Subject: early Chinese Classical rules
Date: Mon, 23 Jul 2001 00:21:46 GMT

According to Mr. Asami's webpage, which has in turn quoted from an
official mahjong body paper, the earliest, original Chinese Classical
rules in the 1850's (reconstructed Ningpo rules, by HAIBARA Shigeki,
published January Showa 27 in official mahjong paper "Mahjong Times")
looked like the following:

http://www.asamiryo.jp/tre2.html

Triplet-point counting.

Going out = +10 points.  No rounding.  East-doubling.
Payment between non-winners.

Nine Terminals Abortive Draw adopted.

No-point hand was really worth nothing, except for the 10 points for
going out.  You didn't get bonus points or a faan for a no-point hand.

robbing a kong = +2 points

simple eye/edge/gap/2-pair calling = +2 points

All-Pong hand = +4 points

winning on supplement tile = +4 points

winning on last tile in live wall = +4 points

(some uncertain pattern) = +4 points

Mixed One-Suit = 1 faan

Seat Wind pong = 1 faan
Dragon pong    = 1 faan
(Prevailing Wind not recognized)

Pure One-Suit = 3 faan

Blessing of Earth = 1/2 limit

(Big) Three Dragons = limit
Four Winds = limit
(Small Four Winds hand counts as "Four Winds" if containing Seat Wind pung)
Nine Gates = limit

Thirteen Terminals/Thirteen Unconnected = limit
(But both are recognized only for the dealt hand.  These hands cannot
be "built".)

"Pao" rule in effect for Three Dragons, Big Four Winds, and Pure
One-Suit.

wrong meld, long/short hand -> dead hand

"Pao" penalty applicable for Big Three Dragons, Four Winds, Pure One-Suit


----
"3-faan minimum mahjong is like volleyball with a 4-meter-high net.
It makes the game more challenging only for novices."
 - Alan Kwan / tarot@netvigator.com
Zung Jung mahjong official website: http://www.zj-mahjong.info/