Mahjong is a fun social game full of advantages in enhancing brain power and preventing dementia. It is a game for building relationships and bonding, teaching people not to do things harming others and themselves but to compete fairly and honorably. Mahjong is now internationally popular. While the U.S. and China are in competition, it is beneficial for politicians to understand the Chinese mahjong game, which will likely lead to an understanding of hegemony vs. anti-hegemony behavior. They may be similar but vastly different in consequences. (For example, military exercise with allies near another country's front door vs military exercise alone at one's front door to show defense capability.) Abandoning hegemony and engaging in fair competition is like playing mahjong, win or lose, a fun experience. The author is dedicating this paper to promoting a mahjong spirit in U.S.-China relations.
 
Origin and Game Significance
 
1. Created in 1846 in Qing Dynasty by Chen Yu-Wen, an Imperial palace servant.
2. A social and highly intellectual game based on game theory that can be mastered by illiterate and scholars alike.
3. Game rules reflect culture, mathematics, moral principles, and gambling nuisances such as luck and superstition as well as strategies.
4. Popular in China (Hong Kong, Shanghai, Taipei, all cities and rural areas), Japan (Imported by soldier Saburo Hirayama in 1924), Korea, Philippines, Singapore, and other Southeast Areas (Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, etc. ) and the U.S. (since 1920’s, introduced by Park Babcock and later evolved into a Jewish version). Can Jewish mahjong de-couple from Chinese mahjong? What for? Chinese produce high-quality sets at low cost for the world!5. Game for mental development and brain health popular in senior communities in both East and West hemispheres.
6. Jewish Mahjong as well as many other versions such as Thai mahjong are simple derivatives of the original Chinese mahjong game.
7. The same sets can be played by Americans, Chinese, Jewish and many others. The Chinese mahjong will be explained in this simple Rule Book.
 
The Construct of The Mahjong Game
 
1. A four-person game (although three people can play with less rigor) played on a square table with four chairs, each side of the table represents a direction (counter-clockwise), the East (東), South (南), West (西), and North (北）.
2. The players throwing dice to select seats, the highest number selects first. The one sitting on the East side is the first dealer holding a dealer marker showing a dice face with East (東), the East wind cycle.
3. The dealer keeps the dealership when wins, and passes on counter-clockwise to South (南) if the dealer loses, until the East wind cycle is completed.
4. Players continue to play the South wind cycle by turning the dealer marker to the South (南). Games continue until four wind cycles are completed. Four more cycles may be continued if players desire. (*Throw dice to change seating to play after North wind cycle is completed.)
 
The Mahjong Set
 
Each mahjong set consists of 144 tiles with four or eight blank spare tiles in case a few tiles missing. The box may come with dice and the dealer marker. The 144 tiles are:
A. Three suits of 1. silver dollar suit (餅, circular coin symbol) marked with 1 to 9 coin symbols, four duplicate tiles each making a total of 36, 2. Currency suit (萬, ten thousand, yuan implied) marked with 一to 九（1 to 9）萬, four tiles each making a total of 36, and 3. Bamboo bar suit (條, gold bar shape) marked 1 to 9 bars, four tiles each making a total of 36, three suits net 108 tiles.
B. Blessing words, 中（Zhong, red color, meaning achieving a goal, passing exam, etc.) four tiles, 發 （Fa, green color, meaning making fortune, receiving lots of money) four tiles each, and 白（Bai, blank or white, meaning spotless reputation, honest character, etc.) four tiles each; a total of 12 tiles.
C. Four winds, East (東), South (南), West (西), and North (北), four tiles each, total 16.
D. Four seasons and corresponding four flower plants, 春(Spring), 夏(Summer), 秋(Autumn), and 冬(Winter), and 梅, plum, 蘭, orchid, 菊, chrysanthemum, and 竹, bamboo, one tile each, a total of 8.
E, The entire set has 108+12+16+8=144 tiles, three numeral suits and the rest of words.
 
The Game Rules
 
1. Shuffle 144 tiles on the table with tile face down, each player picks randomly 34 (without seasons and flowers) or 36 tiles (playing with seasons and flowers as bonuses) in front of the person. These bonus tiles do not interfere with the game plot, just add an agreed bonus.
2. Starting the game with the first dealer sitting at the East seat: throwing a pair of dice to determine where to first pick the dealer’s first four tiles, by counting from the dealer’s seat counter-clockwise to the number shown on the dice. Then throw the dice again (or using the same dice number) to count the tiles at the selected seat position clockwise (or right to left) to the dice number to pick 4 tiles there from that number on. Dealer first then each player in turn picks four tiles, three rounds plus 1 more tile (each gets 13 tiles) then the dealer draws another (14th) tile to begin the play.
3. The win pattern is always 4x3+2 (with extra bonus tiles if any attached to this pattern), that is four sets of three sequence number in the same suit or three identical tiles set plus a pair called mahjong (or eye).
 
How to Make a Trick and Win the Game
 
There are four ways of making a trick:
1. When you draw the first thirteen cards, you can sort out a sequence of three in the same suit or three identical tiles as sets, called hidden tricks.
2. When you draw a tile at your turn and match two tiles in your hand to make a sequence or identical triplet set, also called a hidden trick.
3. If the player sitting before you (play sequence is counterclockwise) discards a tile that you can take to make a sequence trick with two matching tiles in your hand, called an open trick by 吃（eat). It must be placed in an open manner in front of you to show to everyone.
4. When any player discards a tile that you can grab to match two identical tiles in your hand, called an open trick by 碰 (grab from any one). It also must be placed in an open manner in front to show to other players.
5. If grab and eat occurred at the same time, grab has preference over eat and so does grab with bonus (grab one with three matching identical tiles) over eat.
6. When you have four tricks and a pair of Majong, you can declare 胡 (win) which has the highest preference over grab or eat. When more than one player declares a win at the same time (fighting over the discarded tile), the nearest next player to the one firing the discarded tile (放炮) wins.
7. The game must end when the draw tiles were down to the last 7 pieces, then the game is a draw and the dealer stays on to the next game.
 
How to Count the Winning Tricks (算番）
 
1. Players decide what are countable as 一番（one unit of win or equivalent in dollar but going up in binary scale, that is 1,2,4,8,16,32 corresponding to 1,2,3,4.5 6 番) and what combination of tricks equal to how many 番(fan). There is no absolute rule, but in general players will accept a set of rules based on empirical practice.
2. The following trick or pattern of tricks are given the value of 一番； 自摸, self-draw to win, 平胡，entire collection having no 1, 9 or blessing or wind word， 將番， pair of 2, 5 or 8 as Ma Jong, 缺五，no 5 in entire set, 斷么，no 1, 9 or words, 一般高，identical twin sequence， 三元， anyone of blessing word trick (identical three of 中， 發 or 白）, 風牌， three identical wind of the wind cycle or your seat position wind, 無花，no season or flower tile, 獨聽， win on a single tile with no other way to win, 老少， having 123 and 789 sequence in the same suit or 111 and 999 identical set of the same suit, 缺一門， only has two suits, missing one suit and no words, 門前清， no eat or grab, thus no open tricks, 彩龍， 3 suits of 123, 456 and 789, 海底撈月， win on last draw tile, 河底撈魚， after last draw card fire cannon, make someone win, 搶杠，getting 4th identical tile and causing someone to win, 兩杠， two sets of four identical tiles, 杠上花，make open or close 4 identical tiles then draw to win（or to lose, 杠上炮， negative for firing person), 聽五， win on waiting for 5 to match 4 and 6 to make a sequence, 清四碰，open or close 4 sets of 4 identical tiles, 四歸一, 4 identical tiles made one set of 3 identical tiles and one sequence.
3. 二番 (two units): 四歸二，4 identical tiles making 2 sequences and a pair of mahjong, 混帶幺， all sequence or identical sets and mahjong are made of 1 or 9, 一組花, getting all seasons or flowers, 半求人，4 sets of sequences and/or identical tiles all made by eat or grab, 對對胡， win by making 4 sets of 3 identical tiles and a pair of mahjong.
4. 三番 (3 units): 全求人, all made by eat or grab, if one who fired the winning tile with no compelling reason (ready to win is compelling), must pay for all other players’ loss, 清一色, all pieces in one suit, 全么, all pieces are either 1 or 9, 七對，win by seven pairs.
5. 四番 (4 units): 清對對胡, all four identical sets and mahjong in one suit, 將對, seven pairs all 2, 5, or 8.
6. 五番 (5 units)： 龍七對 （雙龍抱), six pairs in two sequences of six plus mahjong, 清七對， all seven pairs in the same suit, 清么九, all in 1 or 9 of one suit.
7. 六番 (6 units) : 天胡, the dealer win by the initial draw of the14th tile, 地胡, the win by very first draw, 青龍七對， seven pairs in a straight seven sequence.
8. The following situation adds 一番，搶杠，fight over a piece to win while someone declared grab, 根加一，have four identical tiles in your hand when win adds 一番.
 
The above rules are all subject to pre-game negotiation, because people may be used to slightly different ways of counting. Since the probability theorems behind these rules are difficult to prove, the players must agree to a set of rules (ignoring some others) to enjoy the game. Similarly, in international trade relations and foreign affairs, it is difficult to have a perfect set of rules to guide the interactions and to satisfy the 200 world members. Therefore, it is best to keep a dialogue open for negotiation rather than impose a rigid set of rules. Let’s hope that the U.S. and China will act like mahjong players (the purpose is to have a fun game). They negotiate and play rather than de-couple and blame which will hurt each other with no game to play!

As the year 2023 draws to an end, commentators generally twist their noodles to review the past and project the future in all aspects (economy, social issues, life-styles, etc.) but inevitably the national politics and international order come to the top especially because of the coming 2024 presidential election. Professor Joseph S. Nye at Harvard University just published a thought-provoking article, American Exceptionalism in 2024, in the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI recently noted for its biased China view causing Australia a diplomatic nightmare with China). Prof. Nye chose to include 2024 in the tile of his article and published it in ASPI, perhaps, it is to gain an early time stamp of December 17, 2023, to inform the international audience about his new book, A Life in the American Century to be published in January 2024 by Polity Press. I enjoyed reading Professor Nye's article although he has only mentioned the 2024 election at the end with no serious discussion. This author feels that while Prof Nye is right about the Biden camp trying to preserve the existing order and the Trump followers wanting to destroy it, but their causality reasons related to National Exceptionalism deserve clarification. In this article, the author wishes to discuss such a connection.

To discuss international order today, understanding American exceptionalism is a necessary element but not sufficient unless extending to a comprehension of 'national exceptionalism'. As Prof. Nye quoted French intellectual Stanley Hoffman. “Every country considers itself unique, France and the U.S.  stand out believing their values are universal.” (Exceptional!), this author believes that there is 'national exceptionalism' which will play a role in influencing international order. Broadly speaking, national exceptionalism, exemplified by the American Exceptionalism, is cultivated in a shallow sense by brain- washing (media, Hollywood, textbooks, etc.), in a deeper sense through beliefs (religion-God's chosen people, theorism such as racism and colonialism, etc.) and in a realistic impactful sense by national power such as economic power, military power, and technological power. The similarities and difference between American and French exceptionalism can be traced through their history, religion, racism, and culture, all played a role, but national power made a definite difference (and consequences) since the two world wars. The British, the Germans, and the Japanese all had their exceptionalism, cultivated by some of the influencing factors discussed above but accentuated especially in different times by naval power (Britain), industrial discipline (Germany), and copism (Japan, ability to copy excellence) which haunted the Japanese in its national exceptionalism creating a mixed (and tortured) feeling.

“Americans may want to believe that their country is a force for good” (Quote from Prof. Nye) but yet the American foreign policy/behavior shows hypocrisey. American foreign policy has had a huge influence on international order since World War II because of its power. Prof. Nye commented that the world would be very different if Hitler or Stalin won the war. Today, U.S. power is in decline whether Americans want to admit it or not. Most American politicians would like to blame that on China's rise rather than the U.S. mismanagement of its domestic and international affairs. In an objective analysis, we can see that the Chinese do think they are unique as well. Chinese have a long history (far longer than French and American history). Throughout its history, China has truly absorbed many races thus racism has not played a significant role in Chinese exceptionalism. The U.S. has an enormous land (rich resources) and geopolitical advantage (surrounded by two oceans and two weak neighbors), but China in contrast has 14 troublesome neighbors. When the U.S. becomes the world's largest economy, it thinks in terms of global power, whereas China rises from the poorest country to the world's number two economy, it thinks in terms of co-prosperity and joint development. China's national exceptionalism came from its glorious history (boosted and sustained its pride) and endurance through hardship (hardwork ethics) not inflamed by military power or religious belief.

Prof. Nye commented that in history isolationism (Monroe Doctrine) was there before global power.  It wasn't until 1917 that President Woodrow Wilson sent two million troops to Europe leading the U.S. to global power. At that time, China was so weak and had no choice but to accept the U.S. mediation of the Russo-Japan war forcing China to give up sovereignty to make Russia and Japan cease fire. There was no justice in the U.S. behavior but global power play. Today, China has risen in economic power and military power. Will the U.S. continue with its global power foreign policy or take a real honest realist power analysis to accept reality? Indeed, the U.S. is still number one, but its American First slogan, like its American Exceptionalism, is tainted with color (racial – black rights vs white rights vs others), extreme liberalism versus extreme conservatism, and religious divide. Global power may not be easily maintained as the Russian-Ukraine war and Israel-Hamas conflict have shown. China, on the other hand, is promoting peace talks and economic cooperation. China not only can manage its mid-Asia land neighbors but also has succeeded in bringing Saudi and Iran to create diplomatic relations.

We Americans should not have a blind belief in American exceptionalism. We must accept the truth that national exceptionalism exists in every country with roots in many factors - historical and changeable factors.  The American people should understand other nations' exceptionalism and study our own. For example, why some countries strictly oppose the LGBT movement which is 'endorsed' or 'promoted' in our country. Another example, why some countries have different climate change and energy policies. Do we just take advantage of our resources to pursue a good future for ourselves? In our 2024 presidential election, do we have the right candidates making the right debate on issues and solutions rather than shouting slogans? American exceptionalism does not solve our economic problems, employment and skill development issues and new world order unless we understand our own exceptionalism in depth and other nations' exceptionalisms. This author is glad to see Prof. Nye starting an essay at the year-end of 2023. We Americans must understand the real significance of this slogan.  We can contribute positively to the new world order but not dictate it.



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I first heard of this book through a YouTube piece on an interview of the author by a reporter from the Washington Post. I was impressed by this very articulate young London School of Economics professor opining on the Chinese model of political economy and a host of other economic issues. As most book launches go, the interview centered more on her view on related current events rather than the details of her book. It piqued my interest to find out more: about how she advanced her points; what interesting stories/examples she cites; and whether the book is easy to read.  Needless to say, I was also intrigued about her background: was she from China? Taiwan? Hong Kong? ABC? At that time, around late June 2023, there were long holds on her book at local libraries, suggesting it was a popular book. So, I purchased an audiobook. Not only is it timely, but the book is also a gem, a real treat, and a pleasant read.
 
So first, a few words about her background. She was born in Beijing in the 1980s. Her father was a high official in the China banking system (among the first to enter university after working as a laborer during the Cultural Revolution). She came to the US in 1997 as an exchange student, attending high school in Bronz, New York. With a BS and Ph.D. from Harvard, she is currently an economics professor at the London School of Economics.
 
Since she arrived in the US, she has often been asked questions such as when will China become a democracy and others. She found most prevalent Western perspectives on the rise of China are often simplistic, not well-informed, or even misinformed.  The majority perceive China as going down, or its growth will end in disaster unless it adopts Western values and changes its economic and political system. Others regard China’s rise as a threat.  In the book, Dr. Jin presented a more nuanced, data/evidence-based picture debunking much of these Western viewpoints.  She illustrated the Chinese system, which is effective, adaptable to changes, and widely accepted by its citizens. There is no turning back.  
 
Dr. Jin argues that China’s old economic playbook is based on GDP growth while the new playbook relies on innovation and technology, aiming at an orderly, regulated, monitored growth that is environmentally friendly and provides a better quality of life for its citizens. She described what she termed political economy, a centralized political and decentralized economic system that is unique to China. She documented how this system enabled the miraculous growth of the Chinese economy. She discussed how the three principal agents - the state, the firm (including entrepreneurs), and consumers -  interact under this system; how this creates or enables checks and balances within this system, along the way, she explains how the political centralization-economic decentralization system incentivized the mayor economy which fostered thriving local economies; why state-owned enterprise (SOE) is not what’s portrayed in the West media; how history/culture makes the norm of accepting/trusting government leaders/decisions; and the impact of the one-child policy on the economy and the new generation.
 
The book covers other economic issues such as the household saving rate, the housing bubble, the stock market, rapid development of green industries such as electrical vehicle (EV), shadow banking, the financial system, the technology race as well as China’s role in global trade and the global financial stage. She pointed out pitfalls and risks of the China model such as at times some policies may linger longer than necessary, causing adverse effects. She contended the biggest challenge or unknown is whether China can escape the middle-income trap and success in doing so will validate the China model. All in all, this is a positive, optimistic book, well-researched and documented with examples, statistics, charts, tables, footnotes, and citations. Above all, it is easy to read and follow.
 
I particularly appreciate her assessment of the new generation, of which, she is a member. She described how the one-child policy has inadvertently fostered a new generation that is better educated, more confident, more tolerant, and more willing to spend. While still rooted in Chinese culture and history, the new generation is also more clear-headed about Western democracy vs what China has accomplished. Unleashing the spending habits of this new generation has the potential to create a significant stimulus to the economy. Being more familiar with multi-cultures and more tolerant, they are better equipped to bridge the gap among different world viewpoints. There is high hope for a bright future for China.
 
A side note: No doubt this book and Dr. Jin’s other professional dealings have contributed to a better understanding of the US and China. She came to the US in 1997 and flourished to be an accomplished economist, an endeavor that’s almost impossible under the current political climate.   A case for cooperation/peaceful co-existence? An “indictment” for sanction/big power hegemonism? 

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