There are multiple myths surrounding the origin of the Mahjong game. One story claims that Confucious, who was supposedly fond of birds, developed the game in 500 BC. C. Other claims are that Chinese army officers created the game to pass the time during the Taipan rebellion. However, more stories are circulating that the game was created between 1870 and 1875 by a nobleman living in Shanghai.
Many historians believe that it was derived from a Chinese card game called Mdio gold My aunt, which translates to hanging horse. This game is played with 40 paper cards numbered 1 through 9, in four suites, along with four additional flower cards, all similar in appearance to the cards used in the game called Ya Pei. Ya Pei’s numbering system has clear similarities to the numbering system for Mahjong tiles.
Mahjong was banned by the government of the People’s Republic of China in 1949, when the game was considered a reflection of the western decadence and corruption of capitalism. Gambling was finally revived, without the connotations of gambling, after the Cultural Revolution in 1985. Today, it is a popular diversion, not only in China, but the popularity is spreading to other Asian regions.
The game that requires patience and a bit of strategic deliberation was brought to the western world in the later stages, when variations on the original version were already added. Many of the variations have become more popular than the original version.
Mahjong Connect is derived from the original game, but has its own rules, while still maintaining some of the characteristics of the original.
The Mahjong Connect board is made up of 140 tiles, which are normally arranged in a 14 by 10 grid.
Connections need to be made with a limited number of strokes and typically require the perimeter tile to be removed first. Matching tiles can be in the same row, but adjacent tiles must be removed before the match is made. In some cases, only three movements are allowed to make a connection
When Mahjong Connect is played electronically on devices such as a personal computer, additional challenges such as time limits are usually included. Accumulating higher scores would normally take longer, so racing against the clock adds a little more intrigue to the game.
Fans of the game believe that the different facets involved in playing this game can aid personal development. Elements that can be developed include decision making and logical thinking, which are important processes that are needed in real life.