Chinese Bound: Mahjong Illustrated by Josesph Bryant & Xueting C Ni

The clickety-clack of mahjong tiles being mixed by a group of friends is one of the most soothing and distinctive sounds heard across East Asia and, increasingly, North America. First developed in southern China in the early 19th century, mahjong—meaning “sparrow”—is a fun and popular game that challenges players to solve a tile-matching puzzle before they run out of moves. Played by four people using 144 tiles, mahjong is not just a game of luck; it also requires strategy, pattern recognition, and an understanding of other players’ tactics. Mahjong Illustrated introduces this highly engaging and competitive game, which helps develop concentration and mental agility while also fostering relationships and a sense of community. The book is divided into chapters designed for beginners, offering a brief historical background as well as introductions to the tiles, rules, gameplay, popular variants, and competitions. Discover how to shuffle and stack tiles to begin the game; learn the difference between a kong and a pong, and how understanding this distinction can help you score points; understand the significance of the honour tiles, including the Four Winds and the Three Dragons; and find out what “winning from the wall” means in order to complete a legal hand.

Features & Benefits

• Author - Joseph Brant
• Format - HB
• Pages - 160
• Series/License - Chinese Bound Illustrated
• Pub Date: 19-05-2026
• Offers an accessible, high-quality guide to mahjong pieces, sets and classic moves
• A beautifully packaged illustrated guide to this classic game using traditional Chinese binding
• Includes more than 120 illustrations and photographs