Playing Card Deck

Tian Jiu Playing Cards

Heavens and Nines Playing Cards

29-191-241.9

From: China

Curatorial Section: Asian

View All (21) Object Images

Native Name Tian Jiu 天九
Object Number 29-191-241.9
Current Location Collections Storage
Culture Chinese
Provenience China
Date Made Late 19th Century - 1929
Section Asian
Materials Paper | Ink
Technique Printed
Iconography Dominoes
Description

Incomplete set of 105 Tian Jiu, 天九, or Heavens and Nines, playing cards. There are only 66 cards remaining but there should be five sets of 21 cards with dominoes on them totalling 105. There is one complete set of the 21 traditional domino cards but the other four sets are missing various cards. One set is illuminated with gourds. They are rectangular cards with rounded corners and the backs have a green checkerboard-like motif. The faces have black and red domino dots. Each one has a tacky yellow coating.

Length 12.8 cm
Width 2.33 cm
Credit Line Received from various sources, pre-1929

Report problems and issues to digitalmedia@pennmuseum.org.