Characters of “The Water Margin”
Characters from the Chinese novel “The Water Margin” - 水滸撲克.
Illustrated playing cards featuring characters from “The Water Margin”, a Chinese novel attributed to Shi Nai'an, considered a classic of Chinese literature. Various forms of cards exist as the images often appear on Chinese money-suited, domino or Mah-Jong decks. This edition is a double French suited pack containing a total of 108 colourful images from “The Water Margin”. The choice of issuing the cards as a two-deck set is significant. The total number of cards, 108, is also the total number of characters in the book. Notable characters include Wu Song on the king of spades. He is depicted committing his most famous deed - killing a tiger that terrorized a mountain pass. One ace of spades depicts Lin Chong, another character. Everything else is explained on the Info Card►
Above: playing cards featuring characters from “The Water Margin”, c.1970. Various editions are known, often with different back designs. This edition is a high quality double boxed set; each deck comprises 52 cards + 2 jokers + 1 information card, all printed in a Chinese language. The illustrations above are from the second deck in the set.
CREDITS
Thanks to Anthony Lee for additional research.
Matchbox Labels
Above: Jining Huochai Matchbox labels: Characters of the Water Margin 水滸撲克. Courtesy Rex Pitts.
By Matt Probert
Member since March 02, 2012
I have adored playing cards since before I was seven years old, and was brought up on packs of Waddington's No 1. As a child I was fascinated by the pictures of the court cards.
Over the next fifty years I was seduced by the artwork in Piatnik's packs and became a collector of playing cards.
Seeking more information about various unidentified packs I discovered the World of Playing Cards website and became an enthusiastic contributor researching and documenting different packs of cards.
I describe my self as a playing card archaeologist, using detective work to identify and date obscure packs of cards discovered in old houses, flea markets and car boot sales.
Related Articles
Agatha Christie and card games
Agatha Christie uses card-play as a primary focus of a story, and as a way of creating plots and mot...
Ubo cards
Traditional Ubo cards from the Philippines made from tree bark.
Motherpeace Round Tarot
An original and imaginative feminist tarot based on Goddess energy.
Colonial Art
A collection of 53 pieces of art showcasing detailed scenes from early American colonial life.
QAIPES – cartas españolas
Spanish-suited cards made in China inscribed “QAIPES” and “BAIPES”!
Victor Hugo 1885-1985
Characters from novels by Victor Hugo marking the centenary of his death, as conceived by Dominique...
Victor Hugo “L’homme qui rit”
Two different packs with costume designs for Victor Hugo plays, issued on the centenary of his deat...
Pinocchio playing cards
Comic book drawings inspired by Carlo Collodi’s children’s classic, Pinocchio.
Le jeu des 7 Familles ’Utuafare
Colourful Happy Families game from Tahiti depicting costumes from different archipelagoes.
San Paolo Chekhov
Characters from Chekhov’s plays designed by Paolo Fresu for San Paolo Istituto Bancario, Italy, c.19...
Wedding of Krechinsky • Свадьба Кречинского
A pack of cards depicting characters from the famous play "The Wedding of Krechinsky" by Sukhovo-Kob...
Shakespeare playing cards: Insults
Shakespeare Insults playing cards with portraits by Jan Padover, USA, 2005.
Shakespeare playing cards: Quotes
Shakespeare playing cards: Quotes, the first volume of a double set published by Prospero Art of San...
Alice in Wonderland: we’re all mad here
Alice in Wonderland themed playing cards, UK, 2020.
Old Testament playing cards
Old Testament playing cards with illustrations by Jan Padover, USA, 2012.
Mohegan Sun playing cards
Mohegan Sun playing cards published by Gemaco for Mohegan Sun casino.
Trending Articles
Popular articles from the past 28 days
