| Have you ever wondered about... |
Mahjong? |
Part II
Source Information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahjong#Mahjong_in_China
By Emy Murakawa
In Part One, I promised information about how the game is played. When I mentioned my newest Cultural Corner topic, some said they knew the game. I was quite surprised! Well, it turns out that they were referring to a computer solitaire game. I learned that it was mahjong tiles piled in pyramid style and that the object was to eliminate the tiles in pairs to the fewest number. Well, the mahjong I am writing about is quite different! Traditional mahjong has been in existence for over 2,000 years. Originally a game restricted to royalty, commoners were banned from playing. The penalty for defying the ban was decapitation. Some time around 500 AD, this ban was lifted, thus allowing the general population to play. The game eventually migrated to other countries, principally England and Australia. It didn’t find its way to the United States until around the 1920s. It was introduced in the United States by Abercrombie and Fitch! It was such a hit that the owner, Ezra Fitch, sent people to China to buy every available mahjong set, finally selling 12,000 sets. |
 Classic Mahjong Set |
Interestingly, mahjong was banned in China in 1949 when the Communist government designated all gambling activities as corrupt. The game was revived and mahjong resurfaced as a favorite pastime of Chinese people in China, Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and elsewhere. Here in the US, the mahjong fad was sudden and strong, and then faded almost as quickly by the end of the 1920s. Several hit songs were recorded in mahjong’s heyday, including “Since Ma is Playing Mah Jong” by Eddie Cantor. The game resurfaced as the Depression sparked the revival of many table games, card games, and board games. Some think that mahjong became popular because people wanted a mental challenge.
There are many more versions of mahjong rules than I know. I welcome you to find the ones that you find most interesting or challenging. Alan D. Millington wrote a book, The Complete Book of Mah-Jongg (1977), which includes a formal set of rules. Many players in Western countries consider Millington’s work authoritative. The American version of mahjong is seen as a family-friendly social activity, not as gambling, which explains further my experience when reintroduced to the game after my first shipboard introduction. I don’t know all the rules of play; I only know what I learned from my father.
The game starts by placing all the tiles face down and all four players mixing the tiles. Each player then stacks a two-high row, the number of stacks determined by the number of tiles being played, to form one wall in front of each player with the four walls forming a square. Each player’s stack could range from 17-19, depending on the number of tiles (136-152).
Next would be to identify who will be the dealer/banker (hereafter referred to as the banker). Each player rolls the dice and whoever rolls highest will roll again to determine who will be banker. The highest roller will be “1” and the count will proceed clockwise to the number rolled. That person will be the initial banker and designated as the East wind. The person to the left will be South, the next will be West, and the last will be North (think of a compass if you get confused). The banker will then roll the dice and again be “1” and the count will proceed clockwise, to the person designated by the number rolled. Then, that same number of tile stacks are counted off from the right edge of that wall and shifted to the right. The banker will then take 4 tiles (two stacks) off of the left edge of that divide and moving counter-clockwise to each player, tiles are taken clockwise 4 tiles at a time until each player has the number of tiles needed for the game (13 or 16). In the version I learned, we played with 13 tiles. We usually counted seven stacks from the end wall and separated them from play and placed the dice on that “dead wall.” If no one won by the time we reached that last wall, the game was considered a “wash” or “nagare” and we started anew. The banker passes to the right and another game is begun with each win or wash, unless the banker wins, in which case she remains banker until she loses.
To win, you must get four sets of three and an “eye” or “atama” (literally, head) which is a matched set of two made from within your hand, a final draw or from someone’s discard. The matched set of three identical tiles is called “pon” in Japanese, “pong” or “pung” in Chinese. A pon can be made by drawing the matching tile, in which case it is considered a hidden or inside pon, or by calling “pon” on another player’s discard, in which case it must be shown face up on the table. If you make pon from another player’s discard, the turn moves to you, skipping over any intervening players – they simply lose their turn. If the pon is made by normal draw when it is your turn, you may keep it hidden, and it becomes worth more upon winning. A matched set of four identical tiles is called “kan” in Japanese, “kong” in Chinese. Making the kan is done in the same way as making a pon. The difference between the pon and kan is, of course, the additional tile used that leaves you short one tile. So, a kan must be declared when made. If you make kan from another player’s discard, the turn moves to you, skipping over any intervening players, as with the pon. If it is a hidden or inside kan, you must lay down the matching tiles, putting the two outside tiles face down to indicate its value. If you make a kan, you will then pull an extra tile off of the end of the dead wall to keep the rest of your hand playable. The other set of three is called “chow” – a numeric sequence of tiles in one of the suits. Unlike rummy, however, the sequence is limited to three. The chow can only be made by drawing it (in which case it can remain hidden) or from the discard of the player on the left leading to your turn (in which case it must be shown). If someone claims the same tile for a pon, the chow loses unless it completes your hand and you declare “mahjong.”
Depending on your hand, you may or may not wish to claim a pon. For instance, if your matched pair is your “eye” or “atama,” or if you don’t wish to give away your hand, or if you suspect that an opponent may be seeking a particular tile you would have to discard, you may wish to let a pon go by.
The first table wind will be East until each player has served as banker. When the original banker becomes banker again, the player winds will remain the same, but the table wind will progress to South and so on if play is to continue. These winds are important to the scoring. For instance, if you make a set of your own wind and you win, your points are doubled. If, at the same time, you make a set of the table wind and you win, your points are doubled again. If your wind and the table wind are the same, your points are doubled again! Scoring and play will be left for the next and final segment of this article.
By Gail Sharp
October Photo #1
What can you tell us about this picture? Who are these people? What were they doing? What significance to our Community Center does the photo represent? Is this you? Is this your mother, father, sister, brother, or friend? Send your comments to talkstory@vjcc.com with "October Talk Story" as the subject. |
October Photo #2  |
August Photos
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“The August Talk Story has TWO photos? OR did you want me to choose one? And why benches? Are we getting new ones? I kinda like these old ones.” ~ Jenn Ogasawara I kinda like these old benches, too! They’re one-of-a-kind and only the VJCC has them. The story that I know about the origins of the hand-finished Philippine mahogany benches in the VJCC gym involves two people. One person is Ken Amamoto, the craftsman who assembled, shaped, sanded and stained each of the 21 benches in the backyard of his home in 1972. The wood for the benches came to him already cut to size thanks to someone – the second person – with connections to a lumberyard and who Ken remembers through their mutual association with the Venice Judo Club. Memories have faded so the second person currently remains unknown. Maybe you can talk story with us and add the name. Who is this person? Is this you? Is this your mother, father, sister, brother, or friend? |
