Carvers' craft
Traditional tiles were hand-engraved and painted by craftspeople, with each workshop developing its own style. The one-bamboo bird, the one-dot medallion and the flower tiles gave carvers chances to show their skill.
Flowers and themes
Flower and season tiles vary enormously: plants, scholars' pursuits, professions, animals, and characters from novels. Some sets add extra themed bonus tiles, such as the four arts or the four noble professions.
Western adaptations
Sets made for Western players added Arabic numerals and English letters in the corners, and American sets added jokers with their own artwork. These small changes made the game accessible to millions.
Designer revival
In the 2020s, small companies began selling sets with original artwork, pastel colours and themed jokers. Public art has even used mahjong motifs, from floors paved with tiles to sculptures built from them.
