The court cards use exquisitely detailed line art of Chinese deities and people, while the card back is a great freehand drawing with interpretations of Chinese lattice borders and of course, a dragon.China's vast history provides a rich palette of subjects for court cards.King of Hearts: Pangu, the first living being and creator of the Earth from chaosKing of Diamonds: Caishen, the main Chinese deity of prosperityKing of Clubs: Huangdi, the Yellow Emperor, creator of the centralized stateKing of Spades: Tai Di, the "Primordial Divinity" or "Utmost God"Queen of Hearts: He Xiangu, an immortal renowned for her selfless caring for othersQueen of Diamonds: Lan Caihe, an immortal portrayed sometimes as a man dressed as a woman and other times as a woman, Lan Caihe was said to have ridden to heaven on the back of a magical swan while in a drunken stuporQueen of Clubs: Xi Wangmu, Queen Mother of the West. She held court and allowed deities to meet in her perfect palaceQueen of Spades: Nuwa, humanity's creator along with her twin brother, FuxiJack of Hearts: Fuxi, humanity's creator along with his twin sister, NuwaJack of Diamonds: Luxing, a deity who made people happy through promotions and salary increasesJack of Clubs: Yu Shi, the rain deityJack of Spades: Zhan Yinbao, an army officerFantastic creatures play a large role in Chinese mythology, and they are honored representing the suits:Phoenix (Hearts) - Sun, warmth, and loveKui (Clubs) - A one-legged ox that would warn of coming storms. The Yellow Emperor (the King of Spades) used Kui's skin for a drum that could be heard hundreds of miles awayPixiu (Diamonds) - Brings in good luck and wealth and drives away evilDragon (Spades) - The most powerful creatureThe card back combines a dragon with another famous Chinese element, the Yin-Yang symbol.
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