Shuffling the Deck: Discovering the Origins of Playing Cards
There is much debate on the exact origins of playing cards. Many
scholars believe the origins of playing cards can be traced to China,
after the invention of paper. Some scholars disagree on the Asian
origins theory and believe that the playing cards origins are directly
traceable to the Middle East. There are literary references in Europe
to the playing cards being referred to as the "Moorish" game, placing
the origins in the Middle East.Scholars that believe in the Asian origins theory state that a playing card game being named after a place or person doesn't mean that its origins are from there. It could have been played by "Moors" and introduced to Europe that way, but it could just as likely have been brought to the Middle East from the Far East before that time.
Currently, the common belief among anthropologists and historians is of the Asian origins of playing cards. Paper was invented in China a thousand years before the Middle East, making it a more likely choice for the origins of playing cards. The Asian origins theory was rejected for a long time because of the vast difference between Asian playing cards and the playing cards from the Western world. Today, the Asian origins are more widely accepted.
These experts place the origins of playing cards sometime around the 10th century, in Central Asia. The Chinese used paper dominoes, shuffling and dealing them, in various new games.
Odyssey of Playing Cards: From Privileged Possession to Popular Pastime
Originally, playing cards were an exclusive luxury, available only to the very wealthy. Over time, their design changed drastically and so did their exclusivity.
The first design change was the addition of the suits. The origins of the different playing cards suits were an edition to the Asian domino-like playing cards. After their spread to the Moslem countries, decks with the court cards and the four distinct suits evolved. Islamic interaction with Spain brought the playing cards into Europe, where many of the modern traits of playing cards have their origins.
Interestingly, the English word 'card' is from the Latin word 'charta', literally translated as sheet. This word, or a similar variation of it, is used to describe playing cards in all the European countries, except for one. 'Naipes', an Arabic word that means 'military commander', is the name of playing cards in Spain.
During this time, forms of playing cards had already appeared in the Persian Empire and across India, as well. The origins of playing cards entrance into these empires will probably never be known.
More definite facts of playing cards origins begin in the 14th century. European countries began mass-producing playing cards, prompting their use throughout the different levels of society. The craze had hit and by the 15th century, playing cards were firmly established into every level of European culture. Despite an array of laws and statutes banning their use, playing cards became a firmly established cultural presence that has lasted until today.
Currently, playing cards are used for card games, gambling, collecting, divinations, and more. Historians are looking at the origins of the playing cards as a social commentary throughout history. There are enough variations of playing cards throughout the world for them to analyze for a lifetime.
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