Symbolism of Mah Jong

Many Chinese games bear symbols which have a specific meaning in the context of Chinese classical philosophy and cosmology. Often the symbols have merely a decorative function: either the traditional meaning is not known to players or it is not relevant for playing and enjoying the game. This applies much to Mah Jong, as well, though it seems clear that the game was initially developed based on fundamental concepts of Chinese philosophy and cosmology (e.g., concepts of Yin, Yang and Tao), and that these aspects were once significant to players of the game.

The following description, primarily based on writings of Ly Yu Sang (Sparrow, the Chinese Game called Ma-Chiau, 1923) and A.D. Millington, explains the underlying symbolism of Mah Jong.

The developers of the classical Mah Jong were educated and knew well the classical Chinese philosophical and mythological tradition, particularly the Book of Changes and the Book of Surprises. The elements of the game symbolize interaction of the three extremes of the universe: Heaven, Earth and Man, expressed in many ways, not only by images graved in the tiles, but also in a way the tiles form numerically significant groups and combinations.

Thus 144 is said to be the number of the plan of Earth, and the square formed by the tiles can be seen as a symbolic representation of the universe. Heaven is manifested in the Four Seasons, Earth in the Four regions (East, South, West and North), and Man in the Four Flowers (symbolizing motion or life). The Dragons ('San Yuan' or 'San Chi' in Chinese, meaning "Extremes") symbolize Heaven (White Dragon, 'Po', meaning "white" or" blank"), Earth (Green Dragon, 'Fa', meaning "prosperous") and Man (Red Dragon, 'Chung', meaning "center", i.e. "between Heaven and Earth").

Furthermore, the suits ('San Lei', "three categories") represent movements of the three extremes. The Dots (properly termed 'Tung', meaning "wheels") represent the Wheel of Heaven, the Bamboos (originally called 'Chou', meaning "axes") signify Axis of of the Earth, and the Characters (originally called 'Shu', meaning "numbers") represent the changes of the life of Man.

The goal of Mah Jong is to collect a harmonious combination of elements (the Chinese actually do not say 'Mah Jong' when they have a complete hand, but 'ho' or 'fu', the previous meaning "harmony, peace" and the latter meaning "happiness, blessing, luck"). Symbolically – though not strategically – the most perfect way of going out is completing the pair (thus the reward in the classical Mah Jong given for going out on the pair).

Though knowledge of the underlying symbolism helps to understand better some of the rules and particularly the scoring of the game, and deepens a player's enjoyment of the beauty and spirit of the game, its meaning should not be exaggerated. Ordinary Western playing cards (and especially their predecessors, the Tarot cards) bear similar cosmological meanings, significations affected by number-mysticism, etc., but an average player using them for poker or bridge is as unlikely to give any significance to these symbolic aspects as an average Chinese player playing Mah Jong. (However, both Western cards and tiles of Mah Jong are widely used for divination so the symbolic aspects are important in another context.)

Ironically, it can be said that the symbolism is most likely to fascinate the minds of Western players, who might sense something of the presence of the ancient oriental wisdom while handling the "mysterious" tiles of Mah Jong. On the other hand, some Chinese authors, who still emphasize the philosophical aspects of the game, might interpret the symbolism of Mah Jong in much more earthly terms, seeing the suits as symbols of food, shelter and money and Dragons as symbols of a high governmental position, first prize of a lottery, and longevity…