Chao is a series of decks from MPC (Make Playing Cards) inspired by imperial China, first launched through a crowdfunding campaign. This is the blue edition, also called Porcelain Blue after the shade of traditional Chinese porcelain.

• PublisherMPC (Make Playing Cards)
• PrinterMPC
• Boxgold foil and embossing
• Contents52 cards + 2 jokers + MPC card

Design

Each suit corresponds to a dynasty: Han, Tang, Ming and Qing. In each one, the king is an emperor, the queen an empress and the jack a general. The emperors wear clothing typical of their era, the empresses wear the headdresses of the period and hold instruments, and the generals appear in armour and with weapons. Despite the theme, the composition respects the layout of a traditional deck (head direction, position of the hands and objects).

The aces carry Chinese ornamental motifs and the Ace of Spades includes a dragon. The jokers depict two historical figures from China. The illustrations are in monochrome line, and the tuck box is decorated with gold foil (metallic stamping) and embossing.

Manufacturing

It is made by MPC itself, one of China’s major playing card printers, which developed a new varnish for this series. According to the distributor, it uses its M32 stock with a linen-type finish (a very fine relief that helps the cards glide).