US mahjong set maker accused of cultural appropriation apologises for mahjong set stripped of Chinese numbers and symbols, saying ‘We are deeply sorry’

Dallas, Texas-based The Mahjong Line this week issued an apology after its redesigned version of the game came under fire

Social media users slammed the company for removing the usual Chinese numbers and symbols and replacing them with bars of soap, cherries and flour

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Social media has slammed the founders of The Mahjong Line for removing traditional Chinese numbers and symbols typically found on the tiles of the game. Photo: The Mahjong Line

Published: 12:40pm, 7 Jan 2021Updated: 4:08pm, 7 Jan 2021

Mahjong is quintessentially Chinese, a strategy-based game developed in the country during the Qing dynasty (1644-1912). It is played with a set of 144 tiles based on Chinese characters and symbols. In pre-Covid-19 days, the clacking sound of shuffling tiles was a familiar one heard in many Hong Kong neighbourhoods.

The game is especially popular among older people, who are encouraged to play not just as a way to keep loneliness at bay but for brain health, with studies linking it to improved mental health.

Companies often issue mahjong sets carrying their branding. Last month, Singapore Airlines released a set with tiles featuring the flag-carrier’s batik prints. Luxury brands have got in on the act too, with Hermès releasing a set last year made with rosewood and leather, priced at a whopping US$40,400.

While its roots are in China, the game’s popularity has spread to the rest of Asia and it has also found a following in the West. But one American company has landed in hot water this week, accused of whitewashing the game.

A mahjong set produced by The Mahjong Line. Photo: The Mahjong Line

Dallas, Texas-based The Mahjong Line, founded in November 2020 by three young women, this week issued an apology after its redesigned version of the game came under fire, and not just for the hefty price tag – some sets sell for up to US$425.