Understanding the various types of tiles in mahjong will not only show how the game works mechanically, but also shed light on the deeper meaning that has kept the game alive for so many centuries. If one looks into these types, one discovers how suited, honor and bonus tiles serve to create infinite possibility.

Suited Tiles: The Numerical Element

Suited tiles constitute the greatest part of a standard mahjong set and count up to 108 pieces, emphasizing numerical sequence and number building. These are the tiles used in the building of runs, sets and pairs, being significant because of the order which they indicate. Each suit has a value of 36 tiles, numbered from one to the nine, with four copies of each number. Consequently suited tiles have the necessity for the exercise of keen observation and memory on the part of players.

In the dots suit, or circles, the figures are round and suggestive of the ancient Chinese coin and have to do with the idea of riches and circulation. The players distinguish them by their stacked or patterned circles, the tile for one dot usually having a different device in the tile to aid the players’ memory. The idea behind this suit is that of riches in olden times. Wealth was indicated in the olden days by coinage.

Thus it is logical that the forming of events with dots signifies the accumulation of some one type of wealth upon the table.

The bamboo tiles, or bams, depict the stalks of this variety of plant, with a bird signally distinguishable in the tile for the one-bamboo suitable for ready recognition. These green tiles signify growth and vitality and are slaves to the ideas of bamboo, which is suggestive of flexibility. The linear figures to be found in them, play the part of great value because they serve to build straight runs which develop assistance. Bamboo suits thus provide originality, elasticity and versatility which is in accordance with the rapid character of the game itself.

Chinese characters known as crack or wan are represented by the Chinese digits placed in juxtaposition with the characters for “ten thousand,” or wan, which has a significance of great splendor and correctness in literature. The calligraphic nature of this suit shows the culture, care and delicacy of the product itself, the cards being number one to nine displayed in a beautiful form of script. Holders to the waste are compelled to count his pieces with their correct appearances upon these characters because there is an additive method in their approach. The characters in the suit, generally, indicate the fact that character suits have been arrived at through a certain evolution.

Honor tiles: Signs of power and directional force.

Honor tiles consist of two pieces which incur no possible score from number or from which soon appear geographical and fabulous explanations which heighten the growth of the game. They are infrequently used by players and better serve to join together in greater formation in order to produce lock-outs or pungs, although self-generating better scores, as a rule, find them more highly scored than number tiles on account of their auspicious nature.

Honor tiles are of two kinds; winds and dragons, who derive their storyful illustrations from cosmology and princely deeds, which introduce an element which produces a story out of rounds when played. As a result ordinary hands will become monosyllables of expressed ability.

Wind tiles number four each for the East, South, West and North, signifying not only the cardinal points of the compass, but also the seasons of Chinese philosophy. The East wind tile is more important than the others, in that it signifies the dealer’s tile, which draws attention to the leadership of other players, and is indicative of the renewal or rebirth of spring, being like the sun in the morning. 

The increase of the South wind means life and expansion, while the West and North would indicate introspection and condensation, being especially like the season of the harvest or winter fortitude. The winds are good as directing players in the spatial paths of directional game strategy.

Dragon tile sets typically have red dragon, green dragon, and white dragon tiles. Four of each tile type are included for a total of twelve dragon tiles. Dragons are symbolic of spiritual powers from folklore. The red dragon tile has “center” printed on it and symbolizes harmony and success in central melds in the universe, and is often useful for scoring points in central melds.

The green dragon tile has sympathy with favor from above. The green dragon is similar in color to jade, which symbolizes milder growth, favor and abundance. The white dragon tile, which may be blank or in a frame, signifies purity as well as completion and can often be a substitute, or joker type, for missing tiles in many variants. They bring honor tiles back into elemental importance.

Bonus Tiles: The Gifts of Nature and Chance

Bonus tiles have eight to sixteen tiles, dependent upon a variant played. They give bonus points for tiles that score points immediately or are acted upon without being melded with other tiles. They represent lucky draws of bonuses in the game, ruining the flow of the chain of play and providing bonuses and surprises. These tiles are dependent upon blooming nature and seasonal types and are indicative of the fleeting beauty of life and the seasons in which they have rhythms.

They add an opportunity for luck in what otherwise would be a scientific game.

Flower tiles being of eight in one form, flowers are depicted such as plum, orchid, chrysanthemum and others, all being developed with the implications of fortitude and greater beauty in Chinese poetry. They are very bright and are given a relative advantage to the four seasons, being given extra points when discovered. These tiles are indicative of a nature of remembrances within the person so that the plum blossoms in cold weather to announce the spring. The very notion of flowers provides victimal breathers in intense plays.

Season tiles are indicative of the four periods of the year, to wit: spring, summer, autumn, and winter. They are identified by simple types numbered from one to four, for ease in identifying. Spring symbolizes coming into play and renewal, as is always the case in the beginning of the game, while summer flowers with the importance of plenty and heat waves. Autumn involves reflection upon all that has taken place, and winter brings thoughts to old age and why that indefinitely takes opportunities ahead.

The lessons of life and the seasons enter, and the persons embracing likely luck.

The Bottom Line

This list of types is incorporated to their reads for use in improvement of the Playing ability of the player feeding his game in the understanding as use of play showing the force of the game itself begets much use of beauty and elegance of life and interest eternally. Whether in the original or variant type of tile than use of tile provides many opportunities for play and victory of tile game.