Babcock's Rules for Mah-Jongg/Chapter 12
MAH-JONGG, as explained in the Preface, is based upon and is a development of the Chinese game of 麻雀, made possible as a result of the introduction by the author of the first tiles with English index playing symbols and his publication of the first Book of Rules. Since then the game has become widely popular among Americans and Europeans throughout China and great interest has been aroused in the United States and other countries.
The game of 麻雀 originated in China, probably in Ningpo, although it is also claimed that Fukien Province was the place of origin. Little is known of the early history of the game, but it was probably a more or less gradual development of several ancient Chinese card games.
In the beginning no wall was built, each player merely drawing his tiles from the center where the 136 tiles were placed face down and shuffled. The wall was developed and the dice introduced, as were most of the other elaborate formalities of the game, in order to insure chance and avoid choice in the Draw. 麻雀 in its present form has been played throughout China for the past fifty or one hundred years. Probably no other game has ever been devised that is so thoroughly proof against errors of intent on the part of the unscrupulous. Consequently, there is very little opportunity for such differences of opinion as frequently arise in other games.
The Chinese, to whom are attributed the inventions of chess, dominoes, and playing cards, in 麻雀 have added another great game to their long list of achievements. The game of 麻雀 has stood the test of centuries of play in China and is still by far the most popular game there today. During this time the Chinese have developed the fine points of the game to an extent not reached in any Occidental game.
MAH-JONGG appears likely to secure the same firm hold among Americans and Europeans that 麻雀 has among the Chinese. Once the comparatively simple rudiments of MAH-JONGG have been mastered, the player of the Occident soon feels the Oriental fascination of the game and begins to appreciate that here at last he has been introduced to the ideal combination of skilful play and chance.