Written by: Connor Davis
Posted on: August 18, 2026
The History & Origins of Chinese Mahjong
A lot of what circulates online about Mahjong’s origins is romantic marketing rather than history — including the popular claim that Confucius invented it around 500 BC. The real story is more recent, and honestly more interesting, than the legend. Clearing Up the Confucius Myth…
Written by: Connor Davis
Posted on: August 18, 2026
How Chinese Mahjong Spread from China to Hong Kong and the World
Our origins guide covers where Mahjong began; this one follows how it got from a regional Chinese pastime to a game played on every continent. Early Domestic Spread From its origins around Ningbo and the Zhejiang coast, Mahjong spread relatively quickly through China’s port cities…
Written by: Connor Davis
Posted on: August 18, 2026
Chinese Mahjong in Hong Kong Social Life & Culture
Beyond the rules and scoring covered elsewhere on this site, Mahjong occupies a real cultural place in Hong Kong life that’s worth understanding on its own terms — especially for readers connecting with the game through family rather than starting from scratch. A Sound Associated…
Written by: Connor Davis
Posted on: August 18, 2026
Where Mahjong Terms Come From: A Glossary of Chinese Mahjong Terminology
Mahjong terminology gets thrown around constantly in our guides — pung, chow, kong, fan — usually without pausing to explain where those words actually come from. This glossary is that pause, gathered in one place. Core Gameplay Terms Term Meaning Origin Pung (碰) A set…