Card Game Item Number: Edz1088 from the MOA: University of British Columbia

Description

Card game consisting of 38 cards with black and red characters on a white background on the face, and black reverse sides, all wrapped with a piece of off-white paper with an image of two elephants and both English and Chinese text printed in red ink.

History Of Use

Cards of this type were used for card games enjoyed by elderly people sitting outdoors in Hong Kong. At the time of collection (1980), groups of elderly people, primarily women, could be seen seated outdoors wherever there was available space, enjoying this leisure-time activity, which normally included small-scale gambling. Older men gathered in parks or wherever there was space, playing Chinese chess, called “elephant chess”. Their games attracted large groups of other men, who commented regularly on the game, making suggestions. Both men and women played mahjong, which also involved gambling, but this was done indoors, in shops created for the purpose or in people’s homes if they had enough space. Younger people almost inevitably had to work hard to support their families in this difficult economic time, with very little time off to engage in social activities like this.

Cultural Context

Toys and games.

Narrative

From a shop or market stall in Tsuen Wan.

Item History

What

Name
Card Game
Identification Number
Edz1088
Type of Item
game
Material
paper, ink and paste adhesive
Overall
height 1.7 cm, width 6.8 cm, depth 1.9 cm

Who

Culture
Chinese
Field Collector
Elizabeth L. Johnson
Previous Owner
Elizabeth L. Johnson
Received from
Elizabeth L. Johnson (Seller) and Museum of Anthropology Shop Volunteers (Funding source)

Where

Holding Institution
MOA: University of British Columbia
Made in
Tsuen Wan, Hong Kong, China

When

Creation Date
during 1979
Collection Date
during 1979
Ownership Date
before March 17, 1980
Acquisition Date
on March 17, 1980

Other

Condition
good
Accession Number
0610/0058