MovieChat Forums > Se, jie (2007) Discussion > mah jong symbolism

mah jong symbolism

posted 16 years ago by brandall-7
10 replies | jump to latest

As a mah jong player and collector, I noticed some things in Lust, Caution that I thought I should share.

1.) There are two mah jong sets in this movie, both made of bone dovetailed to bamboo. The more valuable type of this set has a thick bone layer in proportion to the bamboo. In the first scene of the movie (at the end of the story, as it turns out), you'll see they're playing with a valuable set -- the bone layer is quite thick. At an earlier point in the story (when the Yees would have been less wealthy) they play with a less valuable set. Look for the scene that begins with one of the women complaining that the family has just lost their cook. You'll see that the bone layer on the mah jong tiles they're playing with is much thinner.

2.) One of the honor tiles in a mah jong set has the character "zhong". It's drawn in red on the tile. "Zhong" means "center" and is the first character in the word for "China" ("center kingdom"). In the first mah jong scene, one player (Ma Tai Tai?) gets all four ("kai gang") of these tiles, turns them face down, and draws another tile. In the second mah jong game, one of the women remarks that another's husband must be about to get a promotion. Yee Tai Tai then draws a "zhong" tile, turns it over for everyone to see, and throws up her hands and lets out an exaggerated feminine scream. I think the idea here is that drawing the tile that represents China is a good omen for the husband's promotion to a high place in government.

3.) In the one mah jong game where Mr. Yee plays, notice that after Wong Chia Chi wins a hand, Mr. Yee pulls out a drawer of the table which contains little bone sticks. These sticks are counters that are used like poker chips, to keep track of a player's winnings. Mr. Yee will award counters to Wong Chia Chi, depending on the value of her winning hand.

4.) In China, mah jong is usually played for money. All of the usual gambling metaphors apply -- "she played for her life and lost", etc. I think the last line of the movie is brilliant -- "keep playing".

[–] california_maki 16 years ago

Excellent observations! This is very interesting, thanks for sharing!
I have never played mahjong in my life (despite having watched it being played by members of my family countless times), and were it not for your explanations, I wouldn't have spotted these symbolisms. I've always felt that the mahjong scene contains lots of symbolisms, but I wouldn't know what. Thanks again!

[–] brandall-7 16 years ago

You're very welcome! If you're in a mahjong-playing family, I encourage you to learn the game. It's a lot of fun and the tiles are like little works of art.

[–] wning12 16 years ago

:)
if you know the rules of Mah Jong, then you would realise how important those scenes in the film were.
in that game where Mr Yee also plays, he feeds Wong the cards, especially the second. He knows what card could make Wong win and still throw it out purposely. It's kind of flirt, i think, and just happened before Mrs Yee's eyes. No wonder she pissed off and refused Wong to see them off at airport.

[–] JusticeForHumanity 16 years ago

Wow! I would have never thought about this!
Your knowledge is awesome and this is all very enlightening. Thanks for sharing

[–] jhml 16 years ago

Thank you, this explained very well the things I found puzzling in the film. :)

Life is a state of mind

[–] junktom 16 years ago

In addition to your kind briefing, the reason of the different set could also hinting Yee's work with the Japanese, for the thick-bone mahjong are traditional Chinese mahjong, but the bamboo type are more often comes from Japan. It symbolize that Yee in someway links with the Japanese.

[–] pegasus8228 16 years ago

1) perhaps this also shows Ang Lee's attention to details.
in HK they arent as well off. in shanghai they are (officially part of the collaboration).

2) great observation. btw,
"zhong" also means "hit the target"/"got the promotion" in chinese language. in the ancient scholar examination system, 'zhong' means got the top place in the exam and will be rewarded with a senior govt position.
(as other mentioned, they also won the game with that card)

[–] zenbutt 16 years ago

Wong Chia Chi also gets all for ("jeou waiu") of these tiles, turns them face down and draws anther tile. Here is the interesting part of the symbolism of the " jeou waiu" tile:
"jeou" is in the first name of 2008 elected Taiwan president Ma Ying-jeou. "Maiu" is the first name of 2008 elected Taiwan vice president Shou waiu chung.

The movie was a hit at Taiwanin 2007. Did it influence the Taiwan 2008 president election? I do not know, I did see a picture of a Taiwanese farmer carried a 3x2 feet square "jeou waiu" mah jong baloon tile on his shoulder during the election time. The picture burns into my memory forever.

Ang , just as Wong Chia Chi, loves China. This film has a lot political layers in it including the mah jong tiles which will be played by generations.

[–] jnagarya-1 15 years ago

Wow, this is interesting! I'm gonna hafta print it out and read it more thoroughly.