About Mah Jong
Introduction
Welcome to the exciting world of Mah Jong. The reading you are about to receive has its basis in over two thousand years of Chinese thought.
You might also be interested to know that historical records show the origin of playing cards dates back to at least ninth century China. Mah Jong eventually developed from those and Chinese tile games. It is, however, much more than a game.
The Chinese have many different systems of fortune telling. It should come as no surprise, then, to discover the tiles of the popular game of Mah Jong are the primary tools of one of them. In fact, one definition of the compound word, Mah Jong, is sparrow.
Some fortune tellers in China assign the sparrow the high status of guide, or, visible agent of the invisible. In fact, the One Bamboo tile is unique in that it is the only suit card not having a depiction of the suit. Rather, it has a bird instead of a Bamboo graphic.
You might also be interested to know that historical records show the origin of playing cards dates back to at least ninth century China. Mah Jong eventually developed from those and Chinese tile games. It is, however, much more than a game.
The Chinese have many different systems of fortune telling. It should come as no surprise, then, to discover the tiles of the popular game of Mah Jong are the primary tools of one of them. In fact, one definition of the compound word, Mah Jong, is sparrow.
Some fortune tellers in China assign the sparrow the high status of guide, or, visible agent of the invisible. In fact, the One Bamboo tile is unique in that it is the only suit card not having a depiction of the suit. Rather, it has a bird instead of a Bamboo graphic.
Mah Jong
Although tile and card games have been popular in China for many centuries, Mah Jong in its modern form was first popularized about 125 years ago. Its popularity soon spread among many countries, including Japan, France and the United States.
Because of this a number of variations gained acceptance in various locations. The following is a brief description of a common one.
In a Mah Jong game players sit East, South, West and North. They are dealt 13 tiles which are arranged in a row, or wall. The remaining tiles are placed faced down in the Center.
There are 144 tiles, consisting of three suits, two kinds of Honors, and two kinds of Guardians. The suits are Bamboo, Circles and Wan, numbered from one to nine, with four of each tile. The Honors are Directions (East, South, West and North), sometimes called Winds, and Dragons (Red, White and Green), four of each. The Guardians are four Occupations (Fisherman, Woodcutter, Farmer and Scholar) and four Flowers (Plum Blossom, Orchid, Chrysanthemum and Bamboo), one of each.
Although Mah Jong is more complicated than Western rummy games, the procedure and objective are basically the same. Players try to accumulate three or four of the same tile or tiles in a series. The complexity of Mah Jong scoring and its suitability for fortune telling, however, are significant differences.
Because of this a number of variations gained acceptance in various locations. The following is a brief description of a common one.
In a Mah Jong game players sit East, South, West and North. They are dealt 13 tiles which are arranged in a row, or wall. The remaining tiles are placed faced down in the Center.
There are 144 tiles, consisting of three suits, two kinds of Honors, and two kinds of Guardians. The suits are Bamboo, Circles and Wan, numbered from one to nine, with four of each tile. The Honors are Directions (East, South, West and North), sometimes called Winds, and Dragons (Red, White and Green), four of each. The Guardians are four Occupations (Fisherman, Woodcutter, Farmer and Scholar) and four Flowers (Plum Blossom, Orchid, Chrysanthemum and Bamboo), one of each.
Although Mah Jong is more complicated than Western rummy games, the procedure and objective are basically the same. Players try to accumulate three or four of the same tile or tiles in a series. The complexity of Mah Jong scoring and its suitability for fortune telling, however, are significant differences.
Your Reading
Your reading is first displayed using traditional Mah Jong tiles. The symbolism of each has been captured in original paintings which you will find on the last page of this report. The layout of both is similar to what you find in an actual game of Mah Jong.
It is important to understand there are actually five directions in classical Chinese thought, the fifth being the Center. Your reading likewise consists of five sections. The significance of each Direction is explained in the following pages which contain your reading.
There is also an explanation of the suit mix. That is, it notes how many tiles of each of the three suits appear in your reading and how this impacts the overall interpretation. Generally speaking, people and or health issues have increased importance when Bamboo tiles are in the majority, planning, contemplation, reasoning and, or, other mental activity if Wan, and money matters if Circles.
Tiles are turned up one at a time during an in-person reading. You thus cannot determine what the suit mix is until viewing and interpreting the individual tiles. Thus it appears at the end of your reading. After you read the explanation, you want to go back and look at individual tile narratives again from a suit mix perspective.
You are also likely to find some Honor tiles and perhaps a Guardian or two in your reading. The former consist of the four Directions, East, South, West and North, and three Dragons, Red, Green and White. The Red Dragon is the fifth direction or Center. In general the Green Dragon is associated with initiating action while the Red with a successful completion. The White Dragon usually denotes the unknown or an interest in the occult. The Dragons are almost always auspicious, especially in their best position. The luck of the Directions, however, depends on their place in the spread and adjacent cards.
The Guardian tiles represent the four Seasons and are depicted in two ways, as Flowers and Occupations. The four flowers are the Plum Blossom, Orchid, Chrysanthemum and Bamboo and the occupations, Fisherman, Woodcutter, Farmer and Scholar. You can think of them as Guardian angels. When one appears in your spread, it can enhance a good card or diminish the negative effects of a bad one. This energy works through you as you harmonize your behavior and attitude with the positive qualities of the Guardian.
Whenever a Guardian tile appears, another is drawn. It may elaborate on or clarify the former’s message or draw attention to important matters. You can also draw strength from the Guardian. If, for example, the replacement tile urges perseverance, and the Guardian symbolizes wisdom, your message is to seek wisdom to give you the strength to continue on what may be a long and difficult journey.
It is important to understand there are actually five directions in classical Chinese thought, the fifth being the Center. Your reading likewise consists of five sections. The significance of each Direction is explained in the following pages which contain your reading.
There is also an explanation of the suit mix. That is, it notes how many tiles of each of the three suits appear in your reading and how this impacts the overall interpretation. Generally speaking, people and or health issues have increased importance when Bamboo tiles are in the majority, planning, contemplation, reasoning and, or, other mental activity if Wan, and money matters if Circles.
Tiles are turned up one at a time during an in-person reading. You thus cannot determine what the suit mix is until viewing and interpreting the individual tiles. Thus it appears at the end of your reading. After you read the explanation, you want to go back and look at individual tile narratives again from a suit mix perspective.
You are also likely to find some Honor tiles and perhaps a Guardian or two in your reading. The former consist of the four Directions, East, South, West and North, and three Dragons, Red, Green and White. The Red Dragon is the fifth direction or Center. In general the Green Dragon is associated with initiating action while the Red with a successful completion. The White Dragon usually denotes the unknown or an interest in the occult. The Dragons are almost always auspicious, especially in their best position. The luck of the Directions, however, depends on their place in the spread and adjacent cards.
The Guardian tiles represent the four Seasons and are depicted in two ways, as Flowers and Occupations. The four flowers are the Plum Blossom, Orchid, Chrysanthemum and Bamboo and the occupations, Fisherman, Woodcutter, Farmer and Scholar. You can think of them as Guardian angels. When one appears in your spread, it can enhance a good card or diminish the negative effects of a bad one. This energy works through you as you harmonize your behavior and attitude with the positive qualities of the Guardian.
Whenever a Guardian tile appears, another is drawn. It may elaborate on or clarify the former’s message or draw attention to important matters. You can also draw strength from the Guardian. If, for example, the replacement tile urges perseverance, and the Guardian symbolizes wisdom, your message is to seek wisdom to give you the strength to continue on what may be a long and difficult journey.