China Tarot - eastern painting on 22 Major Arcana
There are tarot decks filled with narrative scenes, and then there are decks where only the Major Arcana tell that story. China Tarot by Der Jen belongs to the latter category. The 22 Major Arcana are worked out as detailed paintings in traditional Chinese style. The 56 Minor Arcana show only the symbols of the suit: wands, cups, swords and pentacles.
The deck is published by Lo Scarabeo. The cards are printed on sturdy cardstock and feel classic in format and weight. The guidebook is multilingual, including English.
What you see on the Major Arcana
Der Jen works with a painting style that is both refined and timeless. The figures are dressed in authentic Chinese robes. The colours are soft and the composition is often still.
There is more emphasis on atmosphere than on action. Facial expressions are painted with precision, but the expression usually remains reserved. This matches the meditative tone that runs through the entire deck.
How the Minor Arcana look
The Minor Arcana are pip cards. That means the Five of Wands shows you five wands, without characters or scene. The same applies to all other numbers and suits.
This asks for a different way of reading. You have no story that you can read from the image. Instead you need to draw the meaning from the number, the suit and the position in the spread. That works well if you already know the basic structure of tarot, less smoothly if you are looking for visual clues.
With this deck, separate the Major Arcana into their own pile first. Draw from there daily. The Minor Arcana are mainly useful for readers who already know what the numbers and suits mean.
Who this deck works for
This deck is designed for people who are familiar with tarot symbolism and want to use pip cards. It is also suitable for collectors with an interest in eastern aesthetics or in the way different cultures interpret the Major Arcana.
The emphasis lies on the visual quality of the Major Arcana. Many people use this deck only for those 22 cards and leave the Minor Arcana in the box. That is a perfectly workable way to use it.
About Der Jen
Der Jen is a Taiwanese artist who has gained international recognition with her interpretations of Chinese traditions. Her work combines historical accuracy with a personal visual language. Her faces are painted realistically, but the atmosphere remains poetic.
Specifications
- Number of cards: 78
- Publisher: Lo Scarabeo
- ISBN: 9780738710587
- Language: multilingual, including English, French, German, Spanish and Italian
- Format: standard tarot size
- Material: high-quality cardstock
- Illustrator: Der Jen
Questions we often get
Are the Minor Arcana also illustrated with scenes?
No. The Minor Arcana are pip cards: only the suit symbol and the number. No characters, no story.
Is this deck suitable for someone just starting with tarot?
That depends. If you only use the Major Arcana yes, if you want to use the full deck you need basic knowledge of the meanings. The Minor Arcana give no visual guidance.
