One of the earliest games in which we know the rules is madiao, a trick-taking game, which dates to the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644). Using paper money was inconvenient and risky so they were substituted by play money known as 'money cards'. William Henry Wilkinson suggests that the first cards may have been actual paper currency which doubled as both the tools of gaming and the stakes being played for, similar to trading card games. Wood blocks for printing the cards were impounded, together with nine of the actual cards. The earliest dated instance of a game involving cards occurred on 17 July 1294 when the Ming Department of Punishments caught two gamblers, Yan Sengzhu and Zheng Pig-Dog, playing with zi pai. Instead, they were printed with instructions or forfeits for whoever drew them. However, these cards did not contain suits or numbers. Other games revolving around alcoholic drinking involved using playing cards of a sort from the Tang dynasty onward. However, Ouyang also claims that the 'leaves' were pages of a book used in a board game played with dice, and that the rules of the game were lost by 1067. The Song dynasty (960–1279) scholar Ouyang Xiu (1007–1072) asserts that the 'leaf' game existed at least since the mid-Tang dynasty and associated its invention with the development of printed sheets as a writing medium. It received commentary by writers of subsequent dynasties. The first known book on the 'leaf' game was called the Yezi Gexi and allegedly written by a Tang woman. The reference describes Princess Tongchang, daughter of Emperor Yizong of Tang, playing the 'leaf game' in 868 with members of the Wei clan, the family of the princess's husband. However the connection between playing cards and the leaf game is disputed. The reference to a leaf game in a 9th century text known as the Collection of Miscellanea at Duyang ( Chinese: 杜阳杂编 pinyin: Dùyáng zábiān), written by Tang dynasty writer Su E, is often cited in connection to the existence of playing cards. Playing cards were likely invented during the Tang dynasty around the 9th century AD as a result of the usage of woodblock printing technology. 1400 AD found near Turpanįurther information: Chinese playing cards Cards may also be produced for trading card sets or collectible card games, or as supplements for board games, however these are not generally regarded as playing cards.Ĭhina Chinese printed playing card c. Decks of cards or even single cards are also collected as a hobby or for monetary value. Playing cards are available in a wide variety of styles, as decks may be custom-produced for competitions, casinos and magicians (sometimes in the form of trick decks), made as promotional items, or intended as souvenirs, artistic works, educational tools, or branded accessories. The reverse side of the card is often covered with a pattern that will make it difficult for players to look through the translucent material to read other people's cards or to identify cards by minor scratches or marks on their backs. Asia, too, has regional cards such as the Japanese hanafuda. Customised Tarot card decks are also used for divination including tarot card reading and cartomancy. Tarot cards (also known locally as Tarocks or tarocchi) are an old genre of playing card that is still very popular in France, central and Eastern Europe and Italy. However, many countries use other, traditional types of playing card, including those that are German, Italian, Spanish and Swiss-suited. The most common type of playing card in the West is the French-suited, standard 52-card pack, of which the most widespread design is the English pattern, followed by the Belgian-Genoese pattern.

Playing cards are typically palm-sized for convenient handling, and usually are sold together in a set as a deck of cards or pack of cards. They are most commonly used for playing card games, and are also used in magic tricks, cardistry, card throwing, and card houses cards may also be collected. Often the front (face) and back of each card has a finish to make handling easier. Hand of French-suited cards Tarot playing cards from Austria Suit of Bells from a Bavarian packĪ playing card is a piece of specially prepared card stock, heavy paper, thin cardboard, plastic-coated paper, cotton-paper blend, or thin plastic that is marked with distinguishing motifs. For other uses, including specific playing cards, see Playing card (disambiguation).

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