Mahjong as a leisure activity in our lives is a game of
Chinese origin, and it is also our national essence.
Dating to over two thousand years ago, Mahjong is
said to have originated in the court of the King of Wu.
For centuries, mahjong remained exclusive of the
royal class. It was against the law for commoners to
play. Around 500 A.D., the penalty was lifted, which
enabled everyone who desired to play mahjong to do
so, then the game spread to various countries around
the world, including England and Australia.
It is relevant to point out that playing mahjong is good
for our health, especially for the elders. It keeps their
mind occupied and well used. In some cases, it helps
reduce dementia, lost of memory and other illnesses.
On the other hand, mahjong is often called the ¡°game
of a hundred intelligences¡± simply because it required
much concentration. Anyone who plays the game
often knows it is very much about strategy and
mathematics, without any calculators. If a mental
challenge was what people wanted, mahjong was
definitely the game |
