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This gallery consists of more recent books, academic papers and catalogues that feature important descriptions and developments of Chinese money-suited playing cards and the Mah Jong tile set, including geographical distributions and game rules and manufacturing processes in some cases. Also featured are aids in understanding Chinese sinograms and symbols found in Chinese art, including Mahjong.
Written by C. T. Dobree - Assistant Commissioner of Police. Published in Kuala Lumpur, Caxton Press with the permission of the Federation of Malaysia. Preface by C. T. Dobree, 1st February 1955.
Contains many examples of playing cards of Chinese origin used by gamblers in Malaysia. Invaluable resource for students of Chinese playing cards.
This catalogue by Gernot Prunner is from an exhibition of Chinese playing cards. It contains an invaluable analysis of the types of money-suited playing cards and many pictorial examples. Text is in German. Highly recommended.
Chapter 1 on The Origin and Evolution of Mahjong contains many interesting, 1st hand observations dating back to the 1930's.
An indispensable adjunct to Eberhard's Dictionary 2000-2 below. Highly recommended.
A brief overview of the tile set by the late author. Also contains an invaluable description of Glover's set taken from Culin's work. Wilkinson's set is also mentioned.
A reproduction of an early 20th century Cantonese dictionary. Valuable resource for early sinograms.
Excellent dictionary for those wishing to decipher Chinese sinograms. Also very useful in conjunction with Cedict online.
The first book issued by the Japanese MJ detailing important tile sets, card decks, cabinets and literature held in the museum. Also included are analyses of the tile sets and card decks. Text is in Japanese and English.
Booklet published by the Japanese MJ Museum showing important sets etc. Text is in Japanese.
A very useful book describing the common symbols used in Chinese works of art etc.
Contains a brief description of salt merchants playing what appears to be a game of ma qiao.
This paper by Andrew Lo contains a description and analysis of 'The Game of Leaves'. (Used with kind permission of the author and the SOAS). For a complete copy please visit
http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?fromPage=online&aid=3658900&fulltextType=RA&fileId=S0041977X00008466
for paid subscribers or visit
http://www.jstor.org/stable/1559494
for access via a university library.
This Journal contains the 1st in a series of articles by Andrew Lo; 'The Late Ming Game of Ma Diao'. Valuable descriptions of money-suited Ma Diao decks. Highly recommended.
The 2nd article by Andrew Lo; 'The 'Yezi Pu' (Manual of Leaves): A Card manual for games of the Late Ming Period [1368-1644']. A comprehensive description of a complete Ma Diao deck from Kunshun plus a description of the Kunshun printing process.
This book presents the symbols that "represent the five most sought-after values in Chinese culture - luck, fú, prosperity, lù, longevity, shòu, double happiness, xǐ, and wealth."
A very useful addition to the next two texts.
3rd article by Andrew Lo; 'Pan Zhiheng's 'Xu Yezi Pu' (Sequel to a Manual of Leaves) - Part 1'. Included is a comprehensive description of the game of Kan Hu and brief descriptions of the games Che Liu Zhang and Tian jiu.
There is a follow-up article by the Late John Berry, 'Chinese Money-Suited Cards', in which he describes the configuration of the suits in the tung kuan pai money-suited deck (see an example of this deck, in the correct orientation, in the Money-Suited Cards section of this site) in which the Cash suit is reversed in strength. This reconstruction was based on Lo's description of the cards in the game Kan Hu.
4th article by Andrew Lo; 'Pan Zhiheng's 'Xu Yezi Pu' (Sequel to a Manual of Leaves) - Part 2'. This provides a comprehensive account of the game Che Liu Zhang and Dou Tian Jiu.
Catalogue a a Chinese games exhibition recently held in the USA. Lavishly coloured examples of various games and equipment with associated essays bearing analyses of the types of games presented. Most importantly is Section 17, "China's Passion for Pai: Playing Cards, Dominoes, and Mahjong", by (Prof.) Andrew Lo of the London School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. This most important essay outlines the history and development of Mah Jong and other games associated with the category of games, to which Mah Jong belongs. Any student of the game would do well to acquire this book for this section alone. Highly recommended.
The recent book released by the Japanese MJ Museum giving additional examples of tile sets and furniture held in the museum, all in superb colour plates. Text is in Japanese.
A thorough description of the hidden meanings of the symbols found in Chine art. Lavishly and profusely illustrated.
Another thorough examination of the motifs and symbols found in Chinese art. Illustrated throughout.
This excellent little booklet details the invention of paper money and eventually playing cards in China and their subsequent development in Europe.
The development of Mahjong is highlighted with reference to playing cards. Copious illustrations throughout.
I very much recommend this booklet to the interested reader and student of Mahjong History. ISBN 9781539507024
Guide from The Display Hall of the Birthplace of Mahjong. In Chinese with English translation.
The Birth of Mahjong by Otani Mitsuaki. Published September 2016. ISBN 978-4-469-21356-0. In Japanese.
There are a few interesting photographs of playing cards and tile sets, mostly in black and white. The book references literature and articles found on this site and written in publications also shown in the Literature Galleries on this site.