CHAO Imperial Yellow is the fourth deck in the CHAO series by MPC (MakePlayingCards), launched on Kickstarter in November 2020. The series pays tribute to Chinese imperial history, and this edition takes its colour from the yellow that in China was associated with emperors, power and prosperity.

• Publisher and printerMPC (MakePlayingCards)
• FinishM32 card stock, linen finish
• Print runlimited edition
• Contents52 cards + 2 jokers + 1 MPC card

Design

Each suit represents one of four dynasties: Han, Tang, Ming and Qing. The court cards follow that arrangement, with an emperor as the king, an empress as the queen and a general as the jack. The emperors wear clothing and accessories typical of their era, the empresses wear different headdresses and hold the instrument they played, and the generals appear in armour with the weapon of their battles. The aces feature Chinese ornamental motifs and the Ace of Spades adds a dragon, a symbol of imperial power. The jokers show Chinese historical figures.

Manufacturing

It is printed by MPC itself on M32 card stock with a linen finish (a texture of fine lines that helps the cards glide) and a special varnish. The tuck box is yellow, with embossing and gold stamping, and the seal imitates a red stamp with Chinese characters.