Study On The Social Function Of Chongqing Mahjong Parlors

Mahjong has long been part of people’s daily life in Chongqing. Especially in recent years, mahjong in Chongqing is becoming more popular than ever. In this circumstance, the number of mahjong parlors which can provide people a place to play mahjong together grows fast simultaneously and now is a common scene in Chongqing.This research takes Chongqing mahjong parlor as the object. The author collected qualitative data through field investigation, the specific methods include Partly Participant Observation, Depth Interview and Document Collection. Based on the data analysis, from the prospective of Functional Theories, the author tries to probe the process of Chongqing mahjong parlors’formation, and the action purpose and mode between different mahjong players. All in all, the author wants to dig out the unexpected and missed potential functions of Chongqing mahjong parlors.The research finds that the social functions of Chongqing mahjong parlor mainly show in three aspects: First of all, Chongqing mahjong parlors are all rooted in Chongqing local culture, the mahjong parlors and the life in it keep stimulating the development of social culture including themselves as a kind of sub-culture, which reflects the intimate relationship between mahjong culture and local public life. Then, from the view of participants in mahjong parlors, as an interaction space of different actors, individual form various groups in this place, and to keep the continuity of relationships. On the premise of the conformity of mahjong parlors’ rules they form a unique communication logic accepted by all participants. Last but not the least, mahjong parlors have been playing an active role of community order maintaining and the community construction. Moreover, as the place of "knowledge update" and the safety valve of negative emotion release, mahjong parlors relieve the social conflicts and promote the local harmony. These functions indicate that Chongqing Mahjong parlors relate to local culture and local residents’lifestyle closely from various aspects, and also exert significant influence on normalizing people’s behavior and maintaining social orders.