Playing Card Deck
| Object Number: | 29-238-18 |
|---|---|
| Current Location: | Collections Storage |
| Culture: | Chinese |
| Provenience: | China Shantou |
| Period: | 19th Century |
| Date Made: | 1889 - 1893 |
| Early Date: | 1889 |
| Late Date: | 1893 |
| Section: | Asian |
| Materials: | Paper Ink Pigment |
| Technique: | Printed |
| Iconography: | Chess |
| Inscription Language: | Chinese Language |
| Length: | 7.3 cm |
| Width: | 1.6 cm |
| Credit Line: | Purchased from William Henry Wilkinson, 1903 |
| Other Number: | Wilkinson 18 - Collector Number 29-191-242.13 - Old Museum Number |
Description
116 rectangular playing cards based on Chinese Chess (象棋 xiangqi). Backs white with hexagonal motif in gray. Two types of face cards. One is sparse black on white with a pair of circular motifs enclosing a Chinese character and a single character (same for each of this type) in between. The surface of the second type is entirely filled with printing including Chinese characters, two dragons and a coin. This type is sometimes all in black and sometimes in black and red.
From Culin publication: "No. 18. - From Swatow. Eight each of the seven black and of the seven white men, except that of the soldiers, there are ten of each color. The Generals (Kings) are elaborately ornamented. Long, narrow gray cards, apt to curl up. Total, 116. This, in common with all other packs of its class, is known as Ku-ma-p'au, "Rook-knight-cannon."
Bibliography:
| [Book] Culin, Robert S. 1895. Korean Games, with Notes on the Corresponding Games of China and Japan.. Philadelphia. University of Pennsylvania. Actual Citation : Page/Fig./Plate: pg. 143, No. 18 | View Objects related to this Actual Citation |
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