Winds Order Revisited2
D. Pasek
for the seating of players (winds) around the table (see
http://groups.google.com/group/rec.games.mahjong/browse_thread/thread/9b1bddd825c7a2c0#
), I have come across the following.
I may have mentioned bronze mirrors previously, but I found a new
example while reading “Visible Traces: Rare Books and Special
Collections from the National Library of China” (2000, ISBN:
0-964-53371-5, Compiled & Edited by Philip K. Hu) which shows a clear
example of the earthly association of the square and the heavenly
association of the circle, while also showing the reversed order (CCW)
of the four animal symbols that are associated with the four cardinal
directions.
An ink rubbing of the back of a Han dynasty mirror is shown on page
119 and shows a circular mirror with “auspicious flowing heavenly
clouds” in a band around the rim and a square in the center
(surrounding the central knob) containing the characters for the 12
Earthly Branches. Between the rim and the square are depicted the four
animal symbols (among other things) with their directions reversed.
The accompanying text (page 118) says: “They [Han mirrors] feature low
relief decorations on finely patterned grounds emphasizing the four
cardinal directions… Often animal symbols for east and west were
reversed because mirrors were fixed to ceilings of burial chambers.”
The depicted mirror also has characters in a band immediately inside
the clouds rim which translates into English as: “This is a fine
mirror… The [blue] dragon on the left and the [white] tiger on the
right forefend all evil. The vermilion bird [above] and the black
turtle [below] accord with yin and yang. May you have many children
and grandchildren so that you will be able to position yourself at the
center. May both your parents… May you enjoy a long life exceeding
that of metal or stone, as is fit for a nobleman or king.”
If this mirror was placed on a table with the design side up, it would
match the reversed direction of the players found in the game of
mahjong, with the four directions (as depicted by the four animals on
the mirror) correlating with heaven around a square table representing
earth. I have not, however, ever heard of the player positions around
the table being associated with the four directional animals, so it
remains to be seen if this apparent correlation has any relevance to
the design of the game of mahjong.
Dan
stanwic...@googlemail.com
> Continuing the winds order discussion concerning the reversed order
> ), I have come across the following.
[snip]
> If this mirror was placed on a table with the design side up, it would
> match the reversed direction of the players found in the game of
> mahjong, with the four directions (as depicted by the four animals on
> the mirror) correlating with heaven around a square table representing
> earth. I have not, however, ever heard of the player positions around
> the table being associated with the four directional animals, so it
> remains to be seen if this apparent correlation has any relevance to
> the design of the game of mahjong.
>
> Dan
Hello Dan. Am I right in thinking that you are assuming that the
counter-clockwise order of play (I assume that is what you mean by
"the reversed direction of the players"?) coinciding with the ESWN
Directions order, was a feature imported into the game from the start?
The reason why I ask is that the counter-clockwise order of play was a
feature of Ma Diao. If various features of the game of Ma Que were
imported into the game of Ma Que from various preceding card games, it
is possible that this counter-clockwise rotation of play was also
imported. If the Directions were a novel addition to the game at its
inception, then the correlation began at that point.
Cheers
Michael
D. Pasek
<stanwickmich...@googlemail.com> wrote:
> Hello Dan. Am I right in thinking that you are assuming that the
> counter-clockwise order of play (I assume that is what you mean by
> "the reversed direction of the players"?) coinciding with the ESWN
> Directions order, was a feature imported into the game from the start?
>
> The reason why I ask is that the counter-clockwise order of play was a
> feature of Ma Diao. If various features of the game of Ma Que were
> imported into the game of Ma Que from various preceding card games, it
> is possible that this counter-clockwise rotation of play was also
> imported. If the Directions were a novel addition to the game at its
> inception, then the correlation began at that point.
My understanding is that many Chinese games pass play around in a
counterclockwise (CCW – or anti-clockwise) direction and that this may
have simply been carried into mahjong. Are you saying that Ma Diao
assigned compass directions to player positions as is done in Ma Que
(mahjong), or just that play in both progresses CCW?
I thought that when compass directions are assigned to player
positions, then they may be aligned with earthly positions without
additional consideration (even though play may still pass CCW).
However, if those compass directions were associated with seasons as
seems likely to be the case in Ma Que (mahjong), then one may want the
seasons to progress as in nature (east=spring, south=summer,
west=autumn, north=winter) meaning that play should pass from the
‘east’ player to south to west to north. If play follows tradition in
the CCW direction, the compass directions that correspond to the
seasons would have to be reversed from the earthly directions in order
to follow the progression of the seasons.
I thought that this reversed direction (CCW) for the compass
directions (representing their corresponding seasons) was unique to
mahjong. Is this incorrect? Do other games assign compass directions
or seasons to the players? What other games have the compass
directions reversed from what would correspond to earth’s compass
directions?
The information in the first post was simply to point out that the
reversed (CCW) direction for the compass directions has precedent in
Chinese culture, and thus may be an alternative possibility (vs the
above ‘tradition’ explanation) to keep in mind. I have no idea if it
was purposely incorporated this way into mahjong. I thought that the
Han dynasty mirror also had other interesting symbolism. The square
center = earth and round edge = heaven reinforces the associations
also pointed out for Chinese cash coins. The center is mentioned as a
desirable position for the mirror’s owner, and that that owner
receives status of a nobleman or king. Despite the explanation that
Han mirrors often had the compass directions reversed since the
mirrors were often attached to the ceiling of the burial chamber, this
mirror seems to have been made for a living individual according to
the wishes expresses in the inscription.
Dan
stanwic...@googlemail.com
> On Sep 9, 9:17 am, "mstanw...@talktalk.net"
>
> <stanwickmich...@googlemail.com> wrote:
> > Hello Dan. Am I right in thinking that you are assuming that the
> > counter-clockwise order of play (I assume that is what you mean by
> > "the reversed direction of the players"?) coinciding with the ESWN
> > Directions order, was a feature imported into the game from the start?
>
> > The reason why I ask is that the counter-clockwise order of play was a
> > feature of Ma Diao. If various features of the game of Ma Que were
> > imported into the game of Ma Que from various preceding card games, it
> > is possible that this counter-clockwise rotation of play was also
> > imported. If the Directions were a novel addition to the game at its
> > inception, then the correlation began at that point.
>
> My understanding is that many Chinese games pass play around in a
> counterclockwise (CCW – or anti-clockwise) direction and that this may
> have simply been carried into mahjong. Are you saying that Ma Diao
> assigned compass directions to player positions as is done in Ma Que
> (mahjong), or just that play in both progresses CCW?
Hello Dan.
From Pan Zhiheng we have the observation that the order of play in Ma
Diao of the Late Ching was CCW.
If this order of play was adopted by other money-suited card games in
particular, then it may have been present in a possible precursor
money-suited card game to Ma Que - such as Peng hu. If Ma Que was a
result of the influence of a pre-existing money-suited card game or
games, then the CCW feature of that game(s) might have been carried
over to the new game. If the Directions as pieces and positions were
added at the new game's inception, then the CCW and Directions as
positions, were combined at that point.
> I thought that when compass directions are assigned to player
> positions, then they may be aligned with earthly positions without
> additional consideration (even though play may still pass CCW).
Do you mean the play would be CCW and so ENWS?
> However, if those compass directions were associated with seasons as
> seems likely to be the case in Ma Que (mahjong), then one may want the
> seasons to progress as in nature (east=spring, south=summer,
> west=autumn, north=winter) meaning that play should pass from the
> ‘east’ player to south to west to north. If play follows tradition in
> the CCW direction, the compass directions that correspond to the
> seasons would have to be reversed from the earthly directions in order
> to follow the progression of the seasons.
If I understand you correctly, only North and South compass directions/
positions would need to be reversed from the earthly directions/
positions in order to then have the CCW order of play and the
correspondence with the seasons. Is that right?
There is also the possibilty that the CCW was present when the game
was 1st created and this CCW influenced the presence of additional
pieces - such as the Seasons and the Directions.
> I thought that this reversed direction (CCW) for the compass
> directions (representing their corresponding seasons) was unique to
> mahjong. Is this incorrect?
I am not sure. As far as I know, the answer is yes. But my knowledge
of other games is limited.
> Do other games assign compass directions
> or seasons to the players? What other games have the compass
> directions reversed from what would correspond to earth’s compass
> directions?
I do not have any info on any other games.
Cheers
D. Pasek
<stanwickmich...@googlemail.com> wrote:
> On Sep 11, 4:40 pm, "D. Pasek" <pa...@email.unc.edu> wrote:
> > I thought that when compass directions are assigned to player
> > positions, then they may be aligned with earthly positions without
> > additional consideration (even though play may still pass CCW).
>
> Do you mean the play would be CCW and so ENWS?
Yes, that is what I meant.
If the compass directions are not associated with seasons, then ENWS
would be fine for CCW play. But if the compass directions are
associated with their corresponding seasons, then that would result in
winter (N) following spring (E), etc.
To follow the progression of the seasons with CCW play, then the
‘reversed’ compass directions (ESWN) would need to be used in order
for summer (S) to follow spring (E)…
This would present a dilemma to the game designer as to (1) maintain
CCW play, follow the seasons, but ‘reverse’ the compass directions;
(2) maintain CCW play, follow the compass directions, but either
ignore the associated seasons or ‘reverse’ these seasons; (3) switch
to CW play so that both the progression of the seasons as well as
compass directions are maintained; or (4) deliberately associate the
compass directions with heaven (as is done with the Han mirror) in
order to maintain the CCW play and the progression of the seasons.
My thinking is that the designer(s) of Ma Que may have deliberately
associated the compass directions with their corresponding seasons,
and therefore may have been presented with the above dilemma. They
then may have deliberately chosen option 1 or 4 (CCW + ESWN) over
option 3 (CW + ESWN). If they did not associate the compass directions
with the seasons, then they probably would have used option 2 (CCW +
ENWS).
On Sep 11, 1:27 pm, "mstanw...@talktalk.net"
<stanwickmich...@googlemail.com> wrote:
> If I understand you correctly, only North and South compass directions/
> positions would need to be reversed from the earthly directions/
> positions in order to then have the CCW order of play and the
> correspondence with the seasons. Is that right?
That is almost right. Only reversing N & S would yield the same result
as reversing only E & W. Either would give an ordering like is found
on the Han mirror (which was thought to have been done to match the
heavenly directions when placed on the ceiling of a burial chamber).
Dan
D. Pasek
the Museum of Far Eastern Antiquities, Stockholm according to the
picture illustrated in “The Arts of China” (fourth edition pg 84) by
Michael Sullivan. At least it looks identical to me, and the English
translation of the Chinese characters is very similar (though I cannot
see the characters clearly enough in the photo to confirm that it is
the same as in the rubbing mentioned previously).
He goes on to explain this mirror’s “TLV” pattern (called “boju jing”
– boju gaming board mirrors, or “guiju jing” – square-ruled mirrors)
relation to the board game “liubo” (a board for this game is also
shown) on pg 84-5: “The TLV design was primarily an auspicious
cosmological diagram combining celestial and terrestrial symbols. Its
terrestrial elements made up the board for playing liubo (fig 5.33), a
popular game in Han times that is represented on a number of Han
reliefs and in clay models. The object of this game, which Professor
Yang Liensheng has reconstructed from ancient texts, is to capture
your opponent’s men or drive them into the ‘borders’ (presumably the
Ls on the outer edge) in order to attain the center, or, as Schuyler
Cammann has put it, ‘to establish an axis for symbolic control of the
Universe.’”
[The reference is for Schuler Van R. Cammann, “The ‘TLV’ Pattern on
Cosmic Mirrors of the Han Dynasty,’ Journal of the American Oriental
Society 68, no. 4 (1948):160-61.]
And Sullivan continues: “In Han mythology liubo was a favorite game of
Dongwanggong and of ambitious human heroes who sought to pit their
skill against that of the gods and, by defeating them, to acquire
magic powers. To judge by the mirror designs, the game seems to have
gone out of fashion towards the end of the Han dynasty.”
I do not know if this ancient game, or the bronze mirror that reflects
the CCW ‘reversed’ directions, have anything to do with mahjong, but
there are several things that I find interesting.
1) The mirror reflects the ‘reversal’ of the directions (seasons) as
is reflected in mahjong’s CCW play.
2) “The TLV design was primarily an auspicious cosmological diagram
combining celestial and terrestrial symbols.” Cosmological and
terrestrial symbols may possibly also be reflected in mahjong.
3) The goal is to “attain the center”, or “control of the Universe”,
as may have been symbolically desirable for the Taiping, if they
influenced the development of mahjong.
4) Liubo, though apparently losing its popularity long ago, was a type
of game, as is mahjong, raising the possibly of some revived
connection between them when mahjong was developed.
For more on the game of liubo, see:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liubo
Personally, I doubt that liubo, an ancient board game, would relate to
a game like mahjong that has an entirely different method of play, but
I thought that I should post the information here so that others may
follow up on this information if desired.
Dan