Founding of university mahjong society foments dispute

Recently, a mahjong society was approved by Fudan University in Shanghai, making it the first of its kind in China. However, the founding of the society has also stirred controversy.

According to a survey released on Sina Weibo, as of Friday, 62 percent of Web users expressed their approval of the society, saying it is a normal pasttime as long as it does not include gambling, Xinmin Evening News reported.

However, 18 percent of respondents disapproved because they fear that the game will have a bad influence on participants' studies.

Geng Zhaohua, a vice secretary of the Chinese Youth League committee of the university, said the society is perfectly legal. Students care about acquiring the skill of playing mahjong well, not gambling, Geng was quoted by the Shanghai-based newspaper as saying.

The website of the society shows they advocate main principles of several mahjong styles including national-standard mahjong and Japanese mahjong. Mahjong games will be held online, according to the website.

The society does not intend to make any profit, and it will focus on skills involving statistics and probability, Geng said.

If any members of the society are caught gambling, students will be punished, according to Geng.