Mahjong
House Rules from Across the Asian Diaspora
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- $14.99
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- $14.99
Publisher Description
For many third-culture kids in the Asian diaspora, the sight and sound of clacking mahjong tiles conjures deep-seated memories. Some learned to play alongside elders, while others watched from afar. Maybe you only distantly know of the game through movies or articles about pop-up mahjong nights. Whether you are looking to reconnect with the game, pick up a new hobby, or introduce others to a favorite pastime, Mahjong is a step-by-step guide for new and seasoned players alike.
With vibrant photography and detailed instructional diagrams, author Nicole Wong walks you through gameplay, just how her grandfather would have. In addition, Mahjong delves into the strategy, history, and design of the game and discusses various popular styles of play (American mah-jongg, Japanese riichi mahjong, and more). A bonus essay also breaks down the mahjong hands in the pivotal scene from the 2018 hit film Crazy Rich Asians, and snippets of the author’s family history are sprinkled throughout, telling a story of diaspora through mahjong and showcasing mahjong culture, past and present.
With Mahjong as your guide, learn the history and evolution of this beautiful game while you connect with friends, family, and culture. You may even write your own house rules—just don’t forget the snacks!
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
In this winsome cultural history of mahjong, Wong, who hosts pop-up game nights in the San Francisco Bay Area, encourages game play as a way to foster community. More than a pastime, she posits, mahjong is "a full sensory... experience"—from "chitchatting" in a shared language to the tiles' soothing sound like "a rustling of stones"—that forms a vital social link within the Asian diaspora. Wong covers topics ranging from the materials used to create sets (ancient bone and bamboo; modern bakelite and acrylic) to the climactic mahjong scene in the 2018 film Crazy Rich Asians. She also discusses the basics of play, shedding fascinating light on differences and similarities across Asia and the Asian diaspora (she lists three divergent sets of "house rules" she has encountered in the Chinese diaspora alone). Though it functions well as a handbook, the account also doubles as a highly personal exploration of the game's significance that incorporates family lore and snapshots, as well as information from handouts that Wong's grandfather, whose parents emigrated from China to New Zealand, used to teach mahjong in night classes in the 1990s. Lushly illustrated throughout with drawings and photographs of tiles, boards, and game-night snacks, this by turns nostalgic and informative history will charm readers. Correction: A previous version of this review incorrectly stated that the author's grandfather emigrated from China to New Zealand. It also had the wrong release date for Crazy Rich Asians.
