This site has had 1524094 hits since 19/04/2013
Bamboo was most likely the earliest material used for thick cards, pái, that is, tiles, onto which were engraved the insignia or motifs that constitute the groups in what we now call the Mahjong tile set in the West, and commonly má jiàng pái or má què pái in the East.
The earliest tile set so far documented was made out of bamboo and was collected by Karl Himly circa 1873(see a reconstruction of this set in the Tile Set History section). Indeed, the first tile set the Babcocks played with when they returned to the United States and sojourned on Catalina Island was a bamboo tile set.
This Gallery features bamboo tile sets made from plain and blackened bamboo, with the black tiled version the more uncommon of the two.
148 uncommon black-stained bamboo tiles. This set shows the 'hybridisation' that can occur between tile patterns. In this case this set incorporates a 'bamboo' pattern with pointed 'bamboos'. The bird is similar to a darting sparrow and the four 'Seasons' are the four arts of the scholar - shown by the qin (Lute), qi (Chess), shu (books/reading) and hua (painting). The four flowers are the four noble plants of plum, orchid, bamboo and chrysanthemum.
Cardboard box covered with patterned fabric. Gold sinograms on the lid.
148 Black-stained bamboo tiles with white coloured engravings. Unusual position of the bird.
Cardboard box covered with a patterned fabric with two painted, silver, illegible sinograms on the lid.
148 bamboo tiles. Note the diamond shape of the #9 Circles.
Silk covered cardboard box.