, the mahjong winning hand is four sets and one pair, similar to winning at rummy. Like the card game, mahjong players draw and discard tiles to build the winning hand.
Amidst all the uncertainty surrounding this game's origins, we can state with confidence that the oldest mahjong set dates to around 18703. As for written records, Chinese literature gives us two different origin stories.
Shen Yifan, Illustrated Mahjong Guide
- published in 1914
- Asserts that the game was created in Ningbo, around 30 years earlier (in 1880).
Du Yaquan, Endless History
- published in1933
- States "mahjong was originally popular among fishermen in Guangdong and Fujian."
Conclusion: This tile game emerged sometime in the late 1800s, in China's eastern provinces. This proves that mahjong is indeed Chinese, but far younger than most people assume.
Origin of Mahjong: What Games Came Before?
Earlier, you read that mahjong has its roots in popular card games - which, themselves, likely originated in China4 before migrating west. The question is, which card games?
马吊 - má diào
- origin: Ming Dynasty (1368-1644)
- objective: defeat the 'banker'
- play mode: trick-taking
彭合拍 - péng hépāi
- origin: uncertain
- objective: collect four sets of three money cards.
Of the two, má diào boasts the closest links to mahjong, but the games are distinct from one another. Still, má diào suits resemble those of our tile game, even if gameplay is drastically different.
Money-suited cardgames had long been popular in China, though today, the standard 52-card deck rules. Those earlier card packs reflected Chinese currency systems, featuring coins (the Cash suit), coin strings (the String suit), multiple strings (the Myriad suit), and Tens of Myriads (the Tens suit, since abandoned).
These money-suited cards had an impact on mahjong's creation, but they were not a direct pipeline from cards to tiles. For that, we must consider earlier tile games, particularly Chinese dominoes.
Unlike the dominoes we're used to, Chinese dominoes were like playing cards in tile format. These more durable playing card tiles emerged sometime between the 12th and 13th centuries. They became the template for the mahjong tile.
Original tiles were designed that way so the tiles could stand on their own, without a rest.
Early mahjong players must have suffered a misunderstanding - first generation sets (一代 - yī dài) vs. second generation (二代 - èr dài), presumably of slimmer tiles. Many believed the first generation must be higher quality, so manufacturers kept producing those chunkier tiles.
Mahjong is a melding of past card games and tile games. It borrows concepts from those earlier styles of play/gambling, while being distinct from all of them.
Did Confucius Invent Mahjong?
As this myth is so prevalent, we must address it directly, even though everything you've read so far clearly shows that Confucius (孔子 - kǒngzǐ) could not have played it, let alone invented it.
In 1920s USA, anti-Chinese sentiment ran high. To promote this distinctly Chinese game to the American public, Abercrombie and Fitch sold it as 'The ancient Chinese royal court' game.
This origin story formed a division between established, respected Chinese communities in the US and the reviled newcomers5. From there, the myth grew to include improbable elements; among them, that the most famous Chinese philosopher invented it. The strategy apparently worked: ladies' groups gathered to play mahjong, making much of its fabled Chinese imperial heritage.
Though that's the most prominent narrative about mahjong, it's not the only one - by far. Some sources ascribe mystical powers to certain tile sets, particularly Winds and Dragons. In fact, the meanings of mahjong tiles are purely pragmatic.
The legend
- The four Wind tiles represent the power and virtue of cardinal directions.
- Each Dragon tile represents a specific set of qualities.
In reality
- Four Winds: represent the four seasons and cardinal directions, no mysticism implied.
- Dragons are a foundational part of Chinese lore, a natural design element for a Chinese game.
In the US, marketers promoted the tiles' 'spiritual properties' to make the game seem yet more exotic. So effective was this strategy that players contested American mahjong rules that might impact their winning streak, such as where they sat or how they held their tiles. It probably didn't help that, in the US, Wind and Dragon suits were called 'honour tiles', which could form winning hands and double a player's score.
Mahjong History: Making its Way Across China
Looking at the map, we see China is a vast country. Closer to the ground, this land is home to many different populations, each with their own culture and traditions. Yet, mahjong made its way across the country from its eastern shores.
Migration is one obvious reason why. Still today, migrant workers (民工 - míngōng) from inland head to prosperous eastern megacities to earn their living. It's a long-established practice in China to migrate for work and return home, loaded with big-city novelties. One can easily imagine mahjong sets tucked into that bounty.
Mahjong was banned in China in 1949. The ban stayed in place until around 1985.
By 1985, Deng Xiaoping had been leading the country for seven years. His progressive industrial, economic, and foreign policies afforded people more leisure time. And a bit more money to spend on idle pursuits, too.
That, coupled with a laxer attitude towards gambling, saw mahjong parlours pop up all over the country. This, in turn, gave rise to regional styles of play within China, including Changsha, Harbin, and Wuhan variations, among others.
How Did Mahjong Reach the West?
Opening China to Western industry is another foreign policy decision Deng Xiaoping was famous for. However, that happened long after Americans embraced mahjong.
From the late Qing Dynasty and even after the Boxer Rebellion (1901), foreign parties ran successful businesses in China. Americans were especially entrenched in and around Shanghai, where mahjong remained a popular pastime. One such businessman, Joseph Babcock, grew keen on the game.
He created a simplified version for American players and trademarked the name 'Mah-jongg' for use in his country. Upon his return to the US, he did his utmost to popularise the game and wrote the rule book for his modified style of mahjong.
To create the game, toymakers and marketers relied on Chinese factories to make mahjong sets.
Of course, Chinese game makers were happy to make and ship this different type of mahjong. For many years, it was a lucrative business on both sides of the Pacific, which helped build yet more commercial ties for Shanghai.
Playing Mahjong Elsewhere in the World
Obviously, this much-loved game isn't limited to the US and China. In the 100-or-so years since its first migrations, many other countries have fallen in love with the game. In most cases, they changed it to some degree to make it their own.
Mahjong History and Today's Game
By no means is this game a relic of the past, played only as a nod towards tradition. It is, in fact, a much-loved pursuit among students and the elderly alike. These are personal observations from my travels and work in China.
Each year, the new crop of university students would invite me to play mahjong with them. Upon confessing I didn't know how to play, they invariably insisted on teaching me. Unfortunately, they didn't give me a Guide to Understanding Mahjong; they relied on me watching them play to learn. But they played so fast I didn't learn a thing!
From tiny towns like Huangpi to major metropoli - even in Beijing, neighbourhood mahjong parlours do brisk business. Senior centres feature tables where members can play outdoors when the weather is nice. On sultry nights, it's not uncommon to find several lively games underway on city sidewalks.
Every holiday, celebration, and observation I had the privilege of attending invariably featured this game. After the rituals were done and the big meal was over, someone would pull out the mahjong sets and much clacking and shouting would ensue.
And that's just around China. The European Mahjong Association6 holds yearly tournaments, all of which are well-attended. The World Mahjong Organisation coordinates efforts to popularise the game, hosting Mahjong World Series events across Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
References
- Trottier, Megan. “The History of Mahjong.” Oh My Mahjong, 27 Apr. 2023, ohmymahjong.com/blogs/the-game-of-mahjong/the-history-of-mahjong. Accessed 23 Oct. 2026.
- Britannica. “Mah-Jongg | Game.” Encyclopedia Britannica, 2026, www.britannica.com/topic/mah-jongg. Accessed 23 Oct. 2026.
- Two Bam Editorial. “How Old Is Mahjong? About 150 Years, and the Dated Evidence Behind It.” Twobamgoods.Com, Two Bam, 8 Oct. 2026, twobamgoods.com/blog/how-old-is-mahjong. Accessed 23 Oct. 2026.
- Lenz, Paul. “A History of… Playing Cards.” Gethistories.Com, Histories, 10 Jan. 2025, www.gethistories.com/p/a-history-of-playing-cards. Accessed 23 Oct. 2026.
- Wang, Claire. “Why Mahjong Is a Global Phenomenon.” Culture, 6 July 2023, www.nationalgeographic.com/culture/article/mahjong-global-history. Accessed 23 Oct. 2026.
- Barr, Jenn. “Mahjong on the Move |.” Wgm8.Com, 2026, wgm8.com/mahjong-on-the-move/. Accessed 23 Oct. 2026.
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