"The clacking of mahjong tiles signals the Lunar New Year as much as firecrackers, red envelopes or rice cakes. But what if you never learned the rules of the game from your elders or don't come from a mahjong-playing tradition? The pace is fast, the rules are complicated, and the players are often competitive, but it's more accessible than ever to try your hand."
"Some, like 30-year-old Karen Hsu, grew up playing the game of tiles during holidays.Still, the Fremont-native wants to learn more about the traditions and to find out if other styles were different from the Taiwanese variety her father taught her. And she brought a friend, 31-year-old Alliana Madrid, a complete newbie. I never heard of it. I'm from Albuquerque, New Mexico, so this was never in my field, says Madrid, adding, Now I'm hooked!"
Mahjong originated in 19th-century China and spread globally during the 20th century. Bay Area groups now host mahjong nights at brewpubs, bookstores and community spaces to teach newcomers. Events attract mostly women across ages from their 20s to their 80s, ranging from lifelong players to complete beginners. Organized tutorials and projects provide guidance and encourage learning different regional styles and traditions. Some participants recall generational exclusion from games and seek to reclaim cultural practices through public, communal play. The growing scene emphasizes accessibility, community building, and intergenerational cultural transmission.
Read at www.mercurynews.com
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