A 144-tile or 152-tile mahjong set includes eight picture tiles: four flowers and four seasons, with one of each. The flowers are plum, orchid, chrysanthemum, and bamboo. The seasons are spring, summer, autumn, and winter. Hong Kong players set them aside for a possible bonus. American players use them as a group in hands. Riichi leaves them out. In Mahjong Solitaire, any flower matches any flower.
- Plum Flower American: Flower
Hong Kong: Plum (Flower)
Riichi: not used - Orchid Flower American: Flower
Hong Kong: Orchid (Flower)
Riichi: not used - Chrysanthemum Flower American: Flower
Hong Kong: Chrysanthemum (Flower)
Riichi: not used - Bamboo Flower American: Flower
Hong Kong: Bamboo (Flower)
Riichi: not used - Spring Season American: Flower
Hong Kong: Spring (Season)
Riichi: not used - Summer Season American: Flower
Hong Kong: Summer (Season)
Riichi: not used - Autumn Season American: Flower
Hong Kong: Autumn (Season)
Riichi: not used - Winter Season American: Flower
Hong Kong: Winter (Season)
Riichi: not used
How each style uses them
| Style | Role |
|---|---|
| American | All eight are simply called flowers, and they act alike in hands |
| Hong Kong | Set aside when drawn and replaced; may add faan |
| Riichi | Not used |
| Mahjong Solitaire | Any flower matches any flower; any season matches any season |
Reading them
Art varies more on these tiles than on any others, and some sets show scenes instead of plants. Look for the small number and character in the corner. In our set, F1 through F4 are flowers, and S1 through S4 are seasons, with the character for each name at the top.
What the plants mean
The plum, orchid, chrysanthemum, and bamboo are known in Chinese art as the Four Gentlemen, a long-standing subject in painting. Each one is often linked with a season. Our lesson on Hong Kong flowers shows how they match the seats at the table.