Visitors to this site are especially advised to be wary of sellers' claims that an item is "ivory". See our FAQ 7c. What's It Made Of? page for assistance in how to tell ivory from bone. We have recently seen some eBay sellers tout their mah-jongg sets as being made of elephant bone. We don't know if sets were really made of elephant bone (cow bone was the usual material of choice), or how to tell elephant bone from cow bone. Note that it is illegal to import ivory - or any items made from endangered animals, such as elephants - into the United States!
What's the difference between an American set and an American Western set?
>From: Karen
>Sent: Monday, April 28, 2008 4:44 PM
>Subject: Mah-Jongg Q A
>My mah-jongg question or comment is:
>Hi there.
>I'm about start meeting a group for Mah Jong next week and wanted to buy a set. I just did an exhaustive search on the internet to try and find the answer. My question is: is there a difference between buying a Mah Jong set that is American vs. American Western? The two terms seem to be used interchangeably but don't want to buy the wrong set.
>Thanks.
>Karen
Hi there, Karen.
Since there is no mah-jongg terminology police enforcing what words all mah-jongg sellers should use, my answer to your question is "I don't know - why don't you ask the seller?"
I assume you've already read FAQs 7a & 7b (above left). What you really need to know before buying a set is whether it...
...Has enough flowers and jokers for your kind of mah-jongg. How many flowers and jokers do you need for your kind of mah-jongg? (If you don't know, see FAQ 2b.) Make sure the set has all those before you buy it.
...Is marked with Western indices in the upper left corners. I assume your players don't all read Chinese? Make sure the set has Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3, 4...) in the corners of all the craks, and that there are Roman letters (E, S, W, N) in the corners of all the wind tiles, at the very least.
...Comes with racks (if your players expect racks).
And that's pretty much all you probably need to know before clicking the "Buy now" button.
May the tiles be with you.
Tom Sloper
Author of "The Red Dragon & The West Wind," the definitive book on mah-jongg East & West.
MJ溌Sloperama中com
トム·スローパー
/
湯姆 斯洛珀 / 탐 슬로퍼
Los Angeles, CA (USA)
April 28, 2008
Please point me in the right direction.
>From: Diana B
>Sent: Thursday, October 17, 2013 1:15 AM
>Subject: Mah-Jongg Q+A
>My mah-jongg question or comment is:
>Hello. I am looking for a very high-quality mah-jongg set. I would also like the case to be of high-quality. Our original set was a circa 1960s Taiwanese set. Unfortunately it was lost in a house fire, over the past 10 years we have purchased five sets, all disappointing. I would like the tiles to be heavy and dense, not prone to chipping. Maybe made from ivory or bone? Please no American or western style, as my mother is Taiwanese. This set will get heavy use and I am hoping you can point me in the right direction. Thank you for your time and have a wonderful day!
Niihau, Diana. You wrote:
I am looking for a very high-quality mah-jongg set. I would also like the case to be of high-quality. Our original set was a circa 1960s Taiwanese set. Unfortunately it was lost in a house fire
You should be able to get another set just like the one you lost. You should look on eBay, under Toys & Hobbies / Games / Board & Traditional Games / Mah Jong / Pre-1970 (you can also browse the 1970-Now section of Mah Jong on eBay, too). If you live in a large metropolitan area, you should be able to go to Chinatown and browse sets with all your senses (including touch).
over the past 10 years we have purchased five sets, all disappointing.
That doesn't tell me anything about the sets you purchased. It only tells me that you have very particular requirements.
I would like the tiles to be heavy and dense,
The heaviest/densest tiles are Japanese tiles. Modern Chinese sets are made in a variety of sizes, some of them pretty large (larger tiles are heavier than smaller tiles). Have a look in Frequently Asked Question 7A. (Scroll up and look left for the FAQs, which are marked by a blue and yellow flashing arrow, emblazoned "READ 1ST," like this 
.) The densest plastic used in mah-jongg tiles is the plastic used in Japanese and modern American sets; see FAQ 7C3 (and FAQ 7C).
not prone to chipping.
All tiles are prone to chipping.
Maybe made from ivory
It's going to be extremely difficult to find genuine ivory tiles. Sellers always say their bone tiles are "ivory" and unless you know how to tell what the tiles are, you can be gypped very easily. Read FAQ 7C2 (and FAQ 7C). Genuine ivory tiles are rare and extremely expensive. It's been illegal to import ivory since 1989. Ivory sets rarely come up for sale anymore.
or bone?
Bone sets have bamboo backs, which means that the backs of the tiles are rounded. They don't stack nicely like plastic tiles do. I don't recommend bone sets for regular play, but some people prefer them for their authentic feel. Bone sets are not "heavy and dense," either.
I am hoping you can point me in the right direction.
If eBay or Chinatown are not to your liking, read FAQs 7J, 7K, and 7M. (Scroll up and look left for the FAQs, which are marked by a blue and yellow flashing arrow, emblazoned "READ 1ST," like this .) Please always check the FAQs before asking me a question. Good luck!
Tom Sloper
Creator of
the weekly Mah-Jongg column and
the Mah-Jongg FAQs -- donations appreciated.
Author of "The Red Dragon & The West Wind," the definitive book on Mah-Jongg East & West.
Los Angeles, California, USA
October 17, 2013
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