What game came before mahjong?

Chinese card games. Pènghú is considered the likeliest direct ancestor.

What do the mahjong suits represent?

They began as cash, strings of cash and myriads of cash.

What is printed on this hoodie?

The Sparrow Tile tile, in our original engraved art.

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Heritage Mah Jongg Hoodie - The Sparrow Tile

$54.00 USD

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Color Heather Grey Oatmeal Heather Pale Pink White Lilac Blue Mist Sandshell

More Mah Jongg Items Mah Jongg Ornaments

Was mahjong a card game first? Yes. Its suits come from Chinese money cards, and tiles probably replaced paper only around the mid-1800s.

Dress warm for a long lineage. This hoodie carries the One Bamboo bird in engraved line, and it is right for a chilly room and a good argument about whether a game four hundred years in the making can still be called new.

Chinese playing cards date to at least 1294. By the early 1600s, madiao was played with 40 cards in four suits by four people, and the Kangxi Emperor banned its cards in 1691, without much success. Its descendant pènghú, with 120 or 150 cards, was in print by 1783.

Historian Andrew Lo sees pènghú as the likeliest direct ancestor. Cards became tiles around the middle of the 1800s, and the oldest surviving sets date to about 1870. Look down at your suits next time. Dots, bamboos and characters began as cash, strings and myriads. You have been playing with money all along.

A pullover hooded sweatshirt with a soft cotton face, brushed fleece inside and side seams for better drape. The hood is lined, and the fit is easy. Launder cold and inside out. Low tumble dry helps keep the print looking crisp. Do not iron or dry clean, and avoid chlorine bleach.

	XS	S	M	L	XL	2XL
Width, in	18.00	20.00	22.00	24.00	26.00	28.00
Length, in	26.00	27.00	28.00	29.00	30.00	31.00
Sleeve length, in	23.50	24.00	24.50	25.00	25.50	26.00
Size tolerance, in	1.00	1.00	1.00	1.00	1.00	1.00

QUICK FACTS — MAH JONGG HOODIE — THE SPARROW TILE

Series: Heritage Mah Jongg, from The Mah Jongg Collection

Design: The Sparrow Tile — the One Bamboo sparrow tile, drawn in the engraved style of an old set, printed artwork

Blank: pullover hoodie, cotton-faced fleece, lined three-panel hood, side seams, unisex fit

Care: wash cold inside out, non-chlorine bleach only if needed, tumble dry low, no iron, no dry cleaning

Sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL, 2XL

Colors: 7 offered

Made to order in the USA

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Product FAQs

How does your sizing work?

Every item is made to order, so please check the size chart on this page before you buy. Women's fitted tees run small; size up for a looser fit. Caps are one size with an adjustable strap.

How are items made and when will they arrive?

We make each item to order using premium blanks, embroidery and soft-hand prints. Production takes 2-5 business days (weekends and holidays excluded), then 4-10 days in transit via USPS, UPS or FedEx to U.S. addresses; most orders arrive within 6-15 business days. You'll get a tracking link the moment it ships. Any current shipping offer is shown in the bar at the top of every page and applies automatically at checkout, no code needed.

How do I send a gift?

Enter the recipient's address as the shipping address and your own as the billing address at checkout. Nothing ships with a price; the package includes a plain packing slip. Tracking goes to your email, not theirs. For birthdays and holidays, order two weeks ahead to be safe.

What's the return policy?

Made-to-order items can't be returned or exchanged for size or color, so please use the size chart and photos before ordering. If anything arrives defective, misprinted or damaged, send a photo and your order number within 30 days and we'll replace it or refund you.

How do I care for my item?

Apparel: wash cold, inside out, with like colors; no bleach; tumble dry low or hang dry. Embroidered pieces: iron inside out to protect the stitching. Caps: spot clean. Printed glasses and water bottles: hand wash only, no dishwasher, so the artwork lasts. Mugs and engraved glasses are dishwasher safe. Any item-specific care notes are in the description above.

Who makes this?

Merlin Classics is a small Connecticut brand making original retro designs for the towns people love. Every piece is printed, embroidered or engraved to order in the USA, and the business supports hunger relief in the communities our collections celebrate.