Mahjong

It should not surprise you that the game of mahjong originates in China. In Chinese, the game was originally called 麻雀 (pinyin: máquè)—meaning sparrow—which is still used in some languages in southern China. The assumed etymology is that the sound of the tiles during shuffling resembles the chattering of sparrows. 

A second origin possibility is that it is an evolution of an earlier card game called Madiao from which mahjong tiles were adopted. Most Mandarin-speaking Chinese now call the game 麻將 (májiàng).

Old Hong Kong mahjong is played with a standard set of 144 tiles. Alternatively, cards may be used - though there will be no chattering sparrow sounds.

Sets often include counters (to keep score), dice (to decide how to deal), and a marker to show who the dealer is and which round is being played. Some sets include racks to hold the tiles, especially if they are larger or smaller than standard tiles or have an odd shape. Mahjong sets originating from the United States, Japan or Southeast Asia will likely have extra tiles or specialized markings. The tiles are split into three categories: suited, honors, and bonus tiles.

standard mahjong tile set
link to larger image