Originally a Chinese game, so oriental symbolism can be found a lot...

 

The oriental symbolism can be found here and there in the game. At the start of a game, you choose which player is East, then the four winds build the wall. When dealing the tiles, strict rules are observed, which may go against what you are used to. However, you will immediately see from the tiles that this is a Chinese game; for example, the Red, Green and White Dragons, the Bamboo tiles, the Character Stones with the Chinese characters for 1 - 9 (don't worry.. The normal western 1-9 are also on the stones!).

 

The names of basic sets Chow (consecutive series), Pung (series of 3 of a kind), Kong (series of 4 of a kind), Hu or Mahjong (winning hand) but also the names of some (special) combinations, such as Three Dragons, Jade Game, Game of Heaven, Nine Gates, Great Four Winds provide an oriental "coating".