Here are 10 surprising facts about Mahjong that you may or may not know about:
1. Mahjong is considered a mind-sport and is often played in competitive tournaments.
2. Although it’s often thought of as Chinese, Mahjong actually originated in 19th century China and has a mix of elements from other Chinese games.
3. The name “Mahjong” is derived from Chinese characters. “Ma” means sparrow, and “jong” means tile. The game’s name could be translated as “Sparrow Tiles,” possibly because early Mahjong tiles featured bird motifs.
4. The tiles used in Mahjong are traditionally made from bamboo, ivory, or bone.
5. There are over 200 variants of Mahjong played around the world, including different rules and tile sets.
6. The game is said to have been invented by Confucius as a way to teach his students strategy and critical thinking.
6. Mahjong is often played during the Chinese New Year and is seen as a way to bring good luck and fortune in the coming year.
8. The first Mahjong set to be patented was in the United States, not China.
9. In 2011, a massive Mahjong game entered the Guinness World Records. The game involved 2,680 participants in Chengdu, China, playing with a colossal 18,144 tiles. It stands as the largest Mahjong game ever played.
10. During the Chinese Cultural Revolution in the mid-20th century, Mahjong faced criticism as a symbol of traditional culture. However, it experienced a resurgence in popularity in the 1980s as social attitudes shifted.
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Let’s play mahjong 🀄!
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