Zung Jung
Designed by Alan Kwan, a statistician. Used as the official ruleset for the World Series of Mahjong. Zung Jung replaces multiplicative faan scoring with a flat additive point system across 44 named patterns, eliminating most ambiguity in hand valuation.
Zung Jung Mahjong — table layout
https://engine.moddable.games/play/?game=mahjong&variant=zung-jung
Key Differences from Hong Kong
| Rule | Hong Kong | Zung Jung |
|---|---|---|
| Tiles | 144 (with flowers/seasons) | 136 (no bonus tiles) |
| Scoring | Multiplicative faan | Additive points (44 patterns, fixed values) |
| Basic points | None / implicit | None |
| Income formula | Varies | Total income = 3× pattern points |
| Point limit | Limit hands | 320 points |
| Minimum to win | 3 faan | Optional 5-point minimum (competition) |
Scoring System
Each winning hand is valued by identifying which of the 44 named patterns apply. Each pattern has a fixed point value. Values are additive, not multiplicative.
The winner’s income from each opponent is the total pattern value. Total income for the winner is 3× pattern points (one payment from each of three opponents).
The 320-point limit applies per opponent; a winning hand cannot earn more than 320 points from any single opponent.
Common patterns (illustrative, not exhaustive):
| Pattern | Points | Description |
|---|---|---|
| All Simples | 2 | No terminals or honours |
| All Sequences | 5 | All four melds are sequences |
| All Pongs | 6 | All four melds are Pongs or Kongs |
| Half Flush | 6 | One suit plus honours |
| Full Flush | 24 | One suit only |
| Seven Pairs | 4 | Seven different pairs |
| All Terminals | 64 | Terminals and honours only, all Pongs |
Full pattern table: source from zj-mahjong.info (official, version 3.3, licensed CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 HK). The content builder should extract all 44 patterns with their point values.
Same-Round Immunity
Zung Jung includes a same-round immunity rule preventing unfair double-payment in specific edge cases. Consult the official rulebook at zj-mahjong.info for the precise definition.
Attribution
Zung Jung Mahjong, designed by Alan Kwan. Official rules at zj-mahjong.info, version 3.3. Licensed Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 3.0 Hong Kong. Used with attribution for non-commercial game reference.