- The first playing cards originated in East Asia, specifically China and Korea in the 12th century where they were mentioned as being used for games with oblong leaves dating back to the 9th century Tang dynasty. - It is believed that playing cards spread along the route of China - India - Persia - Egypt - Europe, carried by Arab traders and sailors who developed their own deck of cards resembling the Tarot deck with suits of swords, staves, cups and pentacles. - The rules described are for a card game where players can walk or translate cards of the same rank from one player to the next until someone cannot translate and must pick up the cards.