A century after its first surge in popularity in the United States, the game Mahjong is once again having a cultural moment. At the University of Oregon, faculty in the College of Arts and Sciences are using this renewed interest as an opportunity to help students explore history, culture and identity through hands-on experience.
Unlike many traditional board games that rely primarily on dice or cards, Mahjong is a four-player, tile-based game centered on strategy, communication and social interaction. The game is played around a table with sets of intricately decorated tiles, requiring players to interpret opponents’ moves and continuously adapt their tactics as the game goes on.
For history professor Annelise Heinz, author of “Mahjong: A Chinese Game and the Making of Modern American Culture,” those sensory and social elements are key to understanding the game’s enduring popularity.
“We definitely are in the midst of another Mahjong trend, almost exactly 100 years after the first one,” Heinz said.
She explains that the game’s resurgence is not driven by just one factor, but by a mix of cultural, social and historical influences.
“Mahjong is a really powerful way to connect with people in person, especially in an increasingly digital and often isolated world,” Heinz said. “It is a bridge that connects across different divides of region or race and ethnicity.”
The appeal of Mahjong in the classroom and culture
That ability to connect people across cultures is central to how Mahjong is taught at UO.
Zhuo Jing-Schmidt, a professor in East Asian Languages and Literatures, incorporates Mahjong into her classroom to help students understand culture as something lived, not just studied.
“Mahjong is not just a game; it is a window into East Asian social life, pre-modern and modern history, and the role of gender in cultural transmission,” Jing-Schmidt said.
In her course, Languages and Societies of East Asia, Mahjong becomes a tool for analyzing everything from globalization to interpersonal relationships. Students examine the game not only as entertainment, but as something that reflects culture and history. Playing the game in class offers a hands-on learning experience along with lectures and texts.
“Students see the colors and patterns on the tiles, touch their smooth surfaces, and hear the clicking sound they make,” she said. “It’s very sensory to experience this cultural object.”
Through gameplay and discussion, students begin to understand how Mahjong reflects larger cultural ideas. The game requires players to observe others closely, make decisions based on incomplete information and adapt to changing circumstances.
“To win is to create coherence out of chaos and contingency,” Jing-Schmidt explained.
Women’s influence on the growth of Mahjong’s popularity
Mahjong also provides a lens into gender and social life. Historically, women played a significant role in the game’s spread, both in China and in the United States, where it became a popular pastime.
“Cultural history is not just made through big events or elite politics, but really it can be made around living room tables,” Jing-Schmidt said.
From there, Mahjong spread internationally, becoming especially popular in America after it was first introduced during the 1920s. Its adaptation across different regions led to new variations, each reflecting local traditions and communities.
Today, that history continues to resonate with students.
“Students get a window into Chinese culture in a way that you probably don’t get from a literature class or a linguistics class,” Jing-Schmidt said.
By incorporating Mahjong into the curriculum, CAS faculty are showing that learning can be interactive and connected to everyday life.
Playing Mahjong is about more than culture
At its core, Mahjong is more than just a game. It is about connection, communication and shared experience, which are values that remain relevant across cultures and generations.
As Mahjong continues to grow in popularity, it offers students a unique way to explore the past while engaging with the present.
“Culture matters, and so do everyday people,” Heinz said. “We are all part of making history and shaping culture.”
— By Harper Wells, College of Arts and Sciences