Madiao

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Madiao (simplified Chinese: 马吊; traditional Chinese: 馬弔; pinyin: mǎdiào), also Ma Diao, Ma Tiu or Ma Tiao, is a late imperial Chinese trick-taking card game and gambling game, also known as the game of Paper Tiger.

History

It was recorded by Lu Rong in the 15th century and later by Pan Zhiheng and Feng Menglong during the early 17th century.

Korean poet Jang Hon (1759-1828) wrote that the game dated back to the Yuan dynasty (1271-1368).[5]

It continued to be popular during the Qing dynasty until around the mid-19th century.

The game was also known in Japan from at least 1791.

Play

It is played with 40 cards and four players.

Three players team against the banker. See Asymmetrical card game.

Name

In Chinese, (马) means "horse" and diao (吊) means "hanged" or "lifted."

The name of the game comes from the fact that three players team against the banker, like a horse raising one shoe (banker), with the other three remaining hooves on the ground (three players).

See also

External links