Each player then builds a wall,
two tiles high and 18 tiles long.
The wall symbolises the Great Wall of China.
The four walls must touch
to prevent dragons or evil spirits entering !
The walls are pushed together as shown in the photograph.
It’s actually of no consequence - just one of the formal ceremonies that gives Mah-Jong its character.
Each wall is then moved to the centre of the table until they meet.
Shuffle the Tiles
Put all the tiles (minus any blank and joker tiles) on the table, face down. The players who are North and South winds then shuffle, or “wash”, them.
When East Winds thinks that the tiles have been shuffled enough he says Pow ! (meaning “Start”).
The shuffling is called “Twittering of the sparrows”, from the distinctive noise it makes.
Mah-Jong literally means “The game of the sparrows”.
