Many mah jongg sets were designed for easy travel, 1970s. Photograph by James Shanks Photography, courtesy the Family of Charlotte Leavitt Spilka.
The story of mah jongg in America is most deeply connected to Chinese-American and Jewish-American cultures, both of whom share strong intergenerational memories of tiles clacking and tongues wagging. First introduced in San Francisco in 1920, mah jongg was met with immediate popularity, and its colorful tiles, beautiful symbols, and communal spirit went on to make a distinct and lasting impression on American culture. In this installment of Sunday Stories, join us as we journey through the fascinating history of mah jongg.
This video was originally published on The CJM's Facebook Live on March 7, 2021.
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Since the 1920s, the game of mah jongg has ignited the popular imagination with its beautiful tiles, mythical origins, and communal spirit. It is a game more widely known than played or understood, and it is a true cultural hybrid. With roots in China, it made a lasting impression on American audiences and became closely linked with Jewish women beginning in the 1930s.
The exhibition Project Mah Jongg (on view at The CJM Jul 13, 2014–Oct 28, 2014) explores the fascinating history of the game and its impact on cultural identity, fashion and style. The exhibition provides insight into the history and imagery of the game and explores connections between Chinese and Jewish cultures and includes dozens of artifacts—scorecards, aprons, packages, tiles—chronicling both the commercial legacy and social history of the game.
Project Mah Jongg was curated and is circulated by the Museum of Jewish Heritage—A Living Memorial to the Holocaust, New York.
Many mah jongg sets were designed for easy travel, 1970s. Photograph by James Shanks Photography, courtesy the Family of Charlotte Leavitt Spilka.