There are multiple myths surrounding the origin of the Mahjong game. One story claims that Confucius, who supposedly liked birds, developed the game in 500 BC. Other claims are that Chinese military officers created the game to pass the time during the Taipan Rebellion. However, more stories circulate that the game was created between 1870 and 1875 by a nobleman living in Shanghai.
Many historians believe that it was derived from a Chinese card game called medium Prayed my aunt, which translates as hanging horse. This game is played with 40 paper cards numbered 1 to 9, in four suites, along with four additional flower cards, all similar in appearance to the cards used in the game called Ya Pei. The numbering system in Ya Pei bears clear similarities to the numbering system in Mahjong tiles.
Mahjong was banned by the government of the People’s Republic of China in 1949, when gambling was seen as a reflection of Western decadence and the corruption of capitalism. The game was eventually revived, without the gambling connotations, after the Cultural Revolution in 1985. Today, it is a popular diversion, not only in China, but the popularity is spreading to other Asian regions.
The game, which requires patience and a bit of strategic deliberation, was brought to the Western world in later stages, when variations of the original version were already being added. Many of the variations have become more popular than the original version.
Mahjong Connect is derived from the original game, but has its own rules and still maintains some of the original’s features.
The Mahjong Connect board is made up of 140 tiles, which are usually arranged in a 14 by 10 grid.
Connections must be made in a limited number of moves and it is often necessary to remove perimeter tiles first. Matching tiles can be in the same row, but adjacent tiles must be removed before the match is made. In some cases, only three moves are allowed to make a connection.
When Mahjong Connect is played electronically on devices such as a personal computer, additional challenges such as time limits are usually included. Racking up higher scores would normally take longer, so racing against the clock adds a bit more intrigue to the game.
Fans of the game believe that the different facets involved in playing this game can help in personal development. Elements that can be developed include decision making and logical thinking, which are important processes needed in real life.