Chinese Calligraphy Playing Cards
Cards with stylised Chinese characters, designed by M.F. Cynthia Ngai.
Although identical designs have been used for the court cards in each suit in this pack featuring Chinese kings, queens and knights, there is additional interest in the numeral cards where an appropriate number of Chinese characters representing the number on each card can be found. These form a pattern which is then repeated on each suit. The Ace of Spades also includes part of a miniature version of the dragon, phoenix and sun design which appears on the reverse and on one side of the box. The Monkey King (Sun Wukong), one of the main characters in the 16th-century Chinese novel “Journey to the West”, is depicted on the Jokers. See the box
Above: cards with Chinese characters designed by M.F. Cynthia Ngai, 1982. 52 cards + 2 (identical) Jokers in tuck case. Size: 57 x 87 mm. Maker unknown (China or Hong Kong?). © M.F. Cynthia Ngai 1982
By Roddy Somerville
France • Member since May 31, 2022
Roddy started collecting stamps on his 8th birthday. In 1977 he joined the newly formed playing-card department at Stanley Gibbons in London before setting up his own business in Edinburgh four years later. His collecting interests include playing cards, postcards, stamps (especially playing cards on stamps) and sugar wrappers. He is a Past President of the Scottish Philatelic Society, a former Chairman of the IPCS, a Past Master of the Worshipful Company of Makers of Playing Cards and Curator of the WCMPC’s collection of playing cards. He lives near Toulouse in France.
Activity for Chinese Calligraphy Playing Cards
Sign in to comment or save this article.
Related Articles
Romance of the Three Kingdoms
Colourful characters from Luo Guanzhong’s historical novel, “Romance of the Three Kingdoms”.
QAIPES – cartas españolas
Spanish-suited cards made in China inscribed “QAIPES” and “BAIPES”!
Diaoyu Poker 8068
8068 by Diaoyu Poker (China) 2019.
Chinese Jokers
Chinese playing card makers have probably produced the widest variety of jokers of any single part o...
The Summer Palace
The Summer Palace, Beijing, China, c.1998.
57: China 3
A third and final look at some Chinese cards.
54: China 1
Although many people would not consider Chinese cards worth collecting, the huge variety of court de...
Lucky Buddha Beer
Deck made in China in c.2010 advertising the Chinese brew “Lucky Beer, the enlightened beer”
Terracotta Army
Each card has a different photo of elements of the terracotta army whose purpose was to protect the ...
Terracotta Warriors of Emperor Qin
“Terracotta Warriors of Emperor Qin” collectible playing cards, made in China, c.2010.
Mao Zedong & International Friends
Playing cards celebrating the story of the Chinese leader and statesman Chairman Mao / Mao Zedong & ...
Titicaca ® Playing Cards
Each card in this novelty deck, subtitled “Funny Card”, carries information about a prestigious or p...
Li River Souvenir
Li River Souvenir Playing Cards from China.
3: 20th/21st Century Variants including some from China
I expect most collectors ignore cards made in China for export. It's true that many are close copies...
Hong Kong
A large proportion of the world's souvenir and pin-up playing cards originate from Hong Kong.
Chinese Fortune Telling Cards
Fortune Telling Cards - wondrous scientific divination poker cards.
Most Popular
Our top articles from the past 60 days
