Growing Popularity of the Game of Mahjong
It’s no surprise that Mahjong has grown massively in popularity around the world in the 21st century, with a growing community of Asians living in western countries.
Originating in China, Mahjong is a tile-based game that requires strategic thinking, memory recall, and concentration. Beyond its entertainment value, research suggests that playing Mahjong can have positive effects on brain health and cognitive function. If you enjoyed games like Rummy, then Mahjong is a similar game yet with an ancient heritage.
In this article, we will explain why you should consider picking up Mahjong in 2023, and the equipment you need to get started.
1. Fantastic Exercise for Your Brain.
Memory is an essential aspect of brain health, and Mahjong have been found to improve memory and recall abilities. A study conducted by the University of Georgia examined the effects of Mahjong on memory performance in older adults. The findings revealed that regular Mahjong players exhibited better memory skills and were more adept at recalling information compared to non-players. This is because memory and concentration is heavily used in-game, while tracking tiles and remembering positions. Mahjong makes a perfect brain exercise particularly for older adults.
2. Stimulates Strategic Thinking
Strategic thinking is a fundamental cognitive skill that involves planning, problem-solving, and decision-making. Mahjong provides an ideal platform for honing these abilities. The game of Mahjong is often considered a game of strategy, where players plan and adapt their strategies according to the environment and circumstances. If you’re someone who enjoys strategic games and are bored of your typical board games, consider picking up Mahjong and see why it’s so widely played for centuries.
3. Perfect for Building Social Connections
Mahjong is not just about tiles and strategies—it’s also a fantastic opportunity to connect with others. Gather your friends, family, or even join local Mahjong clubs to experience the joy of playing together. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned player, Mahjong fosters social interaction, laughter, and camaraderie across all genders and ages.
Despite being a game of strategy, Mahjong is unlike other competitive games that often has a winner take it all approach. In the game of Mahjong, every player gets to compete and win in different ways, often with a small element of luck.
What do you need to get started in Mahjong?
You will need to learn the basic rules of the game first, and Wikihow has a great article on how to play Mahjong here. After you’ve learn the basic rules, you will need a few more equipments to get started, they are:
- Mahjong Tile Set & 4 Winds Dice
- Mahjong Table
- Players
1. Mahjong Tile Set & 4 Winds Dice
The cornerstone of Mahjong is the tile set, consisting of intricately designed tiles that hold both aesthetic beauty and strategic importance. A standard Mahjong tile set typically includes 144 tiles, divided into different categories such as Wind, Honours, Bamboos, Numericals and Marbles.
In addition to the tile set, you’ll need 4 Winds dice. These specialised dice are used to determine the dealer and the starting position of the wall of tiles. This is typically sold together with the tile set, so make sure you have them before you host you Mahjong games.
2. Mahjong Table
The next item on the list is a dedicated Mahjong table. While a regular flat surface table can be used for this purpose, a proper Mahjong table is designed for four players to be within reach while providing for important features like chip storage as well as a felted surface for the tiles. You will be able to find a cheap traditional Mahjong table on Amazon for under $100.
If you however are thinking of playing long term and would like more convenience. You can also opt for a new age automatic mahjong table that does all the hard work of shuffling and setting up tiles.
Whether you opt for an automated table, or a traditional table, both will work fine. Though there are some solid reasons why you should consider getting an automated mahjong table if you plan on playing often.
3. Players
Mahjong is traditionally played by four players. The game is centred around the interaction and competition between these players, creating a dynamic and engaging experience. However, it’s also possible to play with three players, in which case, an entire suit of tiles is removed from the deck (normally the Bamboo suit) to accommodate for three pliers.
Gather a group of enthusiastic friends or family members who are eager to learn or already familiar with Mahjong. The synergy and camaraderie that emerges from playing together add an extra layer of enjoyment to the game.
Conclusion
We hope through this article, we have provided you with everything that you need, including why you should pick up the game of Mahjong this year – if you haven’t already done so. Mahjong is a beautiful ancient cultural game that certainly brings a lot to the players beyond entertainment. Give it a go and experience it for yourself!