Some historians, however, say playing cards took off during the 10 th century. References to “ domino cards” existed as early as the T’ang Dynasty, which lasted from 618-907 AD. It’s unclear when and where playing cards were invented, but they were popularized in China more than a thousand years ago. This got us thinking-what’s the history of playing cards anyway? China A.D. As a member of the mouse-eared family, Nat Geo saw over four million new followers scurry to our TikTok account, mostly to trade these digital cards.

When The Walt Disney Company celebrated its 100 th birthday last month, everyone got to take part in this century’s-long tradition with TikTok’s new digital playing card game. From the hand-painted cards of T’ang Dynasty China to paper-and-plastic Pokémon trading cards, the history of playing cards spans cultures, epochs, and continents.

In a world filled with endless entertainment, some of the simplest and most enduring sources of amusement can be found in a deck of playing cards.įor centuries, these unassuming game pieces have held a special place in the hearts and hands of people across the globe.