Mahjong originated in China, and the kings and nobles who originally belonged to the royal game. Its history can be traced back to 3000 to 4000 years ago. In the long course of historical evolution, mahjong gradually spread from the palace to the public, the basic shape formed at the middle of the Qing dynasty.
麻将起源于中国，最初属于皇帝和贵族们的皇室游戏。它的历史可以追溯到三千到四千年以前。在这漫长的历史演变过程中，麻将也逐渐地由皇宫传播到民间，其基础花样成型于清朝中期。
During the Ming Dynasty Tianqi years, Mahjong originally as a bargaining chip in the game accessories, became a new drama and entertainment appliances, namely Ma tag.
明代天启年间，本来作为游戏的附属品筹码，经过逐渐演变，成为一种新的戏娱用具，即马吊。
In the late Ming and early Qing with Ma prevailing at the same time, It gave birth to a tag called "cards" (also known as silent and Licensing) of the drama and entertainment appliances. It is for four people to play, made from paper. With the beginning of a total of 60 cards, divided into penny, bamboo, million through the three colors, the tri-color are the two 1-9, while the first three color monoid (that is, the tiles, the fat, white) of the two pieces. During cards fighting, the four take the first 10, later followed by access card, playing cards. Three together is called a license, there are three additional licenses for a pair of wins. Winning, means HU in Chinese. When playing a card, two or even three at the same time informed that in order to get a license for first win. These cards like head and playing on the tiles today. In the process of its playing it is always silent.
在明末清初马吊牌盛行的同时，由马吊牌又派生出一种叫“纸牌”（也叫默和牌）的戏娱用具。纸牌也是供四人打，由纸制成。牌纸开始共有60张，分为文钱，索子，万贯三种花色，其三色都是一至九各两张，另有幺头三色（即麻将牌中的中，发，白）各两张。斗纸牌时，四人各先取十张，以后再依次取牌，打牌。三张连在一起的牌叫一副，有三副另加一对牌者为胜。赢牌的称谓叫“和”（音胡）。一家打出牌，两家乃至三家同时告知，以得牌在先者为胜。这些牌目及玩法就很像今天的麻将牌了。这种牌戏在玩的过程中始终默不作声，所以叫做默和牌。
Since then, the people thought that the number of sheets of cards few and can not enjoy playing together, so they played two licenses together. After that cards were changed into 120 pieces. In the playing method, besides the three together can be a license, the same three can also be a license. In other words, the start of the card can also be the need of starting eating and touching. At this time there will be a combination of licensing, "Kan" (3 figures connected with the door), "touch" (three different), "open bar" (the same 4). At this point the card is also called the "touch and licensing."
其后，人们感到纸牌的张数太少，玩起来不能尽兴，于是把两副牌放在一起合成一副来玩，从此纸牌就变成120张。在玩法上，除了三张连在一起的牌可以成为一副以外，三张相同的牌也可以成为一副。也就是说，上手出的牌，下手需要还可以吃、碰。这时牌的组合就有了“坎”（同门三张数字相连）、“碰”（三张相同）、“开杠”（四张相同）。此时的纸牌又叫“碰和牌”。
It is not only a kind of game but also a kind of sport. It is a reflection of eastern culture and an element of Chinese culture. In China the mahjong movement is very popular, ranging from social classes to our homes, becoming China's most influential intellect sports activities. The objective existence of mahjong sport in China is unavoidable to anyone.
麻将不仅是一种游戏，也是一项运动，既是一种东方文化的现象，也是中国文化的元素之一。麻将运动在中国十分普及，流行范围涉及到社会各个阶层，已经进入到千家万户，成为我国最具影响力的智力体育运动。麻将运动的客观存在是当今中国任何人都无法回避的现实。
