International Mah jong Rules [Paperback]

Cofa Tsui (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 8, 1998

About The Rules

International Mahjong Rules ("IMJ Rules") is not a new set of mahjong rules. Instead, it is a complete set of written rules of the world's most popular "Cantonese Mahjong" (also known as "Hong Kong Mahjong" or "Hong Kong Old Style"), including modifications widely played throughout the 1990's and beyond. Some modifications and verifications are purposely made to the rules so as to eliminate any known grey areas of play. Such modifications and verifications are necessary if one has to put the rules in writing. IMJ Rules was the result of the author's twenty years experience in active mahjong playing, and was part of the long-term developments of products and services related to International Mahjong ("IMJ").

IMJ Rules provides ease and convenience to new players who wish to learn to play mahjong. New players are expected to be able to learn the game by referring only to the comprehensive rulebook, step-by-step and in its fullness. On the other hand readers, especially those who have already involved in the game of mahjong, should be aware that IMJ Rules is unique when compared to any existing mahjong variants. It inevitably contains unique terms and phrases that were to make the rule set ready for the future developments of IMJ related products and services. For further discussion on this issue please refer to topic "Why The Uniqueness In Terminology?" within this Editorial Reviews.

You Have The Questions. We Have The Answers!

If you are new to mahjong and want to learn mahjong in its fullness (the complete rules, the play; not the history of the game), International Mahjong Rules is for you! International Mahjong Rules lists ALL rules that you need to play the game with. In addition, rules are listed in the flow of play, allowing new players to learn and start playing the game step-by-step. More importantly, whenever you have questions about rules, you'll find answers based on the written rules that are all covered in just one rulebook!

If you are experienced player, you'll find International Mahjong Rules familiar, perhaps, very familiar! International Mahjong Rules is a complete set of written rules of Cantonese Mahjong (also known as "Hong Kong Mahjong" or "Hong Kong Old Style"), with some modifications and verifications to eliminate any grey areas of play. If you have ever encountered any problems or disputes about any ruling of play, or if you are asked to teach someone to learn to play mahjong, International Mahjong Rules is surely the complete rulebook you can refer to!

///8/6/2001

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Why The Uniqueness In Terminology?

This message is in response to a customer's reviews (dated October 27, 1999), emphasizing on the "unique terminology" found in International Mahjong Rules. Although the reader has emphasized on the "traditional" aspects of mahjong, one should be aware that deviations in terms and phrases found in the games of mahjong, especially terms and phrases outside the Chinese language domains, are in fact normal and "traditional". The very instant example is how the name of the game is being written...

People unaware of this fact, especially people who have already involved in mahjong games in one way or other might find it strange that the playing pieces, commonly referred to as "tiles" in many mahjong variants, are called "Pies" in International Mahjong ("Pie" or "Pies", note the "Capitalized" first letter). In addition, IMJ uses terms or phrases like "Bobby" instead of white dragon or white honor, "Bango" instead of pung, pong or triplet, etc. That is, IMJ uses many unique terms and phrases rather than existing terms and phrases of other mahjong variants. Why?

- There has never been a "unified" set of terms and phrases for the games of mahjong. Terms and phrases in the Chinese language are basically common and "unified". However, terms and phrases used outside the Chinese language domains are basically introduced by individual writers about mahjong in the writers' languages, and are therefore hardly common among individual articles or books. In addition, a term or phrase being common in one variant of mahjong may be "strange" in other variant. IMJ is simply part of the fact of the real world.

- IMJ uses terms and phrases of or closest to the English language, with the consideration that each term or phrase should: (a) have a similar pronunciation corresponding to spoken Chinese or (b) have a closer meaning of the English words used. For instant, the mahjong playing pieces are called "PAI" in the Chinese language, which refers commonly to the "playing pieces", not specifically to the "tiles" or "cards". Where necessary, you must specify either "tile PAI" or "card PAI". In IMJ the playing pieces are called "Pie" or "Pies", which includes both "tiles" and "cards" of the game. This similar philosophy is used in the selection of English words for use in the IMJ Rules, allowing the closest possible reflection of the true spirit and completeness of the original game.

- For new players and existing players alike, terms and phrases in existing English words could mean easier to learn and to memorize. Games can then be processed in a sense closer to the Chinese original games, too!

(If you are new to the game of mahjong, you don't have to be confused by the deviations in terms and phrases used among books of different authors, as all terms and phrases should be new to you anyway. In fact, when you later on read through the IMJ Rules, and if you are really new to mahjong, you'll find out most terms and phrases used in IMJ Rules are more "English like" than those used in other rulebooks or articles about mahjong.)

///8/6/2001

From the Author

As the games of mahjong become more and more popular today, one may suddenly see a great vision about mahjong: "One day the majority of people who play mahjong all over the world will play mahjong in one and only one form!"

In the past, almost all publications on mahjong games did not provide a complete set of written rules, people therefore have to learn the game by practice and this has led to the creation of many variants of mahjong all over the world. This in effect has hindered mahjong from being developed as a worldwide game, a game that can be played by people around the world without the difficulties of mutual understanding. The variants of mahjong also create barriers which effectively scare new players from joining the games.

International Mahjong Rules is designed to eliminate such difficulties and barriers. Along with the comprehensive set of written rules, "International Mahjong" (registered trademark) can be further developed to become a worldwide game of mahjong. As part of the concepts of the IMJ developments:

- New players can learn to play mahjong with a comprehensive rulebook, step-by-step and to its fullness.

- Players from different parts of the world can play together whenever they meet, by one common set of standardized rules, without the difficulties of mutual understanding.

- In time, international games can be organized and participated by people around the world, and records of scores and worldwide ranking of players can then be centrally maintained and internationally recognized.

Play mahjong with a goal to meet the world! Whether you have been hesitating about the game or you are experienced in a specific style, start playing by International Mahjong Rules today and soon you'll reach your new achievements in life!

///8/10/2001

Product Details

• Paperback: 17 pages
• Publisher: Cofa Tsui; 1 edition (September 8, 1998)
• ISBN-10: 0968368700
• ISBN-13: 978-0968368701
• Average Customer Review: 1.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #10,320,554 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars A drastic departure from the traditional game., October 27, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: International Mah jong Rules (Paperback)

This book should come with a warning label alerting you to the fact that the author has changed the name of every tile and set in the Mah Jongg hand. Even the tiles themselves, he chooses to call pies. East wind becomes known as the chucker. The traditional red, white, and green dragons are renamed "the three youths." This renaming is used throughout and becomes more and more sickening with each nuance. There is one thing however that should have been renamed, and that is the name of the game. This is no longer Mah Jongg and in my opinion should not be capitalizing on the name. The last thing traditional Mah Jongg players need is a new set of rules and totally redesigned tiles to add to the already existing confusion.

1.0 out of 5 stars Ouch! Is this Mah Jong?, August 16, 2002

By 

Gilberto Velasquez, Jr (HOUSTON, TX United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: International Mah jong Rules (Paperback)

Buy another book, save yourself the trouble. This is by no means Mah Jong in its normal, traditional sense. This is Made Up Jong.