Tiles & Set

A standard set holds 144 tiles, which is where this site got its name. Three suits of thirty-six, sixteen winds, twelve dragons and eight flowers and seasons: that arithmetic decides what a board can hold and which pairs are even possible.

This section covers the pieces themselves — what the circles, bamboo and characters depict, why one bamboo is drawn as a bird, what the red, green and white dragons mean, and which faces beginners confuse most often. It also explains why some sets carry 136 pieces and others 152.