Compared to 60 or 70 years ago, mahjong and its social atmosphere has undergone a considerable change. No longer are there people on street corners demonstrating the game nor are there any special clubs set up for the purpose of housing mahjong games. However, that is not to say that mahjong does not exist. It still is a leisure activity every weekend, at least in my household.
Almost every weekend, my mother gets together with my relatives to engage in a game of mahjong. Games are arranged a few days ahead of time, although sometimes a game is decided only a few hours before play. The location of play varies. One weekend it could be at one relative’s house and the next weekend at another relative’s house. Games usually begin around 12 or 1 o’clock, which is after lunch is eaten. On special occasions, such as birthday parties, lunch is served at the host’s house. Otherwise, lunch is expected to be eaten before the start of the game. The game is played on a special mahjong table, which is different from when people used to play it on dining room tables or bridge tables. This table folds and has drawers to hold the playing chips and cup holders to accommodate drinks. Most of my relatives have a mahjong table, but if they do not, other players are expected to bring one.
Once the game begins, the intensity lasts for the entire day, from noon to around 9 or 10 o’clock at night. Occasional breaks are taken for the restroom and meals. During the game, it is considered polite not to disturb the players while they are in complete submersion of the game. Also, it is expected of the daughter of the host to serve the guests tea and cookies. This was my job for years. At times, the game can be quite noisy, sounding almost like an argument but it is considered customary to shout or comment on another player’s move. It is also considered customary for players not to carry on a conversation because it could be a distraction to the other players. At the end of each round, all the non-winners are expected to pay the winner (cash). Sometimes this can be a rather large amount or small amount, depending on the stakes which are agreed upon at the beginning of the game. At the end of the game, players usually count their money to see how much they won or lost. Players who lose money often walk away griping but nevertheless, are back to play the following weekend.
Personally, I do not like the game of mahjong because I think it is gambling and too much gambling is not healthy. I find that my relatives focus a lot on the gambling aspect of the game. At times, disputes have arisen because one player claims that another player owes he or she money. This suggests that money is more important than family relations. This is consistent with the often stated theory that America is moving more towards a materialistic and greedy society.
Also, mahjong is often played on special occasions, such as birthdays, Thanksgiving and Christmas. These are holidays I consider to be family holidays where family should get together and enjoy the company of one another. However, mahjong seems to take precedence and the meaning of the gathering is lost. This observation seems to say that holidays are not what they used to be. The meaning of special holidays are lost in other priorities, such as Christmas shopping or in this case, mahjong.
However, mahjong does have some positive aspects to it. Much like the past, mahjong still offers its players a relief from the pressures of everyday life. Most of my relatives who play mahjong work six days a week and nine hours a day. The only time they have to relax is one day during the weekend. With such a busy schedule one might wonder why they spend their free day playing mahjong. My mother’s logic is that it helps her forget work, the bills and sometimes even us. With Americans being more stressed out than ever before, leisure activities are still in great need. Mahjong is proof of that.
Mahjong also allows my relatives to get together more often than they would without mahjong. Even though most of the day is spent playing mahjong, a small portion of the day is spent conversing with one another about the happenings in each others lives. Even a small amount of interaction is better than none. In today’s hectic culture, it is very important that family keep in touch with one another, even if it is for a short period of time.
Based on the observations of my family, mahjong still does play a role in today’s culture. It conveys certain things about my family but more importantly, at least pertaining to this project, mahjong says certain things about America as a whole.31