The mahjong almanac
A Chinese game that found a home around the world
Mahjong took shape in 19th-century China and traveled from there into living rooms everywhere. We cover all of it - how each version is played, what this year's card means, and which set is actually worth buying.
Start here
Learn to Play
Clear, friendly walk-throughs of the American game, the Chinese game, and Japanese Riichi, plus a visual glossary of the tiles and what they mean.
Learn the gameEvery spring
This Year's Card
What the annual National Mah Jongg League card is, how to read it, where to buy it, and what changed this year. The ritual the American game turns on.
Decode the cardBuyer's guide
Which Set to Buy
How to choose a set, from first sets to designer ones, plus racks, pushers, and mats - rated on materials, construction, and value.
Compare setsWhere it comes from
The story of the game, from China outward
From the Yangtze delta in the late Qing dynasty, to the 1920s American craze and the Orientalism that came with it, to the Jewish-American women who founded the National Mah Jongg League. We lead with China and name every layer.
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From the Almanac
Updates from Mahjong Almanac, when there's something worth sharing.