China in Layers Issue 01 · Living traditions
Mahjong tiles, indigo textile, bamboo, and a carved stone window in soft daylight

Games · movement · living culture

China,
layer by layer.

A field guide to the practices, objects, and ideas that keep culture moving—from a Mahjong hand to eight quiet forms.

01MahjongLearn & practise 02Still EightMove & understand
CIL / 001Objects · Movement · Living practice

Collection index

Two ways in.
More layers ahead.

01MahjongGame / language / interactiveOpen 02Still EightMovement / history / guidedOpen
03Tai ChiMovement / lineage / formComing later
R01Printable Field SheetsReference / practice / offlinePlanned

COLLECTION 01 / TABLE CULTURE

Read the hand.
Then test it.

Mahjong becomes clearer when the rules move from glossary to table. Learn the tiles, assemble a hand, and use real tools to check what you understand.

  1. 01Recognise the tilesSuit, number, honour, and function
  2. 02Build the structureFour melds, one pair, and the exceptions
  3. 03Practise with feedbackHand Checker and Tile Trainer
Enter Mahjong Open Tile Trainer
HAND CHECKER13 / 14 TILES
One tile awayCompare possible waits and see why they work.
Open Hand CheckerTry Tile Trainer
A quiet garden beside bamboo and water
Practice note 02Sequence, breath, context, and practical boundaries.

COLLECTION 02 / MOVEMENT CULTURE

Eight forms.
A quieter pace.

Still Eight introduces Baduanjin through named movements, source-aware notes, gentle pacing, and a simple sequence timer. It offers general education rather than personalised or professionally reviewed instruction.

08Named movements
01Guided sequence
∞Your own pace
Enter Still Eight Open practice timer

Field notes

Look closer.
Keep the context.

Tools answer the immediate question. Editorial notes show where a rule, name, or practice comes from—and where living traditions vary.

01 / RULES · 6 MIN

What makes a Mahjong hand complete?

Melds, pairs, special hands, and the point where regional rules begin to differ.

Read the guide
02 / MOVEMENT

Why are there eight brocades?

How names, sequences, and teaching language shift across schools and time.

Explore the movements
03 / METHOD

How we show uncertainty.

Visible sources, house rules, health boundaries, and editorial notes.

Browse the index