No one in the West can stop Chinese Mahjong

No one in the West can stop Chinese Mahjong (Alberta Times) There is an old saying in China: "One billion people, nine hundred million Mahjong, and one hundred million more are watching."

(Alberta Times)

There is an old saying in China: "One billion people have 900 million mahjong, and there are still 100 million watching." Now, the ancient game of mahjong has traveled across the ocean and has become a table game that foreigners are keen on. From November 28th to 30th, the American Mahjong Association held the first North American Mahjong League. Westerners of all skin colors "fight" on the card table, and mahjong terms with Chinese characteristics such as "eat, bump, gong, and tie" are constantly heard in the clatter of shuffling cards. During her visit to China, Tina Ristinson, President of the European Mahjong Association, also revealed that Mahjong is very popular in Europe, and the European Mahjong Competition attracts more than 500 players every year. Netizens exclaimed, "Westerners can't stop mahjong anymore." "I fell in love with mahjong." "I used to know that Chinese people can make food in all kinds of ways, but I didn't expect that they can play these boxy 'little bricks' so well." American Charles Goldstein told reporters. Charles, 56, is a sales agent for a housing agency in Auckland. In June this year, his neighbor Mrs. Katie invited him to visit. In addition to enjoying a delicious Chinese meal, Charles was also attracted by a box of "little bricks". "The patterns on these 'toys' are very beautiful, some are Chinese characters, some are pictures, there are plants, flowers and birds, they are very beautiful." Charles said. Neighbors Katie and her family were immigrants from Hong Kong. Seeing that Charles was so interested in mahjong, they began to teach him how to play Cantonese mahjong. "I used to like playing the piano and violin, but recently I fell madly in love with mahjong. You Chinese seem to say that playing mahjong is addictive. I think I am addicted," said Charles. For a foreigner, learning mahjong is definitely not an easy task, not to mention the ways of winning cards such as blooming on the bars, harmony of heaven, and harmony of earth, which made Charles very anxious. Even the name of each card made him overwhelmed. "Although he has learned mahjong for several months, he is still a "rookie". Sometimes when he gets a good hand, he doesn't know that he may match the "big sum", and even play the good cards. He said: "My poker friends often complain that I ruin their good games with small sums. They also taught me an idiom: "wasting natural resources." This word is as complex as your mahjong game. Looking for "Mahjong Friends" on the Internet Speaking of the origin of the game, Charles also showed reporters a short video he shot on October 24 this year. In the short video, Charles and the "Mahjong Friends" actually played an automatic mahjong machine in the United States. "Katie and the others bought this from China. It's amazing. Press a button on the table and the mahjong will come out. "He said. However, Charles thinks that the ordinary mahjong table is more fun, because the sound of mahjong when "shuffling" is actually very pleasant, and the rhythm is slower, making it easier to play. "Chinese friends told me that playing mahjong can keep the brain active and is said to prevent Alzheimer's disease. " Charles said. In the past, Charles only went to his neighbor's house to play mahjong on weekends, but in order to "prevent Alzheimer's disease", he has recently started looking for mahjong friends online. He joined a group called "Super Mahjong" on the social networking site "Facebook", which already has more than 10,000 fans. He asked: "Why doesn't China strive to make mahjong an Olympic event?" "You Chinese are so smart. How did you invent this game? Although it is very complicated to learn, once you learn it, it is very fun to play. Because you never know what the next card God will give you is, oh, by the way, you don't call the person who gives you cards God, but 'God'." Charles said with a smile. "Looking forward to the International Mahjong Competition?" In the 1920s, American businessman Joseph Bucock began to introduce Mahjong to the West. The tutorial "Mahjong Rules" he wrote was nicknamed "Little Red Book" by foreigners, and the English transliteration of Mahjong "Mah-Jongg" was also brought to the United States by him. The association has also decided to hold a league every year in the future. According to reports, the winner of this competition will not only receive a prize of US$2,500, but also the privilege of "crowning" the champion the following year. Mado believes that holding these competitions not only provides an opportunity for mahjong enthusiasts to meet, but also allows them to make new friends. Matt Ge, a contestant from Texas, said: "I have always played online mahjong. This competition makes me very excited. It is a very different feeling to compete with real players. I am looking forward to participating in an international mahjong competition." "?

"Mahjong organizations" are blooming everywhere. The Netherlands is the bridgehead of Mahjong in Europe. This game originated here and spread throughout Europe. In 2005, Dutch Mahjong enthusiasts established the "Dutch Mahjong Association". Subsequently, mahjong associations emerged in various European countries. In the same year, the mahjong associations of seven countries, including Australia, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, and the Netherlands, initiated the establishment of the European Mahjong Association in Denmark, and held the first European Mahjong Championship that year. Staff of the association said that the European Mahjong Association is a non-profit organization with no political or religious components. Their purpose is only to promote mahjong in Europe and let more Europeans fall in love with this ancient sport from China. "So far, 14 European mahjong associations have become members of the European Mahjong Association." The staff member said, "We have held four European Mahjong Championships in Europe, and many times in Germany, Japan and other places."

Explore the reasons Foreigners identify with traditional culture Why is mahjong so popular abroad? In October 2005, mahjong organizations from eight countries including Japan, the United States, Germany, and France initiated the establishment of the World Mahjong Association to promote a healthy and scientific mahjong culture. In 2007, the organizing committee of the Chinese Mahjong Open also successfully held the first World Mahjong Championship, attracting players from 17 countries and regions around the world. According to him, the current members of the World Mahjong Association include the United States, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Japan, Chinese Taipei and other 22 countries and regions. He believes that mahjong is the quintessence of China and that mahjong culture is broad and profound. Although Mahjong originated in China, it belongs to the world and more people in the world should understand Mahjong culture. Not only are private people from various countries holding various forms of competitions and exchange classes to express their enthusiasm for Mahjong culture, but even foreign officials have also shown a strong interest in this culture. He said: "Former US President Bush's brother once wrote a letter wishing to learn mahjong, and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton also specially met with American students studying mahjong."