What do the Joker cards represent in a deck of playing cards?
Author: San A
Release Date:
2022/12/13
The traditional deck of cards, with spades, hearts, clubs, and diamonds as its suits, was invented by the French in the 14th century and initially consisted of only 52 cards. Around 1850, some card manufacturers began adding a 53rd card to the deck; at the time, this card served merely as a joker or an advertising gimmick. It was not yet called a “JOKER” but rather an “Extra card,” meaning an additional card.
The king represents the sun, and the queen represents the moon.
Based on the calendar in astronomy, Westerners have standardized playing cards to 54 cards, divided into four suits. A standard deck contains 54 cards: 52 regular cards, representing the 52 weeks of the year, and two jokers—known as the Big Joker and the Little Joker. The Big Joker symbolizes the sun, while the Little Joker represents the moon.
In a standard deck, the two Jokers represent the sun and the moon; the remaining 52 cards correspond to the 52 weeks of the year, while the four suits symbolize the four seasons. Each suit’s 13 cards reflect the 13 weeks that make up each season. If we assign point values to the suits and cards—counting the Jokers as half a point—the total comes to 365 days in a common year; if we value both Jokers as one point, the sum rises to 366 days in a leap year. Experts generally agree that these interpretations are no mere coincidence, as the design and invention of playing cards are intricately linked to astrology, divination, astronomy, and calendrical systems. Indeed, the Joker stands out as the most unique card in the deck.
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