An uncertain history

Mahjong, also spelled majiang and mahjongg, is a board game played by four people with 136 domino-like tiles - although 144 are used in international competitions - in which players try to collect groups of tiles. Its nearest Western equivalent is the card game bridge.

China's most popular game originated during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and became a celebrated pastime during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), although the precise date varies according to different accounts.

One theory suggests the game was invented in Taicang county, in the eastern province of Jiangsu, where it was called maque, meaning "sparrow", a name that is still popular in South China and Japan.