Written by Deborah Lau-Yu

Credit: Mahjong Line Facebook and Website

The Mistakes. They aren’t evil…maybe blind. 

For the Mahjong Line company, it seems obvious that one could easily avoid such a blunder if they truly cared to be respectful, and did minimal research. In a quick but poignant conversation with Clarence Kwan, of the God of Cookery on Instagram, he aptly captures the issues of the situation intelligently and clearly: 

Simply put, whiteness can often lead to blindness. Though likely unintentional, this cultural appropriation of mahjong, is a symptom of a much bigger problem in white America. The carelessness in how this project was created is what makes it dangerous. It rebrands, erases, crafts and manufactures BIPOC culture to suit the comforts of white people, people who would simply rather “not”, when it comes to taking the necessary effort to actually learn more about a culture in a respectful manner. This sort of willful ignorance has led us to the systems that we live in today - systems that are in desperate need of immediate dismantlement. Mahjong does not need to cater to white comfort. Instead, it is white America that needs to learn how to deal with its own discomfort surrounding race, and the inability to confront the destructive ways in which covert racism manifests across Western society.

His summary is insightful and concisely highlights some of the societal problems and systems that need to change. This is a realization that I do think most of us reading are up-to-date with in 2021. The question is what are you and I going to do about it? What are the steps following the shut down of this business?

As the day moved on, the sentiments became more complex. What I see online, of more and more people expressing anger, began to perplex me. It felt like everyone was shouting. Some people showing outrage I thought would never have cared. To be truthful, it crossed my mind whether they played Mahjong or owned a set, but regardless, this situation struck a chord, which is fair. Even as a spectator yet to learn the game, growing up you can appreciate it as a part of your cultural heritage. And, I might add, it is very important for people to speak up and stand for their culture. By the end of day, the company issued an apology that is likely intended to sound sincere, but ends in staking a claim that Mahjong has roots in China and America — yet another facepalm moment.

So, what’s next? Is there more to discuss? 

The most transformative thoughts and work of our society usually comes from the deeply personal, so allow me to enter from my perspective.

Two (of many) Personal Experiences of Mahjong, and my Mahjong Project.  

Experience 1. The university days are when I am reacquainted with the green Mahjong tiles I used to build towers with as a child. At my grandmother’s nursing home, my then-boyfriend and I would gather the 3 other seniors as they finished their dinner in the cafeteria to join my grandmother at the table. Though we were familiar with the game through osmosis from family gatherings, we both learned formally from my grandmother during this time. Of 365 days in a year, I estimate we played at least 300 days with her and the fellow residents at the home. Through the knowledge of these seniors, we became young pros and even got some of our other friends (back) into the game. 

Mahjong is a beautiful— almost magical— traditional game that encompasses so many wonderful aspects of Chinese culture and philosophy. Visually, the tiles contained a lot of symbolism of history such as coins, bamboo, wan (a character that means 10,000), flowers, the winds, birds, numbers, and auspicious characters. Physically, the tiles were tactile and some experienced players are trained to be able to feel the surface and know which tile it is blindfolded, and they made loud sounds when they were shuffled, a nod to the bustle of a lively gathering where the game is played. Logically, to win the game required a lot of strategy and mental math, and is a fun and challenging endeavour. Socially, the game is one that allows for conversations and chatter throughout, inviting spectators to gather and be a part of the party. Because of all the above, Mahjong is seen as a healthy and wholesome family game outside of any of the stigmas of gambling. I largely feel that my grandmother’s last days were made more meaningful and stimulating for her mind and physically for her back and arms because of this game deeply rooted in our heritage and family traditions. 

In fact, it was so moving for me that I created an award-winning project during graduate school about these times at the Mahjong table with these old friends. The title: Tuesdays (you can’t even make this stuff up!). It represented the average weekday where these players (including my grandmother) and spectators would gather, dedicated to the hour or two we would spend together. It was what these old folks looked forward to the most, everyday.

Experience 2. Fast forward 7 years later, I find myself in the living room of my best friend in the events industry and her sister — Melissa and Melanie are caucasian Canadians with roots in England. We lugged our 40 year old Mahjong table and vintage tiles down to their cozy home downtown one afternoon. They said they played the game and were so excited that we had a rare weekend off to play together. Lidia joins us; she is a talented florist, an Italian, and also a self-proclaimed gamer.  Very quickly, we discovered that what game they knew for over a decade or longer was completely different from Mahjong, the traditional and original version. We end up spending two hours giving a guided tutorial version of how to play, and write down the various hands or ways to win on cheat sheets for everyone. It was a joyous and exciting afternoon, with tea, surrounded by art from all over Asia collected by the sisters’ late father. Because of the revelation, we talked about diaspora and heritage. It was an afternoon of cultural exchange and honouring of traditions in friendly Canadian spirit. 

Means for New Nomenclature

The truth is, as a set of tiles, just like a deck of cards, Mahjong can be used in different games with different rules. Had we not decided to meet up to play, our friends may have never been exposed to the traditional Chinese game of Mahjong, and we would never know of a whole community of people playing differently! We now classify it as the American-Jewish game, but it is important to distinguish that this is not Mahjong — it is a completely different game that happens to use the tiles. As a fun fact, our friends have since migrated to the traditional game we taught, finding it much more enjoyable due to the logic and strategic thinking required within the traditional rules, creating a timeless socio-cognitive interaction. We’re delighted.

This leads me to ask the question of whether or not it’s time to give a new name to the offshoot game that uses these tiles, much like a deck of cards are game pieces for a plethora of games of unique names. A game is meant for fun, and if people are having fun inventing their own rules or adding new ones, is it possible that we give it proper nomenclature so that it’s distinguished from the time-honoured and traditional form? This is just a preliminary idea to start the conversation, as it would not be fruitful to ignore the existence or further convolute the different games played with the same tiles with the actual game of Mahjong itself. 

The Conversation Needs to Go Further. 

Beyond today’s tweets and rants, frustrations and anger, what can we do about it to make a meaningful difference? Being upset isn’t enough, and I recognize it is amazing that so many people care and are commenting today, sharing posts and vocalizing against what happened. However, even if this business shuts down permanently from the outrage, more instances like this will continue to pop up. I personally refuse to spend my time and energy reacting every time a big brand like Dolce and Gabbana, Balenciaga or a start-up like The Mahjong Line decide to appropriate my culture and eventually get away with it. It’s starting to sound like a broken record. There’s got to be something of bigger impact that you and I can do that posits a momentum shift — where our cultural roots are celebrated and enunciated well consistently, AND prevails. 

We can protest with our actions against injustices and ignorance. We can make a difference by putting our money and time where we say is important. No matter where you are in the spectrum of your relationship to culture, you have an opportunity to help it shine. Let us buy the mahjong sets. How about the handmade ones made by some of the few artisans left in Hong Kong that carve them by hand? How about collecting authentic vintage or antique sets and using them at the game table with the next generation? If you are a carpenter or designer, how about making a custom set for your family heirlooms? If you are a purveyor of luxury, persist on purchasing a set with a brand that has respectfully designed with culture as a priority. Or how about just spending time at home to play the game and share it with your children, with the tiles that have been sitting in the living room or basement? If you have a grandparent who plays at home, ask them to teach you. Share our love for traditional Mahjong with our friends once this pandemic is over! Post about it on social media, share about it when you play with your mom and dad. Gift a beautiful Mahjong set to a friend next holiday season. 

Let us take charge of how we present our cultural identity, how we perpetuate our traditions, and how we relentlessly deepen our roots in our heritage. It’s the best way to prevent others from appropriation. Take charge and change the momentum.

It’s time to be deliberate about our culture and traditions. Will you join me? I’m just getting started.