‘Mahjong, the game of Chinese origin, can be translated as clattering sparrow, flax sparrow, or hemp sparrow, as early Mahjong players equated the sound of the tiles when shuffled to the melodious noise reminiscent of numerous sparrows squabbling over scattered food crumbs, and the sound of the flax/hemp blowing in the wind.’

This is the beginning of the Introductory Notes of the book Clattering Sparrows by Marilyn Land. Mahjong players all over the world will recognize these words, said over and over again when referring to the shuffling of the tiles. But in this introduction there is more. It tells about the various believes of the origin of the play, how it it developed, all over the world, but especially in America.

I learned that ‘despite the game’s Chinese origin and its acceptance by both men and women of all racial and ethnic backgrounds, American Mah Jongg (note: when referring to the American version of the game, the author uses the American spelling Mah Jongg) is considered  by many a Jewish game played predominantly by women.’ In America there are two large organizations: the National Mah Jongg League, founded in 1937, with today over 350,000 members, and the American Mah-Jongg Association, formed in 1999. Both organizations organize annual tournaments, specialty cruises and trips. And they promote, foster and increase popularity of the game.

Intensity

Where in Asia and Europe the MCR and Riichi rules are the standard, in America they have their own set of standardized rules. The league revises their standard hand cards annually. But what is the same, all over the world, is that people play Mahjong with their family and friends, on Sunday afternoons; ‘Games usually begin around noon, after lunch has been eaten. … Once the game begins, its intensity lasts for the entire day until nine or ten o’clock at night.’ I was rather satisfied when I read that, that is why I like the play so much, that beautiful days of playing mahjong together with people you like or love.

Heartwarming

This is what I read in the introduction. The novel itself, although mahjong plays a part in it, is above all a tale of a lifelong friendship that begins when five-year-olds Sara Miller and Judy Levine meet each other in 1941, when their families move into adjoining row houses in Washington, a friendship that ends when one of them dies. It is a heartwarming and sometimes moving story of their lives, their loves, choices and losses. And yes, in the novel it is the women who are playing their weekly games, the husbands remaining in their study or keeping each other company. Mahjong in the book is a treat, a consolation, a way to forget sorrows or share them with your friends. It’s not important who wins (there is never a mention of that) or of tactics (I’m sure they were used, but there is no word of it). But what remained in my head after I read the book, is this sentence: ‘Traditionally there is a saying that when Mah Jongg players leave this world, the last to go brings the set!’ The author dedicated her book to her friend. She promised she wouldn’t forget to bring the set.

Clattering Sparrows by Marilyn Land
iUniverse
www.iuniverse.com
ISBN 978-1-4502-3635-5 (pbk)
ISBN 978-1-4502-3636-2 (cloth)
ISBN 978-1-4502-3637-9 (ebk)

Links:
www.MarilynLand.com
www.nationalmahjonggleague.org
www.amja.net