'Reinventing' Mahjong for White Americans

Three white American women have 'reinvented' Mahjong for a
Western luxury market by erasing signs of its Chinese origins.

https://www.insider.com/women-accused-ignoring-china-culture-425-dollar-mahjong-redesign-2021-1

"Three white American women redesigned mahjong tiles to sell for $425 a set,
saying the game needed a 'respectful refresh,' and were accused of erasing Chinese culture"

"A company led by white women that repackaged the traditional Chinese
game mahjong has come under intense criticism for its redesign."

"Many statements in the company's marketing copy implied the regular version
is not sufficient for its customers, who it termed "the stylish masses.""

"Social media comments criticizing the product and its presentation as
disrespectful to Chinese culture have gained thousands of interactions."

"New designs and gameplay style have long evolved, but the company
showed "real ignorance" in its approach, one historian told NBC News."

"The Mahjong Line was accused of cultural appropriation and the erasure of
Chinese culture on Twitter after they claimed the game needed a "respectful refresh."

The sets, priced between $325 and $425, were billed as "not your mama's mahjong,"
add the Arabic numerals widespread in the West, and replaced the
traditional symbols with images like bubbles and bags of flour.

None of the three white women who run the company have Chinese heritage,
according to CBS News."

"Many critics of the company noted that this is far from the first
time the original mahjong game has been reworked.

Anneliese Heinz, a historian who has studied the game's crossover
into American culture, told NBC News that the game has evolved
over time and geography, and that many new designs and play
styles have been developed over centuries.

But The Mahjong Line's sets showed "a lack of genuine and actual engagement
with Chinese people who are connected to this culture and history," Heinz said."

@duchess64 said
Three white American women have 'reinvented' Mahjong for a
Western luxury market by erasing signs of its Chinese origins.

https://www.insider.com/women-accused-ignoring-china-culture-425-dollar-mahjong-redesign-2021-1

"Three white American women redesigned mahjong tiles to sell for $425 a set,
saying the game needed a 'respectful refresh,' and were accused of eras ...[text shortened]... actual engagement
with Chinese people who are connected to this culture and history," Heinz said."

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/dallas-company-criticized-redesigning-chinese-mahjong-tiles-n1252894

"Dallas company apologizes after criticism for redesigning Chinese mahjong tiles"

"A company in Texas apologized on Tuesday after being criticized for replacing
traditional Chinese mahjong tiles with redesigned game pieces covered in images
of items such as bubbles and bags of flour."

"Annelise Heinz, a mahjong historian and assistant professor of history at the
University of Oregon, told NBC News that while gameplay and tiles vary worldwide,
mahjong sets usually are embossed with references to the traditional Chinese
suits, including bamboo, circles or dots, and Chinese characters.

American mahjong was popularized across the country in the 1920s, but, Heinz said,
the game draws on a complex history enmeshed with anti-Asian racism and colonialism.

“There was this paradoxical fascination,” Heinz said. “White Americans embraced
the game because marketers attached the game to ancient Chinese courts that
were seen as highly esteemed, but also distanced themselves from Chinese American
people who were denigrated and caricatured, and subject to nativism and anti-Asian sentiment.”

A throughline can be drawn from its complicated past to the company’s controversial
repackaging, according to Heinz.

“There is a lack of genuine and actual engagement with Chinese people who are
connected to this culture and history,” she said. “What we’re seeing here is a real
ignorance of this history that remains ignored in American education.”

"She acknowledged the long history of white entrepreneurs in America profiting from
“things that they see as culturally valuable,” but warned against drawing strict
boundaries around mahjong — and its tiles — that has constantly changed over time.

“I don’t think there’s any question that there is ignorance and erasure of Chinese American
history here,” she said. “The history of mahjong is global — it is a dynamic story
of play and exchange as much as a story of appropriation and erasure."

Chess originated in Asia. Should some white people reinvent it to give the player with the
White pieces more of an advantage? Such as the right to make two or three consecutive moves?

Aren’t they just culturally diversifying the game?

Or are the streets in Monopoly the same streets in every country?

@shavixmir said
Aren’t they just culturally diversifying the game?

Or are the streets in Monopoly the same streets in every country?

Shavixmir shows his usual lack of comprehension of anti-Asian racism in popular culture.

Annelise Heinz is a white woman (I have seen a photo of her).

"Annelise Heinz, a mahjong historian and assistant professor of history at the
University of Oregon, told NBC News that while gameplay and tiles vary worldwide,
mahjong sets usually are embossed with references to the traditional Chinese
suits, including bamboo, circles or dots, and Chinese characters.

American mahjong was popularized across the country in the 1920s, but, Heinz said,
the game draws on a complex history enmeshed with anti-Asian racism and colonialism.

“There was this paradoxical fascination,” Heinz said. “White Americans embraced
the game because marketers attached the game to ancient Chinese courts that
were seen as highly esteemed, but also distanced themselves from Chinese American
people who were denigrated and caricatured, and subject to nativism and anti-Asian sentiment.”

A throughline can be drawn from its complicated past to the company’s
controversial repackaging, according to Heinz.

“There is a lack of genuine and actual engagement with Chinese people who are
connected to this culture and history,” she said. “What we’re seeing here is a real
ignorance of this history that remains ignored in American education.”

"She acknowledged the long history of white entrepreneurs in America profiting from
“things that they see as culturally valuable,” but warned against drawing strict
boundaries around mahjong — and its tiles — that has constantly changed over time.

“I don’t think there’s any question that there is ignorance and erasure of Chinese American
history here,” she said. “The history of mahjong is global — it is a dynamic story
of play and exchange as much as a story of appropriation and erasure."

@shavixmir said
Aren’t they just culturally diversifying the game?

Or are the streets in Monopoly the same streets in every country?

China banned monopoly LoL but there is a Chinese version.
The Duchess only wants change and capitulation when it's white people/customs changing.

@shavixmir said
Aren’t they just culturally diversifying the game?

Or are the streets in Monopoly the same streets in every country?

Only if they include Park Lane, Mayfair and my personal favourite The Old Kent Road.

@duchess64 said
Chess originated in Asia. Should some white people reinvent it to give the player with the
White pieces more of an advantage? Such as the right to make two or three consecutive moves?

There you go again start an interesting debate and then hyperbole it to smithereens.
I guess your being sarcastic but it’s interesting that no one from Asia seems to complain about the pieces in chess being altered to reflect a Eurocentric and Christian mindset on the boards I’ve played on.

@kevcvs57 said
There you go again start an interesting debate and then hyperbole it to smithereens.
I guess your being sarcastic but it’s interesting that no one from Asia seems to complain about the pieces in chess being altered to reflect a Eurocentric and Christian mindset on the boards I’ve played on.

Kevcvs57 seems ignorant of the fact that Soviet chess sets have kings without crosses.

https://www.chess.com/forum/view/chess-equipment/atheist-chess-pieces

"There are a great variety of chess sets which were made in the eastern European
tradition of having no cross for the King's finnial."

Do you see Russia complaining about crosses on our Kings? Nooooo you don't.

They don't whine and cry like the anti white brigade.

@phil-a-dork said
Do you see Russia complaining about crosses on our Kings? Nooooo you don't.

They don't whine and cry like the anti white brigade.

In fact, there are some chess sets with kings where the cross can be detached and
replaced by something else if a non-Christian prefers to play that way.

I've played plenty of Muslims who broke the crosses off.
It didn't bother me cause I won those games. 😉
...and I'm hardly a Christian

@duchess64 said
Kevcvs57 seems ignorant of the fact that Soviet chess sets have kings without crosses.

https://www.chess.com/forum/view/chess-equipment/atheist-chess-pieces

"There are a great variety of chess sets which were made in the eastern European
tradition of having no cross for the King's finnial."

Duchess then must be aware that the design of chess pieces vary from culture to culture but somehow failed to understand that was exactly my point in relation to Majong tiles.

@phil-a-dork said
Do you see Russia complaining about crosses on our Kings? Nooooo you don't.

They don't whine and cry like the anti white brigade.

The ones doing the most whining and crying are the white people when they claim that white people are more oppressed than non-white people.

Sure babe, 😏
Whatever helps you sleep at night.