AROUND THE WORLD
One table. Many ways to play.
Mahjong has inspired regional traditions, adaptations, friendships and communities. This is a starting map, not a claim that each country follows one uniform rulebook.
United States · American Mah Jongg
Often played with jokers, racks, a Charleston tile exchange and an annually issued card of winning hands. Begin here.
China · Many regional styles
Chinese Mahjong includes numerous regional rulesets, including Cantonese and Sichuan styles. Scoring, permissible hands and special tiles differ significantly.
Japan · Riichi Mahjong
Japanese riichi features a distinct scoring system, yaku requirements, dora bonus tiles and strategic calls including declaring riichi.
Korea · Regional history and variations
Mahjong has a history in Korea, but it is less common in mainstream social play than some other tabletop games. Specific Korean rule descriptions need to be tied to a verified variation rather than presented as one universal national standard.