How to Play Chinese Mahjong
Learn the traditional Chinese mahjong, the original form of this ancient game with classical rules and time-honored strategies.
What is Chinese Mahjong?
Chinese Mahjong is the original form of mahjong, dating back to the Qing Dynasty. It emphasizes skill, strategy, and a deep understanding of tile combinations. Unlike modern variants, traditional Chinese mahjong focuses on pure gameplay without gambling elements.
Key Features of Chinese Mahjong:
- 144 tiles with no jokers
- Traditional honor tiles (winds and dragons)
- Flower and season bonus tiles
- Classical scoring system
- Emphasis on skill over luck
Tile Set and Setup
The 144 Tiles
Traditional Chinese mahjong uses exactly 144 tiles:
- Dots/Circles (筒子): 1-9, four of each (36 tiles)
- Bamboo/Sticks (条子): 1-9, four of each (36 tiles)
- Characters/Numbers (万子): 1-9, four of each (36 tiles)
- Winds (风牌): East (�?, South (�?, West (�?, North (�? - 4 each (16 tiles)
- Dragons (箭牌): Red (�?, Green (�?, White (�? - 4 each (12 tiles)
- Flowers (花牌): Plum, Orchid, Chrysanthemum, Bamboo (4 tiles)
- Seasons (季牌): Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter (4 tiles)
Game Setup
Each player receives 13 tiles initially. The dealer (East wind) gets 14 tiles and starts the game. Flower and season tiles are immediately replaced when drawn.
Basic Gameplay
Turn Structure
- Draw: Take a tile from the wall
- Evaluate: Check for possible melds or winning hands
- Meld (optional): Declare chow, pung, or kong if possible
- Discard: Place one tile face-up in the center
Valid Combinations
- Chow (顺子): Three consecutive tiles of the same suit
- Pung (碰子): Three identical tiles
- Kong (杠子): Four identical tiles
- Eyes (将牌): A pair of identical tiles (needed to win)
🎋 Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese mahjong, the one of bamboo is often depicted as a bird (usually a sparrow), which is why mahjong is sometimes called "the sparrow game" (麻雀).
Winning Conditions
To win in Chinese mahjong, you need a complete hand consisting of:
- Four sets (chows, pungs, or kongs)
- One pair (eyes)
- Total of 14 tiles
Special Winning Hands
Classical Winning Patterns:
- Pure Hand (清一�?: All tiles from one suit plus honors
- Mixed Hand (混一�?: One suit plus honor tiles
- All Honors (字一�?: Only wind and dragon tiles
- All Pungs (碰碰�?: Four pungs/kongs plus a pair
- Thirteen Orphans (十三�?: One of each terminal and honor tile
Scoring System
Traditional Chinese mahjong uses a point-based system where different hands have different values:
Basic Scoring
- Simple Win: 1 point
- Self-drawn Win: 2 points
- All Chows: 1 point
- All Pungs: 3 points
- Mixed One Suit: 3 points
- Pure One Suit: 6 points
💰 Traditional Scoring
In family games, scoring is often simplified to basic point values. The complexity comes from reading opponents and strategic tile management rather than complex scoring calculations.
Strategy and Philosophy
🧘 Patience (耐心)
Traditional Chinese mahjong rewards patience. Don't rush to expose your hand early. Keep your options open and wait for the right moment.
👁�?Observation (观察)
Watch what tiles opponents pick up and discard. This gives you valuable information about their potential hands.
🎯 Flexibility (灵活)
Be ready to change your strategy based on the tiles you draw and what opponents discard. Rigid planning often leads to failure.
🛡�?Defense (防守)
Sometimes the best strategy is to prevent others from winning rather than pursuing your own victory. Safe discards are crucial.
Cultural Significance
Mahjong is more than just a game in Chinese culture—it's a social activity that brings families together, especially during festivals and celebrations. The game teaches important life lessons about strategy, patience, and reading people.
Traditional Etiquette:
- Always shuffle tiles thoroughly before building the wall
- Announce your melds clearly
- Keep your tiles organized and hidden from others
- Show respect to elders and experienced players
- Maintain good sportsmanship regardless of outcome