About
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Last reviewed September 25, 2026
Mahjong is a Chinese game that traveled the world and picked up a lot of fans (and a lot of house rules) along the way. The good information about it is scattered across dead blogs, out-of-print books, and shops that mostly want to sell you something. So we're putting it in one place.
Three things, really. We teach you how to play, on each version's own terms. We explain the annual card the American game runs on: what it is, how to read a line, and where to get the current one. The League's hands are its own copyrighted work, so we point you to the official card instead of reprinting it. And we help you pick a set.
We start with China, and we don't skip the uncomfortable parts of the history, including the Orientalism that rode along with the 1920s craze. We don't sell sets, which is why we can tell you which one is actually worth it. How we source everything is on the methodology page.
The game belongs to its players. We're just keeping the record.
Common questions
- What is Mahjong Almanac?
- A reference for mahjong and the people who play it. We teach how each version is played, explain the annual card the American game turns on and how to read it, and help you figure out which set to buy.
- How do you check your facts?
- Every fact we publish carries a verified flag, and substantive claims are backed by at least two independent sources. What we cannot confirm is left out.
- Do you earn money from set recommendations?
- Some outbound retailer links are affiliate links, disclosed on the page. When we say a set is worth buying, that judgment rests on materials, construction, value, and fit for the player, never on what pays us.
- Are you affiliated with the National Mah Jongg League?
- No. Mahjong Almanac is not affiliated with the National Mah Jongg League or any maker, retailer, or brand. We reference them by name where it is useful, and we point card buyers to the League's own store.