unusual design

Laminate Mahjong Tiles: Dots and Winds

Kuan Yin • March 10, 2014

The One Dot in this Mahjong set has the bright blue we saw on the One Bam peacock's tail. The center, with its four small ovals, is similar to some we have seen before. The colors in this set, with the use of gold and other brilliant colors, are reminiscent of those seen in some of the Viennese Secessionist art, such as paintings by Klimt. To see works by Klimt in Wikipedia, click here.

The other Dots are deeply carved, with circles within circles. The innermost circle just has a dot of gold paint. We saw that here.

You can quickly see how different this hand carved set of Winds are than what we are used to seeing, with the South and East very different indeed. Compare the above with the hand carved bone and bamboo set seen below.

The Flowers and Dragons will appear on March 11.

Laminate Mahjong Tiles: Bams and Craks

Kuan Yin • March 9, 2014

This delightful hand carved Mahjong set is very different from those we are used to seeing.

The white plastic laminate is on top of a purple plastic back which is three times its depth. The two pieces clearly were made separately and then glued together.

The Mahjong One Bam peacock is outstanding. Who can resist that bright blue tail and the two feathers atop its head? As is the case with many of these unusual laminate sets, many of the details have carvings of different depths.

On the One Bam the tail circles are quite deep, and then painted with gold paint.

Note the number of dots in each tail is different, and the outline of the bird is either blue or gray.

The other Bams have a peppermint stick look to them with their coloring, with not even a glimpse of the greens we are used to seeing.

The Craks are quite wonderful too. The Arabic numbers were carved with a bit of flair, as were the Chinese numbers. The Wans are the simple form.

It bears some resemblance to another set we examined earlier.

More of the set will be posted March 10.

Flowers from Thick Bone and Bamboo Mahjong Chirping Bird • 1 Comment

Kuan Yin • March 6, 2014

As collectors and people who want to have a better understanding of images on Mahjong tiles, we look for sets that have something different about them. This set certainly does, including that wonderful One Bam we saw yesterday. You will quickly see the details making the set so unusual, especially in the lower row with the clothing and the facial painting on the third person from the left. The robe of the far left man has several longevity symbols on it, including on the sleeves and lower robe. The third person has spirals on the robe, and the fourth a floral pattern.

Ray Heaton has once again provided translations and an understanding of the story behind these Mahjong tiles.

"I don't think there's a simple translation directly into English that'd make sense, so I have interpreted a bit.

Bottom set are 包公出世, Bao Gong Chu Shi.

I think this translates effectively to 'the Biography of Bao Gong". Bao Gong is also known as Judge or Justice Bao, Lord Bao and Bao Zheng.

Chu Shi (the second two characters) mean "to be born", but looking at other uses of the phrase, it probably means here "...the life of...", hence the translation suggested.

There is an opera with the same title"

"Bao Gong lived from the year 999 to 1062 and was a government officer during the reign of Emperor Renzong in the Song Dynasty. Bao consistently demonstrated extreme honesty and uprightness, with actions such as sentencing his own uncle, impeaching an uncle of Emperor Renzong's favourite concubine and punishing powerful families. His appointment from 1057 to 1058 as the prefect of Song's capital Kaifeng, where he initiated a number of changes to better hear the grievances of the people, made him a legendary figure."

Top set set, 狸貓換子. Li Mao Huan Zi. The first two are "Leopard Cat", a small wild cat from Asia. Third one means "to exchange", and the last one means "child".

This is referring to the "Wild Cat Exchanged for Crown Prince" episode (in full, there's one more character for this, 狸貓換太子)."

From Wikipedia:

Wild Cat Exchanged for Crown Prince (狸貓換太子): Bao Zheng met a woman claiming to be the mother of the current Emperor Renzong. Dozens of years ago, she had been Consort Li, an imperial concubine of Emperor Zhenzong's, before falling out of favor for supposedly giving birth to a bloody dead Chinese wild cat. What really happened was a jealous Consort Liu plotting with eunuch Guo Huai to secretly swap Li's infant son with a skinned Chinese wild cat minutes after birth. The infant eventually became Emperor Renzong, but he refused to accept Bao's findings. As Kou Zhu, the palace maid who defied orders to help smuggle the baby to safety, had already died, getting a confession from Guo Huai presented a challenge. With the help of a woman dressed as Kou's ghost, Bao dressed himself as the hell overlord Yama and used Guo's fear of the supernatural and guilt to extract the confession. After the verdict was out, Bao also ordered a set of beatings for the emperor for failing to oblige filial piety; the emperor's Dragon Robe was beaten instead. Eventually Emperor Renzong accepted Consort Li and elevated her as the new Empress Dowager.

To read more about Bao Gong, click here

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bao_Zheng

Thank you, Ray!

Thick Bone and Bamboo Mahjong Chirping Bird • 1 Comment

Kuan Yin • March 5, 2014

This very thick bone and bamboo mahjong set, not intended for export because of the lack of Western letters and Arabic numbers, has a few touches to delight the player and collector. The chirping bird One Bam is one of them.

Notice the bird's mouth open in song, the claws wrapped around the branch, and the detail given to the neck and eyes.

The other Bams are rounded, and the Dots vary from the six petaled flower within flower seen on the One Dot, to the six petaled flower within a circle seen on the others.

As often happens, mahjong tiles were lost over time. The owner of this set, however, was quite industrious; other bone and bamboo mahjong tiles were substituted for missing ones and another was carved. It is believed the other tiles were from another set because only the substituted tiles have pencil written letters and numbers.

The substituted tile.

Carved tile with S for South.

Carved 8 Bam and North.

An attempt to match the bird in song.

Bone and Bamboo Mahjong Bird part 2

Kuan Yin • February 26, 2014

This continues the discussion of the bone and bamboo Mahjong set from yesterday.

Looking at these antique bone and bamboo Mahjong tiles one is immediately struck by how bold and vivid the colors still are. Red is used for the letters on all tiles except for the Red Dragon, where green is used for contrast. Red letters used for Honors are somewhat unusual, but red is considered by the Chinese to be a good luck color, so it is not surprising to find it here.

From Wikipedia:

"Red, corresponding with fire, symbolizes good fortune and joy. Red is found everywhere during Chinese New Year and other holidays and family gatherings. A red envelope is a monetary gift which is given in Chinese society during holiday or special occasions. The red color of the packet symbolizes good luck. Red is strictly forbidden at funerals as it is a traditionally symbolic color of happiness;[1] however, as the names of the dead were previously written in red, it may be considered offensive to use red ink for Chinese names in contexts other than official seals.

In modern China, red remains a very popular color and is affiliated with and used by the Communist government."

Something about the Green Dragon with its red F (Fa for prosperity) makes it seem almost Christmasy! The varied carving of the Western letters is fun to look at too.

You can read more from Wikipedia about the symbolism of colors in China here

The tiles on the left represent the seasons, with the East a peony, West a Chrysanthemum, and South a lotus

From Primaltrek"Because the Buddha is often depicted as seated on a lotus, the lotus is considered a sacred Buddhist symbol (one of Eight Auspicious Symbols) representing purity and detachment from worldly cares.The lotus signifies the seventh month of the lunar calendar.The Chinese word for lotus is lianhua (莲花) or hehua (荷花). Lian is also the pronunciation of the word for continuous (连) and he is also the pronunciation for the word harmony (和) so the lotus has the hidden meaning of "continuous harmony".A lotus stem and lotus pod shown together symbolize marital harmony and sexual union.Lotus seeds (lianzi 莲籽) have the hidden meaning of "continuous birth of children" because the lian sounds like "continuous" (连) and the zi has the same pronunciation as the word for son or child (zi 子)."

For more about the lotus from Primaltrek, click here

The Right tiles are also visually interesting. Note how in tile 1 the birds are quite similar to the Chinese , so the 1 almost becomes a bird. On tile 3 we see a pennant which often appears on Mahjong tiles, and a pagoda. And on 4 the small boat among the reeds: the cover of the boat and the reeds echo each other.

Thanks to Ray Heaton we have a translation of the Flowers on the right:

"They are 一統山河, Yi Tong Shan He, which means to "unify the whole country".

This could be a reference to the post Qing era where the country was united under the

nationalists, the rise and take over of the country of the communists or (and my preference)

all the way back to the Han dynasty unifying the country after the fall of the Qin."

We thank mahjongmahjong for providing these photographs. For more treasures in their collection click here

Small Chinese Bakelite Tiles

Kuan Yin • February 23, 2014

This lovely Mahjong set is unusual in its size: the tiles are only 1" high, whereas others are usually 1 1/4". They are made of Chinese Bakelite, a substance still somewhat mysterious that really is a catch-all phrase for a number of different kinds of plastic, made in sheets and then hand-carved (in this case).

This Mahjong set was made for export, but interestingly, the maker did not feel all tiles need numbers. The only suit where foreigners really need assistance is in the Craks, thus all of those tiles are numbered. (Some sets only start numbers after 3 or 4). The Bams have a peacock One Bam, the other Bams are rounded, the Craks have the elaborate Wans, and the Dots continue their floral center throughout.

The Flowers are the flowers and seasons. Note that every vase has a different pattern and shape, often seen in these vase Flower tiles.

Top row: plum, orchid, chrysanthemum, bamboo

Bottom: spring, summer, fall, winter

The Red and Green Dragons are often seen on these CB sets, but the White is unusual.

The book I wrote with Ann Israel is being published by Tuttle. To see more about it:

www.mahjonggtheartof thegame.com

To order it click here:

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/mah-jongg-ann-israel/1118759459?ean=9784805313237

or here from Amazon

http://www.amazon.com/Mah-Jongg-Collectors-Guide-Tiles/dp/4805313234/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1414844427&sr=8-7&keywords=mah+jongg

Unusual Dots with Different Centers part 2

Kuan Yin • February 18, 2014

This continues the discussion of Bill's lovely tile set seen yesterday. The Green, Red, and White Dragons are the types that we normally see on Bone and Bamboo tiles. The use of red paint on the Winds letters is somewhat unusual.

The Flowers are really special. You will note that the flowers being held by the people on the top row are the same we saw in the center of the One Dots. (Click here) Thanks to Ray Heaton, we have an understanding of the tiles.

Starting with the bottom row of Flowers:

"The four noble professions, (green Chinese characters, simplified characters), 渔樵耕读, Yu, Qiao, Geng, Dou. (The way the characters have been written simplifies them further.)

Tile #1, 渔 (traditional character is 漁), Yu, Fisherman
#2, 樵, Qiao, to Gather Wood, an abbreviated way of saying Woodcutter
#3, 耕, Geng, to Plow (Farmer)
#4, 读, (traditional character is 讀), Dou, to Read or to Study (Scholar)

So these represent Fisherman, Woodcutter, Farmer and Scholar

And

The four seasons, (red Chinese characters), 春夏秋冬, Chun, Xia, Qiu, Dong

Tile #1, 春, Chun, spring
#2, 夏, Xia, summer
#3, 秋, Qiu, autumn
#4, 冬, Dong, winter.

I guess (again) the flowers are Peony, Lotus, Chrysanthemum and Plum Blossom. The 1 dots show the same flowers (in a different order in the photo), though the Lotus has the seed pod and leaf too (an auspicious symbol of fertility)."

You can see how the objects normally associated with the four noble professions have been very much simplified in the lower set of Flowers.

Unusual Dots with Different Centers • 1 Comment

Kuan Yin • February 17, 2014

The photograph of this lovely set was sent by reader Bill Price.

The very thick bone and bamboo tiles have some very interesting designs. Each One Dot is unique, rarely seen in sets. The centers feature three flowers we associate with the seasons: chrysanthemum, plum blossom, and orchid. The farthest left tile image remains a mystery, but if anyone has any ideas please let us know.

The One Bam sprout is somewhat unusual. You can see the sprout, with the bamboo shoot below it. Sometime people call this the "pineapple" Bam, and you can easily see why.

The set was made for export as can be seen by the presence of Western letters and Arabic numbers.

Other tiles have some unusual qualities as well. The Dots are the flower within a circle. We have seen the 9 Dot arrangement before, but it does not appear that often and remains a favorite among collectors. It is possible this only appears on sets made for export. The Craks are the elaborate Wans. The Bams are of the barbed variety.

The remaining tiles will be posted tomorrow.

Our thanks to Bill for sharing these photographs with us.

Bone Inlays on Front Side of “Tibet” Racks • 1 Comment

Kuan Yin • February 16, 2014

The other day we featured the backside of the "Tibetan" Mahjong rack. (click here to see that post) Today we see the side that faces the player. These are also bone discs, with images representing the 12 year Chinese cycle. The Chinese New Year actually starts sometime in January or February, the second new moon after the winter solstice, so if your birthday is in either of those two months you may fall into the previous animal sign. There are personality traits that fall into each year. The following has been taken from the online version of the Old Farmer's Almanac.

The front side of the Tibet racks have lovely small bone inlays, each for a year on the Chinese calendar.

Here are closeups of all the years:

The Goat sometimes known as the Sheep

Year of the Goat: 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003

Aesthetic and stylish, you enjoy being a private person. Compatible with the pig and the rabbit. Your opposite is the ox.

The Monkey

The year of the Monkey: 1920, 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004

Persuasive, skillful, and intelligent, you strive to excel. Compatible with the dragon and the rat. Your opposite is the tiger.

The Rooster or Cock

Year of the Rooster: 1921, 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005

Seeking wisdom and truth, you have a pioneering spirit. Compatible with the snake and the ox. Your opposite is the rabbit.

The Dog

Year of the Dog: 1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006

Generous and loyal, you have the ability to work well with others. Compatible with the horse and the tiger. Your opposite is the dragon.

The Pig or Boar

Year of the Pig: 1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007

Gallant and noble, your friends will remain at your side. Compatible with the rabbit and the sheep/goat. Your opposite is the snake.

The Rat

Year of the Rat:1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008

Ambitious and sincere, you can be generous with your money. Compatible with the dragon and the monkey. Your opposite is the horse.

The Ox or Buffalo

Year of the Ox: 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009

A leader, you are bright, patient, and cheerful. Compatible with the snake and the rooster. Your opposite is the sheep.

The Tiger

Year of the Tiger: 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010

Forthright and sensitive, you possess great courage. You have the ability to be a strong leader capable of great sympathy. Compatible with the horse and the dog. Your opposite is the monkey.

The Rabbit or Hare

Year of the Rabbit: 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011

Talented and affectionate, you are a seeker of tranquility. Compatible with the sheep and the pig. Your opposite is the rooster.

The Dragon

Year of the Dragon: 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012

Robust and passionate, your life is filled with complexity. Compatible with the monkey and the rat. Your opposite is the dog.

The Snake

Year of the Snake: 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013

Strong-willed and intense, you display great wisdom. Compatible with the rooster and the ox. Your opposite is the pig.

The Horse

Year of the Horse: 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014

Physically attractive and popular, you like the company of others. Compatible with the tiger and the dog. Your opposite is the rat.

To learn more about the Chinese years and qualities associated with each one

Click here

Black Bamboo II

Kuan Yin • February 14, 2014

Oftentimes black bamboo sets have more unusual designs than found on other tiles. This one is no exception. Given the very great challenge of carving such a hard surface as bamboo, the carver did a wonderful job. To make black bamboo mahjong tiles, the bamboo is first dyed, then carved and painted. The black background makes the colors pop.

The One Dot makes it a stand-out, with its very delicately carved flower center, with other Dots the circles within circles. The bird is referred to as a darting sparrow by Michael Stanwick. The other Bams are simple rods, and the Craks the simple Wan. Artists working on these black sets handle the colors of the numbers and the suits differently, as can be seen on Stanwick's site as well. The colors here, orange, blue, red and white and the Bam shapes are different from the Black Bamboo set discussed in January. To see that set click here

Stanwick has a few sets with similar One Bams on his website:

http://themahjongtileset.co.uk/tile-set-diversity/tile-set-diversity-2-0/

The Winds, Dragons and Flowers are delightful too. The White Dragon is a blank black tile, the Green is White, and the Red is red. The Flowers on the right are plum blossom, orchid, bamboo and chrysanthemum, the four gentlemen.

To read more about the Four Gentlemen in wikipedia, click here.

Mahjong Treasures

Appreciating the Art of Mahjong; A Collector's Guide