Mahjong Playing Cards (EN)

Mahjong takes on a brand new shape with Mahjong Playing Cards, a card game that faithfully recreates traditional American mah-jongg, tile for tile, in a format built for travel. No more lugging around ceramic tiles and trays: 160 cards stand in for the full classic set of dots, bams and craks, plus the usual winds, dragons, flowers, jokers and blanks. Two dice come along for the seat draw, exactly as with tile mah-jongg. Everything fits inside a compact, magnetic-closure box wrapped in a hand-painted floral illustration by Amanda Norman: peonies, butterflies and moths that give this century-old pastime a whole new look.

You will likely love Mahjong Playing Cards if you are already hooked on tile mah-jongg and want a version that slips into a purse or a suitcase, if you host game night with friends or family where everyone is chasing the winning hand, or if you are shopping for a thoughtful gift for someone who collects beautiful tabletop pieces as much as good games. Regulars of the National Mah Jongg League will feel right at home, and newcomers who have never touched a tile can learn the ropes with this equally complete card version.

A bit of history: back in 1937 in New York City, a group of women founded the National Mah Jongg League to standardize the rules and publish the annual scorecard that still governs American mah-jongg today. The tile-exchange ritual at the start of each hand, the Charleston, actually takes its name from the popular dance craze of that same era. A slice of history this card set carries forward, paintbrush in hand instead of ceramic.

BOX CONTENTS
36 Dot cards (1 to 9, 4 of each)
36 Bam cards (1 to 9, 4 of each)
36 Crak cards (1 to 9, 4 of each)
8 Flower cards
16 Wind cards (4 of each direction)
10 Joker cards
4 White Dragon cards
4 Green Dragon cards
4 Red Dragon cards
6 blank cards
2 dice

Number of players: 4
Duration: 60 to 120 minutes
Age: 8 years and up