Re: Notes on Tam Wing Kwong, "The Game of Sparrow as played in China".

Julian Bradfield <jcb@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in message
news:<e6c8ya6wgly.fsf@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>...
> Julian Bradfield <jcb@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> writes:
> 
> I quoted thus:
> >   In the Ming Dynasty (©ú´Â [ming2chao2]), the game developed to what
> >   was then called Muoh Hwo cards (©Ù©MµP [mo4 huo2/he2 pai2 (*)])
which also
> >   had in the set maans, cashes and sogs. Players later added to the
> >   set 3 kinds of Aces on which were printed flowers called Hwas (ªáµP
> >   [hua1pai2], Flower cards), and others added four more kinds "Teens,
> >   Deis, Yuns and Hwos" called Jongs (±N [jiang4] Generals). At this
> >   stage, the game was given the name of Hwa Jong (flowers and
> >   generals).
> 
> In the light of the discussion, I should add the next sentence:
> 
>    The Aces are equal to the dragons or honours, and the Generals
>    equal to the four winds in the game of Maa Jong of this day.

I was going to comment on this statement from Julian's book, but on
further reflection I decided the statement was rather ambiguous.
I have two questions I would like to invite comments on.
What period in time is he referring to in the phrase "At this stage"
in the former statement above?
What does he mean by the phrase "equal to" in the latter statement
above?
Cheers
Michael Stanwick