The History, Culture, and Everyday Wisdom of Mahjong

Kit Cheung, Peter Michael Lo

ISBN 10: 1962028240 / ISBN 13: 9781962028240

Published by Camathories Company, 2025

Seller Inventory # LU-9781962028240

Synopsis:

Click clack click clack, click clack click clack, …”We are missing one leg! Anyone?” …Mahjong is not just a social game of points and combinations—it is a ritual of human connection, a vessel of collective memory. It is very rich in its own history and plays a significant role in social culture in various parts of the world. In this book, readers will gain a deeper understanding of mahjong, not only as a game played by people, but also as a social networking instrument and a historical mirror, reflecting the periods from the Qing Dynasty in China, through the Second World War, to modern times. It is also a bridge of cross-cultural and cross-generational recollection, communication, and appreciation. Nowadays, mahjong is even recognized as offering substantial therapeutic value for seniors, and has become a game played not only by Chinese people but also by people worldwide. This book also discusses various styles of mahjong and briefly explains how each style is played. The final chapter offers a detailed guide on how to play Classical Mahjong - the Cantonese/ Hong Kong Style, which is one of the most popular styles of mahjong in the world.

About the Authors: Kit Cheung, Ph.D. (Cantab) Dr. Kit is the Program Leader of the Bilingual Learning Program at CAMahories Company. CAMathories offers Bilingual Mathematics programs in selective Asian and European languages. Dr. Kit teaches Cantonese and math immersion lessons to young children, both online and in person. She combines language and math learning with folk stories and cultural games to create an enjoyable and engaging learning experience. As a native speaker of Cantonese, Dr. Kit aims to share the rich Cantonese language and culture with the next generation of Cantonese speakers, wherever they may be. Dr. Kit is also the author of a math story book, "Kino Goes Fencing", one of the top new releases on Amazon in the children's sports books category within the first 72 hours of its release. She is also the editor for all the children's math storybooks of CAMathories. Dr. Kit is now writing her second children's book of the Kino Series, "Kino Plays Mahjong"! Outside work, Dr. Kit enjoys traveling to various places in Asia, Europe, Australasia, and North America to meet different people, learn about diverse cultures, and folk stories from different regions. Dr. Kit is a recipient of various academic and merit-based scholarships. Among them are the highly competitive and renowned Chevening Scholarship (awarded by the British Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, U.K.) and Cambridge Overseas Trust (by the University of Cambridge, U.K.). Dr. Kit has obtained a Ph.D. degree from the School of Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Cambridge. Dr. Kit is a co-founder and the Chief Executive Officer of CAMathories Company.

Peter Michael Lo is a public health and business professional with roots in Hong Kong and dual graduate degrees from Johns Hopkins University. His work spans healthcare strategy, aging innovation, and cross-cultural communication. With a background that bridges East and West, Peter brings both analytical depth and cultural fluency to every project. Beyond his academic and professional pursuits, Peter is an enthusiastic promoter of everyday traditions-especially mahjong. While growing up in Hong Kong with the 13-tile Cantonese style, Peter is unusually skilled in Sichuan mahjong (川麻), known for its speed, strategy, and lack of "Eyes." Friends often joke that he reads the table like a chessboard, calculating odds and patterns with quiet precision. What starts as a friendly game often ends in a flurry of wins and laughter- usually with Peter claiming the final hand. Whether leading a public health initiative or explaining the logic of mahjong to new players, Peter believes that culture is best preserved through joyful, everyday practice.

Bibliographic Details

Title: The History, Culture, and Everyday Wisdom of...
Publisher: Camathories Company
Publication Date: 2025
Binding: Paperback
Condition: New