Chinese Playing Cards

Introduction

An 11th century source reports that the game of cards appeared in the middle of the T'ang dynasty (613-906) and “that a certain Yang Tan-ien greatly esteemed the playing of cards”, and that these cards had markings taken from dice. This evidence suggests that card playing first began in China. Another report dates from 1294, when Yen Sengzhu and Zheng Pig-Dog were apparently caught gambling in Enzhou (in modern Shandong Province). The law case notes that nine paper cards and thirty six taels of zhong tong period (1260-1264) paper currency were seized, along with wood blocks for printing cards. Our next source is from the writings of the Ming dynasty scholar Lu Rong (1436-1494), who notes that he was sneered at for not knowing how to play cards when he was a government student at Kunshan in modern Jiangsu Province.

Mah Jong Cards

The Chinese took their cards with them wherever they travelled and traded in the East, and we find Chinese cards in use not only in the mainland but also in Hong Kong, Malaysia, Indonesia, Taiwan, Singapore, North Borneo and Vietnam. A paper version of the tile game, Mahjong Cards are also played with in Japan as well as in many different parts of the world both by the local inhabitants and the Chinese settlers.

Above: modern Chinese KR brand Mahjong cards, manufactured by Qingyuan Wan Qi Poker Products Co., Ltd. and also marketed in Hong Kong   See also: Malaysian Mahjongg Cards • Mahjong tile game.

Money Cards

During the nineteenth century Belgian manufacturers (eg Brepols, Van Genechten) and also Camoin of Marseilles produced “Chinese” cards for export to South-East Asian countries including Java, the Celebes, Thailand and possibly China as well →

Right: typical example of Chinese Money cards exported to Far Eastern countries by nineteenth century Belgian manufacturers.

The best known Chinese playing cards are the money-derived ones. Packs are made of up to one hundred and twenty cards composed of four identical sets of thirty cards each. These cards are narrow, flexible strips of cardboard. Often the cards contain illustrations alluding to traditional literary scenes or folk stories. Money cards are used or produced in China, Hong Kong, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Java and Bali in many different styles, formats and sizes.   Four Colour Cards →

Above: "Dongguan Pai" from Dongguan, a place in the province of Guangdong (canton). This "Money Cards" deck has 244 cards, comprising of 240 cards plus 4 "joker" cards. It is made by "Double Elephant brand". Fifth from the right we have the "white flower" the text on it reads "he xing, hongkong". The one to its right is the "little red" (xiao hong) it bears 3 red stamps and a little portrait of a man in the middle. Next to it is the "big red" (da hong) as before, it bears a picture of a man & 2 red stamps. The one on the right is a joker, or "ghost" card, the text on it bears information about the maker. The back of the cards is plain orange (the cardstock is actually almost translucent). Images courtesy Anthony Lee.

Right: a more colourful edition of Money cards; 5 sets of 30 cards, plus five cards with full-length figures and an additional card marked Wang Pai (trump card), total 156. Manufactured by Zhejiang Wuyi United Printing Company Limited, Zhejiang Province, on the eastern coast of China.

Domino Cards

Then there are Domino Cards, which are played with in much the same was as with dominoes. Domino cards, deriving as they do from the 21 throws of a pair of dice, could be descended from the earliest known playing cards. Often these cards contain drawings of flowers, butterflies, animals, images from popular stories or lucky charms which embellish the otherwise rather dull designs. A third variety of Chinese playing cards is Chess Cards   see example →   See also: Chinese Fortune Telling Cards.

Above: “Double Happiness” Domino cards containing small symbols emblematic of the blessings of life. Another similar example is shown below; in this case the cards were exported to Hong Kong. The importer's name can be read on the side of the box.  Click on image to zoom.

Chinese Imperial Culture Playing Cards

HCG Poker produce an extensive range of Chinese historical, art and culture playing cards in European Poker format, i.e. 52 cards + 2 Jokers. Three Kingdoms playing cards describes the story of the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history...   see more →

Great Leader Zedong Mao Playing Cards

Great Leader Zedong Mao playing cards celebrate the story of the Chinese leader and statesman Chairman Mao, with pictures from different periods of his life. Produced by HCG Poker Productions. 52 cards + 2 Jokers.

Children's Playing Cards

Above: 'Mini-Poker' miniature cartoon character playing cards made in China by @pple, based on comics and computer games   see more →

Above: 'Angry Birds' card game made in China licensed by Mattel Inc., and marketed in Europe, East Asia and USA. Angry Birds is a registered trade mark of Rovio Mobile Limited. The game set contains 36 Structure Cards, 20 Special Power cards, 2 Dice and 1 King Pig. The object of the game is to discard all of your structure cards and be the first person to knowk down the King Pig with a flick of the die   see more →

As can be seen from the above, a large number of playing card manufacturers based in China export playing cards and card games world-wide, in all styles and patterns. These include: Danyang Weiwang Entertainment & Promotional Plastic Products • Guangzhou Sanbao Printing Co. • Lanxi Caixing Poker Co. • Qingyuan Wan Qi Poker Products Co., Ltd • Shanghai Diantian Printing Business • Shenzhen Senfutong Paper Co. • Shenzhen Wangjing Playing Cards Paper Co. • Wenzhou Cangnan Yueda Printing Co. • Wenzhou Jinyi Printing Co. • Wenzhou Tiange Printing Co. • Wenzhou Wuda Crafts • Wenzhou Younghi International Trade Co. • Wuyi Giant Colour Printing Co. • Yiwu Dongjian Color Printing Poker Factory • Yiwu Yongxing Printing Factory • Yiwu Xinhua Playing Cards Factory • Zhejiang Wuyi Tiantian Printing Co. • Zhejiang Wuyi Yaoju Paper Producing Co.  Many of these companies manufacture playing cards for European producers and distributors.