Chinese Money-Suited Playing Cards

Money-suited cards are a family of traditional Chinese playing cards whose suits are based on units of currency—typically Coins (cash), Strings and Myriads—usually numbered 1–9 and often supplemented with higher “honour” cards or special subjects in some regional patterns. Their most famous form is closely associated with madiao and related trick-taking and gambling games, with many decks illustrating heroes from Water Margin on the higher cards—hence the common nickname “Water Margin cards”. Money-suited designs were widely used and adapted across East and Southeast Asia, and are frequently discussed as an important early suit system in the broader history of playing cards.