Originally, the suits represented different denominations of currency.
The Winds correspond to the cardinal directions, seasons, and life stages: meaning of mahjong tiles
The literal representation of a copper coin. What to look for: These are the easiest tiles to identify. They feature circular shapes, usually blue and green, against a white background. The Meaning: The Circle suit represents wealth and prosperity. The design is straightforward: the One of Circles is often a large, stylized peacock or a single coin, while the higher numbers stack the circles to represent strings of cash. They feature circular shapes, usually blue and green,
These are arguably the most powerful tiles in the game. While we call them "Dragons" in the West, their Chinese names translate to "Arrows," relating to the ancient exam system of imperial China. These are arguably the most powerful tiles in the game
Mahjong is often compared to Rummy, but unlike a standard deck of playing cards, Mahjong tiles are deeply rooted in Chinese philosophy, history, and culture. Every bamboo stick, every circle, and every character wind tells a story.
You don't need to know the history of the Ming Dynasty or the intricacies of Feng Shui to enjoy Mahjong. You can play perfectly well simply by matching the shapes and colors.