Even if you haven’t seen Crazy Rich Asians, you have probably heard about Mahjong (麻将) and know that it is a widely played game in Chinese culture. Mahjong first originated in the Qing Dynasty and has now spread to now be loved by all cultures around the world.
Firstly, let’s explain How to Play Mahjong:
Basically, the objective of the game is to obtain a set of three or four matching or sequenced tiles. There are 144 tiles (36 circle tiles, 36 bamboo tiles, 36 character tiles, 16 wind tiles, 12 dragon tile, 4 flower tiles, 4 season tiles) and each of the four players begins with 13 tiles.
Whichever player completes a full set of 3 or 4 sequenced or identical tiles wins.
Here’s the backstory in Crazy Rich Asians: Rachel Chu, the main protagonist, asks to meet her boyfriend Nick’s mother, Eleanor in a mahjong parlor after Eleanor exposed Rachel’s mother for fleeing to the United States as a single mother. Nonetheless, at this point, Eleanor is unaware that Nick proposed to Rachel even after the scandalous exposé.
Eleanor takes the seat of the dealer (east) while Rachel is sitting across (west). This represents Eleanor of old Singaporean and Chinese traditionalism whereas Rachel represents America and “chasing your passion.”
In the case of Crazy Rich Asians, Rachel ends up picking up a tile (bamboo eight, representing prosperity in Chinese culture) that could allow her or Eleanor to win, simultaneously telling Eleanor that her son proposed to her but she rejected him. Eleanor responds that “only a fool folds a winning hand.” Rachel then throws her tile out into the pile, which Eleanor picks up to win, and tells Eleanor that in the future, when Nick finds someone else, it was because a “poor, raised by a single mother, low-class immigrant nobody” — Rachel — made it possible. Rachel reveals that she could’ve won, and leaves the parlor with her mother.
Ultimately, Eleanor realizes that Rachel sacrificed Nick’s well being for her future, and gives Nick approval to marry Rachel. At the end of the movie, Nick proposes to Rachel with his mother’s ring and Rachel and Nick are finally engaged.
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I knew what mahjong was (from the Joy Luck Club), but I didn’t know how to play it. It seemed interesting, but I never found an article explaining to me how to play it. I didn’t know that mahjong was originally from the Qing Dynasty. It’s quite surprising that a game survived all those times and is still one of the most loved/popular Chinese games. I think the ancient Chinese people were very smart since they came up with a lot of inventions. I was planning to watch the Crazy Rich Asians tomorrow and I’ve been trying so hard to avoid any kinds of spoilers, but this article just spoiled for me!
Cool jennifer! I never knew how to play mahjong and this article really taught me how the game works. Furthermore, the symbolical analysis of the scene of the movie was really interesting. Everything down to where the two women sat symbolizes some aspect of their relationship and history, which is really subtle and fascinating. This article has stoked my interest to try and learn mahjong and also to watch Crazy Rich Asians. I will be sure to look out for this scene when I do!
I grew up with everyone around me playing mahjong. My family, along with all of their family friends, have all played mahjong. I have tried to learn mahjong before when I was younger, however, I have forgotten most of it. Reading this article reminded me of all of the things my parents and grandparents have taught me. It was really interesting to see this scene in the Crazy Rich Asians movie, and it reminded me a lot of my childhood.
This is so interesting! I didn’t know what role Mahjong played in that scene but now that I read this, I do. The game itself reminds me of something like Poker, with the strategy and stuff. I would definitely give this game a try if I ever have the chance.
Great article! I love to play mahjong with my family. This game is really fun and it is summed up by this detailed article. Reading this article brings me back to times when I played mahjong with my family and I get so close to winning. I am surprised how much detail they actually put in the movie because if it was an Asian film by Hollywood then I would think it would be full of stereotypes and things they think that asians do. That is totally not the case because they showed a scene of mahjong which is a really popular game in China and is like the Chinese version of poker.
This was super cool and informative! I grew up seeing all these elderly people playing mahjong at parks and outdoor places but never really bothered to learn more about it. I remember learning about the Qing dynasty and everything that became popular then. It was interesting to see the mahjong scene in the movie although I don’t really have a personal connection to mahjong since my family doesn’t play it. Maybe I will try it out one day.
Oftentimes at family gatherings we play mahjong. I never end up really know what I’m doing, just picking up and throwing out the pieces and hoping for the best. That’s amazing how the producers were able to incorporate a symbolic moment between Eleanor and Rachel that most people probably wouldn’t have known of. A lot of detail must have gone into that scene to convey the relationship between Eleanor and Rachel where Eleanor treats Rachel like a low-life that doesn’t even know how to properly play mahjong. I’ll have to see this movie for myself to really understand the scene.
虽然没看过说这部电影，不过这篇文章所描述的如何打麻将非常的精细。我记得我小时候在中国夏天，日常见我奶奶和邻居们坐在树阴下一起打麻将。我看了这么多年还是没看懂，毕竟麻将一般是属于老年人的娱乐。但每当看到麻将就想起了童年。
Nice job Jennifer! I’ve seen people play mahjong before but I was always confused on what they were doing. I never realized that there were 144 tiles in the game. This article really helped me get a better understanding of how to play mahjong. Maybe one day I can sit down and learn how to play it.
This is so interesting! I’ve always loved finding out about Easter Eggs or “hidden meanings” in movies! I’d never known that the tiles in Mahjong had symbolism, or that the dealer’s seat represented the direction “east”. I love how these meanings were used to add an extra layer to the movie! Although I haven’t watched it yet, maybe I will in the future!
正如那句三缺一，打麻将是中国特有的文化之一，但是越是一种文化就越需要得到传承。
This was a really informative but interesting article! Great job Jennifer! Growing up, I remember my family playing mahjong. I always wanted to play with them, but they never let me. Reading this article, I finally understand how to play mahjong. When I was watching Crazy Rich Asians, there was a couple next to me that had no idea what mahjong was or the rules behind it. It made me realize the lack of Asian culture in Hollywood films. I’m so glad that a major, blockbuster film was able to appeal to all cultures. Even if some didn’t understand the cultural background behind some scenes, they were able to appreciate and support Crazy Rich Asians. Again, amazing job with your article! Keep up the stellar work!
Jenifer, what an interesting article. I loved watching this movie, but I was so confused during the Mahjong scene. After reading this piece, it’s so cool to see how the main characters used Mahjong as a tool to show strategy and strength in dealing with their problems. Although it seems like a really hard game to master, now that I’v read this, I definitely want to try it!
i never really found mohjong as a interesting game till now. who knew every tile piece had a different meaning. but i found it really interesting how you connected this game to crazy rich Asians. and i also love how it enhanced and gave the movie many deeper meanings.
growing up my parents always play mohjong during parties at my house but when they were playing i always wonder how does this game goes. after reading this article i finally understand how it goes. this article helped me a lot. thank you for writing this article. it really made me understand a lot about mohjong.
When I was in China I would always see the elders playing with each in the park and outside. I never really got to learn the basics of mahjong when I was with my grandparents but now when I go back to China I’m going to play with them and see if I can beat them. This article really helps me to understand the game. Great job on writing this article.
I loved this article! I have recently seen the movie Crazy Rich Asians and it is so interesting to be able to make the connection to mahjong and what was happening between Rachel and Eleanor from the movie. Mahjong is such an interesting game and I have seen my mom play it before but I have never learned. I will definitely ask my mom for lessons of how to play because this game seems like so much fun. I really enjoyed learning about the symbolism between the game and the movie itself and it certainly adds a new meaning to the scene. Thank you for writing this interesting article!
作为一个从小在中国长大的孩子，我觉得玩麻将对于我来讲还是一种技术活。每个地区有每个地区的玩法，但又大致相同。很是有意思
麻将在中国非常受欢迎，尤其是到各种节日大家聚到一起的时候，够四个人就都会凑一桌。这不仅仅是一种桌牌游戏，更是中国的一种文化，和节日相连。
My parents would often play mahjong, and I would always try to learn how to play. However, even after my parents had explained the rules to me, I would still be very confused. This article was very clear in the rules of Mahjong, and I hope to play with my relatives now. Also cool that Mahjong was a big part of Crazy Rich Asians plot. I wonder if because of the widespread popularity of the movie, many people will be interested, and perhaps learn how to play Mahjong.
After watching this amazing movie, I felt that this scene was very inspirational and important. Mahjong brings together cultures and allows for people to connect through a game. This article does a great job explaining how to play the game and breaking down the meaning behind the scene. While watching, I didn’t know what each piece meant but still understood that there was a deep meaning behind each move. It is great to understand now and go back to rewatch the scene.
This article is both interesting and informative! I heard and seen Mahjong before, but I had no idea how play it. After reading this article, the scene in Crazy Rich Asians made a lot more sense to me! I’m surprised at the significance of the scene and how they incorporated Mahjong into the movie. Thank you so much for writing this!
I found it very interesting how well you were able to break down the aspect of mahjong within the movie. I have heard and seen Mahjong being played before, but to me, it was a huge game of confusion as I watched my aunt play. It is interesting to see how the game brings cultures together and allows people to connect. It is interesting to see how the writers of Crazy Rich Asians incorporated the game of Mahjong so distinctively into the plot of the movie. What I also found interesting, was that every piece within the game had a different meaning! Thanks for sharing this article with us, Jen!
When I watched this movie and specifically this scene, I understood the message but not the actual game. So, I was really glad to see this article that explains it more. I think that this scene played an important role in the movie because it showed how Rachel was able to beat Nick’s mom and showed her strength. I really enjoyed the movie because of the many Chinese connections and cultural references. Thank you for sharing this with us!
I just watched this movie today. The description at the end of the article is spot on. I have never learned to play mahjong before, but most of my family knows how to play. This game is mostly played on holidays and weekends in my family. The deeper explanation of the mahjong scene helped me understand the movie’s conclusion better. Great and interesting article.
This is a very touching account from the movie! I haven’t watched it yet but am excited to soon. I learned how to play mahjong from my grandmother when I visited China last year and is a very interesting game. This scene really shows the respect and sacrifice for Rachel’s decision. The game is very fun and we should all play it someday.
This is so interesting! I didn’t know what role Mahjong played but after reading this, I fully understand. It’s so cool how this one part of the movie ended up to tell the whole ending!
I found this article very informative and interesting. Although I did not yet watch “Crazy Rich Asians” I really want to since it seems very entertaining as a blend of western and eastern culture. I did not know that this scene had so much significance in the movie. I also really liked the way that the scene was explained since it was easy to understand and follow. I also really liked how the game of Mahjong was explained for additional context.
I’ve often seen Mahjong being played. Once, on a plane, I was bored and tried to play the Mahjong game it offered, but I didn’t understand how to play at all and lost. I’ve also watched adults play and was vaguely interested in playing. With this article, however, I can learn to play Mahjong too! Thank you for this article, Jennifer!
I think this is a very interesting article. I haven’t seen Crazy Rich Asians yet, so I didn’t know this scene would happen. When I went to China this summer, my host family taught me how to play ma jiang. I didn’t know that the eight bamboo tile had a special meaning. I also think that the meaning fits in well with this scene in the movie.
Mahjong’s almost like connect four of some sort. But then again, it probably involves a lot of strategical concepts. I had no idea what was going during that scene in the movie. In fact, I thought that Rachel had won. Now I know that Rachel meant for her move to be seen as a powerful sacrifice. It was definitely really cool to see the connections between the game Mahjong and the movie plot. Great article Jennifer!
This was a really useful article for me because i am always left out in this game. My cousins would always play and i could’t join in. I didn’t get to see the movie yet so i didnt know about this scene. It is also really cool how different tiles have different values. Thank you for sharing this article.
Interesting article Jennifer! When I grew up, my parents sometimes played Mahjong with their friends and I always wanted to play, but I couldn’t understand how to. But now, I could play Mahjong and understand the rules of the game. It’s interesting to see how this game involves with a lot of strategy and sacrifice. I still haven’t been able to watch the movie yet, but I sure will when I get the chance. When I watch the movie, I will definitely pay attention during this scene.
麻将是一个非常传统的中国式游戏。许多祖辈甚至同辈都在玩麻将。取得一盘麻将的胜利需要运用脑子去猜别人的牌。所以很多老年人也喜欢玩麻将他们认为麻将可以让他们避免得老年痴呆。在当今社会麻将也是一个可以让白领们放松的游戏，下了班约上盆友搓一盘麻将何乐而不为呢。
Great article Jennifer! I’ve always watched my grandparents and parents play when we get together, but never really knew the specifics and the rules. I learned that there are a total of 144 tiles. Though I’ve never watched it, I love how you connected this with Crazy Rich Asians. Thanks for sharing!
Incredible story Jennifer. I have always seen my family members play mahjong at family gatherings but I have never known how to play. I used to love to watch them play because I thought the tiles were cool and I liked the sounds they made when the players mixed them up. I did not know there were 144 tiles. Also the scene from crazy rich asians was awesome. Thank you for sharing this article. Now I can finally play with my parents!!!
Great article Jennifer! My grandparents used to play mahjong at family gatherings with the other grandparents. I used to watch them play, and ask how they played, but they wouldn’t teach me. This article really helped bring insight to the game and helped teach me how to play the game! As for Crazy Rich Asians, I’ll have to watch that soon. Keep up the great work!