Tarot History: From Italian Card Game to Contemplative Tool

Origins: From Card Game to Contemplation

Tarot has not always been the spiritual tool we know today. Its origins lie in the world of 15th-century Italian card games, when a deck called "trionfi" (triumphs) was added to standard card decks to create complex strategic games.

Early Period: The First Decks

Tarot first appeared in Ferrara and Milan with 21 cards in the "trionfi" suit, plus The Fool card, which were added to the Italian standard deck of four suits: wands, coins, cups, and swords. These early decks were designed for strategic games, where each card held its own strategic role.

Tarot was not an isolated invention. Researchers have identified that early European playing card decks originated from the Egyptian Mamluk deck, invented in or before the 14th century, after paper was introduced from Asia to Western Europe. By the late 1300s, European countries had begun producing their own decks, based on the Mamluk pattern but with variations in suit symbols and court cards.

Spread Across Europe

Tarot games did not stop in Italy. From their Italian roots, tarot games spread to most of Europe, developing into regional variations such as German Grosstarok, French Tarot, and Austrian Königrufen. These games remain popular and are organized into international tournaments, particularly in Austria, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia.

In France, French Tarot was initially popular only in Provence in the 18th century, but grew so strongly by the 1950s that it became France's second most popular card game. Italy continues to maintain distinctive regional tarot games, while Denmark is the only Nordic country that has retained this tradition.

The Shift: From Playground to Contemplation

A critical turning point occurred in the late 18th century. French occultists began making elaborate claims—though lacking authentic evidence—about tarot's history and spiritual significance. From this moment, tarot split into two distinct branches:

Playing decks: Traditional decks such as the Tarot de Marseille and Swiss 1JJ Tarot, originally designed for games, continue to be used for that purpose today.

Contemplative decks: Decks designed specifically with sophisticated imagery, where each card corresponds to an archetype or assigned meaning for readings, contemplation, or other spiritual purposes.

Tarot Deck Structure

Whether used for games or contemplation, tarot decks maintain a standard structure. They consist of four suits that vary by region: French suits are used in Western, Central, and Eastern Europe, while Latin suits are common in Southern Europe. Each suit contains 14 cards: ten numbered cards (from 1 or Ace through 10) and four court cards (King, Queen, Knight, and Page/Valet). Additionally, tarot has a separate "trump" suit of 21 cards and one independent card called The Fool.

Modern Revival

While tarot games declined in the 20th century, they have undergone a revival in some countries and regions. Simultaneously, demand for tarot for contemplative purposes has increased significantly, particularly in English-speaking countries and Spain, where traditional card games are less common.

Today, tarot represents a historical intersection between entertainment, regional tradition, and spiritual exploration — a deck that transcends the boundaries of time and culture.

Source: Wikipedia — Tarot