November 15, 2024 • By Evonix Ventures Team
The Journey of Paper and Ink
Playing cards are not just paper rectangles – they carry centuries of cultural exchange, artistry and storytelling. Most scholars believe the earliest playing cards emerged in China during the Tang and Song dynasties, where innovations in woodblock printing made it possible to produce decorated paper cheaply. These early cards were often painted with scenes from literature or depictions of coins and, according to some historians, may have evolved from paper currency itself. Gambling and fortune‑telling were popular pastimes among nobles and commoners alike, and small rectangular cards became a convenient way to while away long evenings. From China the concept travelled along the Silk Road to Persia and India, where it took on new meanings and motifs.
Persia’s Treasure Comes to India
When playing cards reached the courts of Safavid Persia, they were called ganjifa, a name derived from the Persian word for “treasure.” Persian ganjifa decks typically contained 96 cards arranged into eight suits that reflected aspects of imperial bureaucracy and commerce. Their circular shape and vibrant miniature paintings elevated them from mere gaming tools to coveted artworks, often presented as diplomatic gifts. During the Mughal period, the game crossed the Hindu Kush into India, where artists and patrons embraced it enthusiastically. Indian craftsmen adopted the circular format and introduced regional materials such as ivory and tortoiseshell. They stored decks in exquisitely painted boxes and embellished each card with scenes from court life, epic poems and religious tales. For Mughal nobles, ganjifa was both entertainment and a display of wealth and refinement.
Suits of Symbolism
The suits in ganjifa reveal a great deal about the societies that created them. The standard Mughal deck retained the Persian suits – crown (taj), silver coin (safed), sword (shamsher), servant (ghulam), harp (chang), gold coin (surkh), document (barat) and merchandise (qimash) – but Indian artisans layered each symbol with local aesthetics and mythology. Kings (mir) and ministers (wazir) replaced Persia’s court figures and were often depicted in elaborate Mughal attire. The high cards in each suit might show courtly musicians or divine beings, while the low cards used geometric motifs reminiscent of Islamic art. Each suit contained ten numbered cards and two court cards, making for 96 in total, a far cry from the 52‑card decks used in most of today’s games. Playing with a ganjifa deck was as much a meditation on art and hierarchy as it was a contest of strategy and luck.
Hindu Innovation and the Ten Avatars
In the 17th century, Hindu artisans from regions like Orissa and Karnataka developed a variation known as dasavatara ganjifa. This deck expanded the traditional suits to ten, each representing an incarnation of Vishnu, from Matsya the fish to Kalki the horse‑man who heralds the end of the age. The resulting 120‑card deck was used in a complex trick‑taking game steeped in mythology. Players had to memorise not only rankings but also the stories associated with each avatar, transforming a casual pastime into a devotional act. The richly pigmented cards were often coated in shellac to preserve them, and some survive in museums today as examples of folk art. In Sawantwadi, a town on India’s western coast, families still pass down the craft of painting ganjifa cards by hand, keeping the tradition alive for new generations.
Beyond Ganjifa: Regional Variations
The Indian subcontinent is home to dozens of indigenous card games, many of which borrow elements from ganjifa while evolving their own identities. Games like Teen Patti, Seep, Paplu and Rummy have roots in local traditions and have become staples at family gatherings and festivals. Their mechanics range from simple betting games to elaborate partnership contests with bidding and trumps. The variety reflects the cultural mosaic of South Asia, where each region and community adapts the basic idea of card play to its own rhythm and values. In Bengal and Bangladesh, partition games like Hazari evolved, tasking players with forming multiple hands and ranking them – a mechanic that later informed our studio’s own game design. The common thread running through all these games is social connection: cards break down barriers, encourage storytelling and build bonds across generations.
Philosophy, Chance and Skill
What makes card games so enduring in Asian culture is their balance of luck and skill. In many Hindu philosophies, human life is seen as a play of cosmic forces, and card games mirror this worldview. The random shuffle represents fate, while the choices players make embody free will. Strategy games like ganjifa or Hazari teach patience, memory and risk assessment, aligning with the idea of karma – that actions have consequences. At the same time, gambling games remind players of the impermanence of material wealth. The great poet Tukaram is said to have compared life to a game of cards, urging his followers to play with equanimity. Across Asia, monks, merchants and monarchs have all enjoyed cards as a way to contemplate chance and agency in a structured yet unpredictable environment.
From Table to Screen
Today, digital technology is breathing new life into these ancient games. Smartphone apps and online platforms allow players separated by oceans to sit down at the same virtual table. Our own studio’s adaptations of Hazari and Twenty‑Nine honour the heritage of South‑Asian card games while introducing modern UI, animation and matchmaking. By preserving traditional rules and incorporating cultural artwork, we aim to make each game a portal to history. At the same time, we embrace features like tutorials, AI opponents and global leaderboards to welcome newcomers. The rise of esports and livestreaming has even transformed card play into a spectator sport, with viewers cheering for their favourite teams as they might in cricket or football. As the world becomes more interconnected, these digital adaptations ensure that the philosophy and art of Asian card games continue to inspire and entertain.
A Cultural Bridge
Whether you’re flipping through a handmade ganjifa deck or tapping your screen to play Hazari with friends, you are participating in a tradition that spans centuries and continents. Card games in the Asian context are cultural bridges, connecting past and present, East and West. They remind us that simple games can carry profound stories and philosophies. They also demonstrate how creativity flows across borders, with Chinese paper, Persian motifs and Indian artistry blending into something uniquely South Asian. As you explore our digital recreations, we invite you to imagine the artisans, courtiers and commoners who sat around tables long ago, laughing and competing by candlelight. In that moment, you become part of the living tapestry of card play – a tapestry we’re honoured to extend into the digital age.
