In late November 2020, three white women from Dallas, USA, decided to give mahjong, a traditional Chinese game, a ‘respectful refresh’ and ‘modern makeover’. The original idea came from Kate LaGere, who then recruited two of her friends—Annie O’Grady and Bianca Watson—to carry out the project. The company focused on changing the design of mahjong, including its tile designs and colors. According to the website, which has since been edited, ‘nothing (in the original game) came close to mirroring her style and personality.’ The sets, titled ‘MINIMAL’ and ‘BOTANICAL’, are selling for a hefty $325 and $425.
As expected, the public did not react well to this. Asians of Chinese descent came to all social media platforms to voice their opinion. Twitter user Jeremy Lee said “My culture is one of the oldest civilizations in the world. It is a product of thousands of years of tradition and history. It is not some cheap coloring book that can be filled in and be ‘made pretty’ by the standards of privileged teenyboppers.” This is just another one of the many examples of white people attempting to colonize and profit off of a minority’s culture. Native Americans, black folk, and many others have been victims of this for many years.
Let’s talk about what they’ve put on their website. None of the founders are of Chinese ancestry or have any remote connection to China, yet their website reads: “We’re rethinking what mahjong looks like”. They have no right to rethink a game that was not even theirs in the first place. Their website also fails to mention the significance of Chinese heritage behind the game—clear evidence that their heart is not in the right place. Amongst this, they aim to give the game a ‘respectful refresh.’ A refresh of what? An entire culture? Why does one need to whitewash the game to make it worthy of playing? To make the concept even more tone-deaf, LaGere states that “nothing (of the game) came close to mirroring her style and personality.” The game is not made to mirror her personality, especially when she has no cultural connection with it. The game is made to reflect Chinese values and tradition which any white American-raised person would have no knowledge of or relation to.
Their website also mentioned ‘American vs. Chinese Mahjong’, a story about an American businessman named Joseph Babcock who wrote a book on the game in the 1920s. They featured the quote: ‘Over time, the game evolved from the original Chinese version to be distinctly American with the addition of jokers to the game’. Though the message behind this is clear, the wording is certainly problematic. The term ‘evolved’ suggests that the original Chinese version is outdated or ancient, and should not be in use; it also implies that the game is now purely American. They also claim that the newer version of Mahjong is ‘distinctly American’, which begs the question: how does adding jokers to the game make it ‘American’? Does this mean the game is no longer Chinese? Perhaps what makes it American is their attempt to steal and erase the cultural aspect of the game.
The three women also claimed that the tiles were “all the same” and “did not reflect the fun that was had while playing with her friends”. If they truly understood how to read the characters, perhaps the tiles would not look “all the same”. As for the latter, the women are right: maybe the tiles do not accurately reflect the fun they have while playing the game. But, the tile designs represent thousands of years of rich history and culture; they tell a story; they act as a symbol of invitation and acceptance between two strangers. The tone exerted by these women implies that the Chinese original – with actual tradition and meaning behind it—is boring, or repetitive. Their website proudly proclaims that there are ‘unnecessary numbers on flowers’ and ‘monochromatic suits that aren’t distinct enough from each other’, basically insulting the game while trying to reinvent it and also the history and real meaning behind its appearance. The tiles are incredibly significant to Chinese and even Japanese culture; erasing the symbols might as well just be eradicating the whole purpose and meaning of the game. They certainly do not need to be altered to be approved by Americans.
With news about ‘The Mahjong Line’ gaining traction, the company has issued an apology on their Facebook and Instagram pages. Their website has since been edited, and their ‘About’ page holds their apology. They claim that the company had “pure intentions and a shared love for the game of American mahjong.” ‘American mahjong’ does not exist. It does not exist without its Chinese roots, which they clearly failed to even acknowledge properly. “While our intent is to inspire and engage with a new generation of American mahjong players, we recognize our failure to pay proper homage to the game’s Chinese heritage,” the company said. “Using words like ‘refresh’ were hurtful to many and we are deeply sorry.” They also claim to be open to constructive criticism and “are continuing to conduct conversations with those who can provide further insight to the game’s traditions and roots in both Chinese and American cultures.” There is no root in American culture. Americans can play and appreciate the game, but they cannot attempt to colonise or change the game in anyways—it simply just does not belong to them. As can be seen on social media, there is plenty of criticism the company can receive and listen to, but they have turned off comments on their Instagram and Facebook platforms. This is not a real apology: they are just empty words hiding behind white fragility.
These women are attempting to erase Chinese culture in front of our very eyes. Despite their claims of honoring our culture, making the Mahjong game ‘better’ or ‘worthy’ enough to play is certainly not the way to do it.