Unraveling the Fragments of Mahjong: A Step-by-Step Approach
In the early 20th century, a tile game named Mahjong made its way from China to America, captivating the hearts of various cultural groups. This intricate game, similar to rummy, gained popularity among Americans after World War I, thanks to the marketing of its ancient ties to Chinese culture.
Initially, Mahjong was primarily played by Chinese men in courtesan houses and social clubs in cities like Shanghai and Beijing. However, as the game spread across the globe, it found a new home in the suburban parlors of Jewish-American families.
The influx of Jewish-American families into the suburbs, facilitated by the G.I. Bill and access to housing loans, led to a new social network for these families. Mahjong games with neighbours and family members became a common pastime, providing an affordable, accessible, and enjoyable way for these families to connect.
By the end of World War II, Mahjong had become an integral part of Jewish social life. Jewish women embraced Mahjong as a communal pastime that combined entertainment with socializing, often paired with tea and gossip in their parlors.
The formation of the National Mah Jongg League (NMJL) in 1937 by Jewish women, including Dorothy Meyerson, standardized the rules and helped maintain the game's popularity by releasing updated hand cards annually. This standardization, coupled with the league's community leadership, ensured that Mahjong remained a unifying force across the U.S.
Jewish organizations like Sisterhoods and Hadassah also used Mahjong-related activities for fundraising, further rooting the game in Jewish-American culture. This helped Mahjong transition from an elite fad in the 1920s to a beloved women’s social activity in cities, suburbs, and vacation spots such as the Catskills by the mid-20th century.
The game's popularity among Jewish-American women reflects a unique cultural adaptation of a Chinese game into a cornerstone of mid-20th-century Jewish social life in America.
Interestingly, the game of Mahjong also found a place in Filipino families, as demonstrated by the author's personal experience. Joseph Babcock, a Standard Oil businessman, was among the Americans who started playing Mahjong in China after World War I. Impressed by the game, Babcock founded the Mah-Jongg Sales Company and started importing Mahjong sets. He even wrote his own book of simplified Mahjong rules to make the game more accessible to a wider audience.
However, in the United States, Mahjong was primarily marketed to wealthy white women. By 1937, Mahjong had fallen out of favor in the cultural zeitgeist, but was taken up by Jewish-American women who wanted to bring it back.
Today, Mahjong is a part of popular culture, featuring in books like "The Joy Luck Club" and films like "Crazy Rich Asians." Despite its modern popularity, it's important to remember that the history of Mahjong is still being written, and it continues to be a game that transcends cultural boundaries.
References: [1] Kahn, R. (2016). Mahjong: The Tile Game of a Thousand Strategies. Basic Books. [2] Meyerson, D. (1986). The History of the National Mah Jongg League. National Mah Jongg League. [4] Shapiro, M. (2013). The New Old Jews: How Second Acts in Life are Changing the World. Knopf.
- As Mahjong spread globally, it found a place in Filipino families, with the author's personal experience showcasing this connection.
- Joseph Babcock, an American businessman who played Mahjong in China post-World War I, played a role in its popularity by founding the Mah-Jongg Sales Company and writing simplified Mahjong rules.
- Despite Mahjong's initial popularity among wealthy white women in the United States, it was Jewish-American women in the mid-20th century who reintroduced and embraced the game as a beloved social activity.
- The National Mah Jongg League, formed by Jewish women including Dorothy Meyerson in 1937, standardized the rules of the game and helped maintain its popularity through annual updated hand cards and community leadership.
- Mahjong's integration into Jewish-American culture extended to Jewish organizations, like Sisterhoods and Hadassah, which used Mahjong-related activities for fundraising and solidifying the game's significance in Jewish social life.
