A111FSHT - Hanafuda Sets Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Mini and Large Click for Half Price Sale or Overstock and Clearance Items.
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 | Hanafuda Sets Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Mini and Large
A111FSHT
Actual size: 4 each, .5 in x .75 in*, and 1.5 in x 2.25 in*
List: $30.00
Sale: $16.99
(Postage added $3.00) | This medley of images is part of Japan's traditional Hanafuda (Flower cards) card game. Click on Hanafuda in the related items list to see all the sets and combinations available.
This item is by or from About Art Accents |
The flowering cherry (Sakura) and flowering plum (Ume) found in Asia art are often confused by westerners. Both are considered harbingers of the coming of spring with the plum blooming at the end of winter in February and the cherry in April when spring is in full sway. In addition, cherry blossoms are generally very pale to pink while plum blossoms are usually white or a much darker pink to red than the cherry. And finally, the petals of the plum are generally smoothly rounded while the cherry generally has a slight notch on the edge of the petals.
The two flowers have differing symbolism in Japan and China. In China the plum blossom (really more of an apricot than a plum) is much more highly revered than the flowering cherry whereas in the 9th Century the cherry overcame the plum in popularity in Japan. In China the plum is more representative of winter than spring as it is in Japan. In Japan the plum is believed to be a charm to protect against evil. In China the Plum represents resiliency and perseverance and the cherry is representative of feminine beauty and love. In Japan the flowering cherry represents the transient nature of life owing to the brief period, though spectacular, that the trees are in bloom. It is traditional to have picnics under the blossoming trees and to celebrate this time of year in Japan with festivals.
Large, Mini, or Small Sets of Hanafuda card images. Large and mini sizes of January - April cards are found on Plate A111. May - August large and mini cards are found on Plate A112. September - December's large and mini cards are on plate A113. Small Hanafuda sets can be found on plates A11A and A11B.
Note: Hanafuda decks contain 48 cards divided into 12 suits of 4 cards each, one suit for each month signified by a different flower.
Hanafuda cards are playing cards of Japanese origin, used to play a number of games. Literal translation is Flower Cards.
Prior to western contact refined card games were played in Japan by nobility. The Portuguese introduced gambling card games to Japan in 1549 and these games spread in popularity among the Japanese. When Japan closed itself again from the Western world in 1633, foreign playing cards were banned.
Some Japanese developed various means of getting around the gambling prohibitions. Various card sets and games were devised over the years and subsequently banned due to gambling prohibitions.
For a while Hanafuda cards were allowed since the lack of numbers on the cards made them difficult to use for gambling, but gamblers persisted by assigning point to the various cards.
In 1889 hand crafted Hanafuda cards painted on mulberry tree bark began coming popular and soon were adopted by Yakuza for their gaming parlors.
Today there are many variations of the game played. There are twelve suits, representing months. Each is designated a flower, and each suit has four cards. Typically, there are two 'normal' cards worth one point, one poetry ribbon card worth five points, and a final special card worth ten or twenty points. The point values could be considered unnecessary and arbitrary, as the most popular games only concern themselves with certain combinations of taken cards. You can see from the sets here which flowers are used for which months.
The sets offered come in three graduated sizes which you can select from for use on dominoes, tiles, ATC's, special occasion cards relative to the months. | You might be interested in these related searches: Hanafuda, Pine, Plum, Cherry, Wisteria, Crane, Bird, Moon, Sun, Playing Cards, Winter, Grass, Spring, PlateA111.
Or try these related stamps, papers or accessories below: | |
*Dimensions shown to the nearest quarter inch.
Mounting Options. If you would like your stamps trimmed and adhered to cling vinyl mounting foam, please select the "Cling Foam - not wood" mounting option above the Add to Cart button. The additional fee is shown with the option. If you change your mind be sure to change the option back to "Unmounted Rubber Die". Sheets of mounting foam are available for those who prefer to mount their own, and you might also consider the Tack N Peel system. These options can be found here. |
