The History of Mahjong

For centuries, mahjong was exclusively a game of the royalty. The law prohibited commoners to play. Anybody who will be caught will suffer the penalty of decapitation. But, around 500 AD, the penalty was lifted, and everyone was now allowed to play mahjong.

The removal of the ban on the commoner's playing rights to mahjong allowed the spread of the game to different countries worldwide, including England and Australia. Its introduction into the United States was not possible until 1920. Courtesy of Joseph P. Babcock, an American living in Shanghai, mahjong reached the shores of the United States. He created and patented the word "mah-jongg," with the addition of a modified set of rules which he developed. Babcock also provides English translations to the tiles and affixed index letters and numbers recognizable to card players. He was also credited for the importation of the initial few sets into the U.S.

The popularity of mahjong reached great heights by 1923. Set of mahjong tiles were being imported into the United States and ranked sixth in value in the tally of exports. Mahjong sets were only beaten by silk, lace, skin, eggs and tea.

However, the popularity of mahjong slowed down in the latter portion of the 1920s. Just as quick as its popularity increased, so is its slowing down. Importers of mahjong were left with nearly two million dollars worth of unsold set of mahjong tiles. For most people, mahjong was simply another craze in America's long tally of leisure trend. But, for a group of aficionados, this game became an enduring part of their lives, for they kept playing the game with the desire of reviving the trend.

The Great Depression during the 1930s paved the way for the rejuvenation of most table games, card games and board games. Mahjong was no exception. According to speculations, the revival of certain games was due to the boredom of people with movies, concerts and radio. They longed for the mental alertness that previous games provided.

If a mental test was what the people craved for, then mahjong had the ingredients, because it was often referred to as the "game of a hundred intelligences" as it required much focus. Though the game never became popular again, it was reactivated in 1935. Once again, the game of mahjong was included in the many leisure games that America got involved in. As a matter of fact, mahjong is still alive up to this day.