Virtual (Zoom)
The Oral History Archives at Columbia’s How We Listen sessions are delighted to invite you to a special online gathering that blends culture, history, and the timeless game of mahjong.
This event offers a chance to hear from The Mahjong Project’s history keeper, Nicole Wong about her efforts to preserve mahjong’s rules, etiquette, and personal anecdotes for generations. Her beautiful website and companion book, Mahjong: House Rules from Across the Asian Diaspora illustrates how the game bridges families across continents and creates a living archive of tradition. We’ll be in conversation about the project’s fascinating findings, sparking conversation about the rituals, homemade rules, and strategies that shape our communal identity. You’ll also have the opportunity to share your own experiences or questions about how games become cultural touchstones and imagine new ways to keep these stories alive.
We’ll open the floor and chat for an interactive discussion where you can ask questions, reflect on personal mahjong memories, and explore how these narratives can inform teaching, research, or community projects.
Who should come? Anyone curious about cultural heritage, oral history, or community storytelling. Students and scholars interested in anthropology, sociology, Asian studies, or game theory will find it especially enriching, as will faculty and staff seeking interdisciplinary inspiration for their work.
Tuesday, February 10th at 4pm EST | Join virtually via the Zoom link that will be provided after you register at this link.
