Ceki cards

◦ last updated: 2024-01-21

Ceki (Javanese ꦕꦼꦏꦶ, Balinese ᬘᭂᬓᬶ), Chi Kee/CherkiThe spelling Cherki seems to be more common in Malaysia and Singapore. It can also be written Tjeki in older Indonesian orthographies or چکي in Jawi script. The word apparently comes from Amoy (Hokkien) Chinese chít ki (一枝),^{A[p. 48]} “one card”, perhaps referring to the pick-one/play-one nature of the most common Ceki games. A similar origin is suggested by Amaro (1993), who gives jī ki ‘two cards’ (二枝). ⁨Gambling Games of Malaya⁩ gives the name as 織箕 ‘weave baskets’ (chitki) but I have not found this elsewhere; perhaps it is a phonetic back-formation. Other spellings I have seen include cuki,^{D[p. 72]} cekian^{E[p. 174]} or tyekén^{F[p. 160]} or sikiah,^{G[p. 679]} or chĕki.^{H[p. 53]}, or Koa cards are widely used in Indonesia and parts of Malaysia and Singapore. They were originally derived from Chinese 3-suited money cards (particularly the “Water Margin” type), and over time and distance the imagery on the cards developed into smaller, simpler, and more abstract forms, while retaining the original deck structure.

“Ceki” (see sidenote #1) probably originally referred only to a game played with the cards; the cards were referred to in Malay as daun ceki (‘ceki cards’).Daun, literally meaning ‘leaf’, is nearly equivalent in usage to the Hokkien 枝, meaning twig or cards, or other long thing objects. Thus the full expansion of daun ceki is somewhat tautological, meaning “one-card cards”. More modern names used in Indonesia are kartu ceki, kartu cilik (‘small cards’ — European cards are ‘big cards’), kartu cina (‘Chinese cards’), or kartu gonggong (‘Gonggong cards’).

The cards might also have been referred to in the past in Malay as kiyaKija or كيا^{I[p. 96]} in older orthographies. or kiya-kiya, meaning ‘fish’. This could refer to the fish symbology which is used on some decks of Chinese origin.

Games that used these type of cards were originally played throughout the Malaysian Archipelago. They are also played amongst members of “reterritorialized” Indonesian Chinese communities within mainland China.^{J[p. 555]}

Although these type of cards are not referred to in Thailand as “ceki” cards, I include them in the discussion below for comparison.

At some point they were also called “8–9 cards”, in Malay pakau-pakau (⁨باكو٢⁩,Perhaps also ڤيكق pékak?^K[456] literally ‘8–9s’, which adapts the names of Chinese numerals).^L[161] A similar name was also known in Thailand — ไพ่แปดเก้า phai paet kao,^M[9] literally “8–9 cards”Note that the name ไพ่งาแปดเก้า phai nga paet kao is also mentioned in the source; this is “8–9 bone cards” where “bone cards” could be a calque of the Chinese 骨牌 which means ‘dominos’ or sometimes ‘playing cards’. — so it might be a Hokkien/Teochew name that eventually disappeared.Is there any remote connection to Oicho-Kabu here?

Countries where Ceki cards are used.

Malaysia & Singapore

The use of Cherki cards in Malaysia & Singapore was introduced by Peranakan (Baba–Nyonya) communities. Much of the terminology and card naming derives from Hokkien, and the cards used are closer to their ancestral forms than those used in Indonesia.

An exhibition game using Cherki cards being played in Penang, Malaysia.
© Shutterstock.com/Fiqah Anugerah Dah Besa: 1293448237

In the past the game was played by all levels of society; records of the palace expenditure of the Sultan Abdul Hamid Halim of Kedah (1864–1943) from 1896–99 indicate that he enjoyed gambling with Ceki.^{N[p. 58]}

More recent accounts from Malaysia & Singapore indicate that the game was almost exclusively played by women, and in modern times it has nearly died out. ⁨The Babas⁩ reported that by the 1980s it was only possible to get cards in Melaka. However, there are ongoing efforts to preserve and repopularize the game.

Amongst Kristang (or Christão) communities in Malacca, the cards were known as chaqui or chiqui.^{B[p. 34]}

Indonesia

In Indonesia, Ceki games are still popular, especially in Sumatra, Java, and Bali, all of which have historically had a large Chinese influence. In Javanese the cards are also known as kertu cilik (‘small cards’).^{G[p. 365]}

During the colonial era, cards were manufactured in Europe by Dutch companies and exported to Indonesia. (See the manufacturers section below.) Ceki cards were also prohibited from being imported (from European manufacturers) into some areas, such as Sulawesi, “for reasons of public safety”.^{P[p. 1013]}

Javanese card players, by Jean Demmeni (1866–1939). There are three players playing a fishing game, perhaps Pèi (there are probably too many cards in the centre for it to be Thothit). 🅮

In Bali, the game is widely played and has “a large if not fanatical following”,^{Q[p. 170]} despite gambling being illegal. Cards are readily available at many convenience stores.

Men in traditional dress seated around a cloth mat upon which are placed ceki cards and bundles of money. — Balinese men playing a gambling game.
© 2016 Adam Cohn 🅭🅯🄏⊜

The game is particularly popular amongst the Minangkabau people of West Sumatra, as the Dutch card-making company Handelsvereniging Harmsen Verweij & Dunlop N.V. had a factoryThis building was later to become the Hotel Ambacang, which was destroyed in the 2009 Sumatran earthquakes. The company also had offices in Java & Sulawesi (previously known as Celebes). in the city of Padang.

In the Minang language, they game and cards are called Koa (sometimes spelt Kuwa or Kowah, كوا in old Malay orthography).^{R[p. 542]} The Minangkabau go so far as to say “kalau ga bisa main KOA berarti bukan orang Minang”: “if you can’t play Koa, it’s means you’re not a Minang”.^S In Buginese and Makassarese, both spoken in South Sulawesi, the game is also called kowa (ᨀᨚᨓ in Lontara script),^{T[p. 63]}^{U[p. 46]} after a term which is used in the game.

These terms might come from a Chinese language term for the number nine, which is how many cards the players need to complete their hand in the most common form of the game in these areas.

The game has also been carried to Suriname by Javanese emigrants. This image shows it being played at the time of the visit of Queen Juliana and Prince Bernhard in 1955.
The game being played here seems to be one that has “rooster” (jago) bets.
1955 Nationaal Archief 🅮

The Deck

The cards run 1–9 in three suits, and there are three ‘honour cards’, giving 30 different cards. Each deck, or kepala (literally ‘head’, Javanese ꦏꦥꦭ kapala), contains two copies of each card, giving 60 total. In Banyuwangi it is called a ꦫꦚ꧀ꦕꦏ꧀ rancak ‘piece of wood’ or ‘set of instruments’.^{V[p. 74]} In Thai a deck is called a สํารับ samrap (literally ‘condiment tray’). Many Ceki games require multiple kepala to play, often two sets (giving 120 cards).

The three suits have various names.^{W[p. 119]} ‘Coins’, ‘strings’, and ‘myriads’ are the terms I use for consistency across different types of money-suited cards.

Coins

hitam (‘black’), batik, piah (from Hokkien 餅 ‘round thing’), or tong (from Hokkien 筒 ‘barrel’);

in Thai, ผัก phak ‘vegetable’.

Strings

manek (‘bead’), sok (from Hokkien 索 ‘rope’), or tiau (from Hokkien 條 ‘long/thin object’);

in Java, lintrik (ꦭꦶꦤ꧀ꦠꦿꦶꦏ ‘rows’?);^X

in Thai, นก nok ‘birds’.^M[28]

Myriads (Numbers)

ban (from Hokkien bān 萬/万 ‘myriad’), or cina (‘Chinese’);

in Java, wong (ꦮꦺꦴꦁ ‘people’);^X

in Thai, คน khon ‘people’.

Cards from a modern Balinese Ceki deck.
		1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9
Coins	Original	Original	Original	Original	Original	Original	Original	Original	Original	Original
Strings	Original	Original	Original	Original	Original	Original	Original	Original	Original	Original
Myriads	Original	Original	Original	Original	Original	Original	Original	Original	Original	Original

Card Names

For each card in the table below I show (in left-to-right order):

a card from a 19th-century deck collected in ⁨The manners and customs of the Chinese of the straits settlements⁩,
a card from a different 19th-century deck from Young (1886, p. 300) (as reproduced in ⁨Javaanse Kaartspelen: bijdrage tot de beschrijving van land en volk⁩ [Javanese Card Games]),
a card from a deck produced by Harmsen Verweij & Dunlop (after 1933), a Dutch company,The cards as depicted in ⁨Een blik in het Javaansche volksleven⁩ [A glimpse into Javanese folk life] (pl. XVI) are identical to these.
a 1940s deck collected in ⁨Javaanse Kaartspelen: bijdrage tot de beschrijving van land en volk⁩ [Javanese Card Games],
and then a modern card from a deck purchased in Bali in 2019 (clearly derived from #3).

Modern Malaysian & Singaporean decks (of which I have no samplesYet! Can you help with this? Contact me!) are closer in style to the #1 deck.

Each card in the deck has its own name as listed in the table below. The translations in the table are mostly from the SEAlang dictionaries; any mistakes are my own.According to some sources, the word “cina” referring to a Chinese person is now considered a potentially derogatory term. For example, the Indonesian government no longer uses it in official communications, since the term was dropped from official usage by presidential decree in 2014.^AB In Malaysia/Singapore the names are based on the Hokkien names of the cards — a combination of suit and rank — but as we move in a south-easterly direction along the Malay Archipelago (the table below is listed roughly in this order), the names diverge further and further from this original source, and most cards have nicknames that are based upon their appearance rather than their numeric value.

The names in the Makassar column have been assigned based upon comparisons with the other names given; the source — being a dictionary — does not show which card maps to which name. I have not been able to figure out a satisfactory assignment for the following names: ᨁᨚᨌᨗ goncing^{T[p. 76]} ‘scissors’; ᨁᨑᨗᨁᨗ garigi^{T[p. 79]} [?]; ᨄᨄ pampang^{T[p. 98]} ‘across’; ᨄᨚᨄᨚᨀ popokang^{T[p. 99]} ‘sorceress’;Not just any sorceress, but one that sends out her head and entrails at night, leaving her body behind! In Minangkabau this is called a ‘Palasik Panangga’, or a ‘Penanggalan’ in Malay. For more information, see [AC]. ᨄᨙᨔᨚ peso^{T[p. 140]} ‘lame’; ᨅᨘᨀᨘ buku^{T[p. 148]} ‘bone’; ᨅᨚᨈᨘᨓᨒ bontuwala^{T[p. 173]} Bontoala, a place near Makassar, also the name of a type of large kris; ᨅᨓᨗ bawi^{T[p. 221]} ‘pig’; ᨆᨉᨘᨑ mandura^{T[p. 249]} [?]; ᨌᨄᨗ capi^{T[p. 385]} ‘deformed’, also ‘cow’; ᨍᨘᨀᨘᨕᨙᨍ juku-éja^{T[p. 402]} ‘red fish’; ᨍᨚᨅᨚ jobong^{T[p. 408]} [?]; ᨑᨚᨅᨙ rombéng^{T[p. 444]} ‘long hair’; ᨔᨄᨗ sapi^{T[p. 554]} ‘cow’; ᨔᨗᨄᨗ sipi^{T[p. 557]} ‘pinch’.

⚠️ The table is very wide and might scroll horizontally.

	Thailand	Malaysia/Singapore			Sumatra	Java							Bali							Lombok		Borneo	Sulawesi		Maluku	Timor
Cards	(1967)^M	General	Malacca (Kristang) (1972)^B	Malacca (Kristang) (2012)^AF	Padang (2013)^AG	[unstated] (1876)^AH	Pekalongan (1941)^V	Magelang (1941)^V	Yogyakarta (1941)^V	Surakarta (1941)^V	[Surabaya?] (1914)^X	Banyuwangi (1941)^V	[Badung?] (2012)^AD	Badung (1941)^V	Gianyar (1941)^V	Klungkung (1941)^V	Karangasem (1941)^V	Buleleng (1941)^V	Singaraja (1941)^V	Lombok (2016)^AE	Lombok (1941)^V	Banjarmasin (1941)^V	Makassar (1859)^T	Manado (1876)^AI	Ambon (1876)^AI	Timor (1876)^AI
Honour & Rank 1	เอี่ยว iao, from Hokkien/Teochew 幺 io/iao¹, ‘ace’	yu or yeo, from Hokkien/Teochew	cartas fortes ‘strong cards’, for the first three	yoh (Hokkien io)	hiu/iyu ‘shark’, looks like a fin																	hio	ᨈᨕᨘ tau human
Original Original Original Original Original Old Thousand	เอี่ยวพญา iao phaya king ace เอี่ยวแดงพญา iao daeng phaya red king ace เอี่ยวโต้ง iao tong large ace	yu lau chian, from Hokkien 老千 ‘old thousand’ or yu pinding	yo sekarat, yo mitadi candlenut, one half	obu egg	danau rezeki, hiu/babak [chapter?] shark	ꦫꦗ raja king	iyo ratu king ace	iyo ratu king ace	iyo ratu king ace	iyo ratu king ace	besar large	besar large	ᬭᬚ raja king	ᬭᬚ raja king	ᬭᬚ (oong) raja	ᬭᬚ (oong) raja	ᬓᭀᬩᬃ kobar burning	ᬓᭀᬩᬃ kobar (oong besar KBW)	ᬓᭀᬩᬃ kobar burning	ᬓᭀᬩᬃ kobar burning	ᬓᭀᬩᬃ kobar burning	abang/raja basar red/big king	ᨒᨚᨌᨗᨐ lociyang^{T[p. 508]} from Hokkien	laucan, lokjan from Hokkien	meirah lokjan red lokjan	meirah besar big red
Original Original Original Original Original White Flower	เอี่ยวชี iao chi nun ace	yu kuching cat ace	yo feme one woman	femi/fula woman/vagina	hiu kuciang cat shark	ꦏꦸꦕꦶꦁ kucing cat	kucing cat	kucing cat	kucing cat	(iyo) kucing cat ace curut rat	kucing cat	kucing cat	ᬘᬓ᭄ᬭ cakra chakra	ᬘᬓ᭄ᬭ cakra chakra	ᬘᬓ᭄ᬭ cakra chakra	ᬘᬓ᭄ᬭ cakra chakra	ᬘᭂᬧᬾ cepé	ᬘᬓ᭄ᬭ cakra chakra	ᬘᬓ᭄ᬭ cakra chakra	ᬘ᭄ᬧᬾ cpé ?	ᬋᬋᬧᬾ rerepé	kucing		kukis	parampuwan woman	kucing
Original Original Original Original Original Red Flower	เอี่ยวแดงนาง iao daeng nang red lady ace เอี่ยวนาง iao nang lady ace	yu nyonya (娘仔?) ace	yo fogu one fire	sekeras candlenut	hiu merah red shark or penci [a hat?]	ꦏꦼꦚ꧀ꦕꦶ kêñci [unknown]	kenci	kenci	kenci	kinci, pinci, iyo kenci	cinci [unknown]	pinci	ᬓᭂᬜ᭄ᬘᬶ kenci	ᬓᬸᬜ᭄ᬘᬶ kunci keys?	ᬓᭀᬜ᭄ᬘᬶ konci	ᬓᭀᬜ᭄ᬘᬶ konci	ᬓᭀᬜ᭄ᬘᬶ konci	ᬓᬶᬜ᭄ᬘᬶ kinci (kenci KBW)	ᬓᬾᬜ᭄ᬘᬶ kènci	ᬓᬶᬜ᭄ᬘᬶ kinci	ᬓᬾᬜ᭄ᬘᬶ kènci	pinci		kapala	meirah kapala	meirah prik
Original Original Original Original Original 1 Coins	เอี่ยวเกือก iao kueak shoe ace เอี่ยวรอง iao rong secondary ace	yu kasut slipper ace (looks like a Nyonya slipper)	sapatu shoe	sapatu shoe	hiu kasuik [unknown] shark	ꦏꦱꦸꦠ꧀ kasut slipper	kasut slipper	kasut slipper	kasut slipper	(iyo) kasut slipper	kesut [var: kasut?]	kisut wrinkled	ᬮᬶᬓᬲ᭄ likas reel	ᬮᬶᬓᬲ᭄ likas reel	ᬮᬶᬓᬲ᭄ likas reel	ᬮᬶᬓᬲ᭄ likas reel	ᬮᬶᬓᬲ᭄ likas reel	ᬮᬶᬓᬲ᭄ likas reel	ᬮᬶᬓᬲ᭄ likas reel	ᬮᬶᬓᬲ᭄ likas reel	ᬮᬶᬓᬲ᭄ likas reel	kasut/butuh [women]; bedor [men]	ᨈᨗᨀᨑ tikara^{T[p. 276]}	tikar plaited mat	tikar plaited mat	kaso [Saccharum spontaneum? mats are woven from this]
Original Original Original Original Original 1 Strings	เอี่ยวยาว iao yao long ace เอี่ยวเข็ม iao khem needle ace	yu panjang or yu burung long or bird ace. In Indonesian, bird is also slang for penis.^{AJ[p. 62]}	pau club	pau club	hiu panjang long shark	ꦧꦼꦢꦺꦴꦂ bêdor	(iyo) bedor	(iyo) bedor	(iyo) bedor	(iyo) bedor	sotur [probably round-tipped lance]	bedhul pulled out, uprooted sodor round-tipped lance	ᬮᭀᬓᭀᬃ lojor long	ᬮᭀᬓᭀᬃ lojor long	ᬮᭀᬓᭀᬃ lojor long	ᬮᭀᬓᭀᬃ lojor long	ᬮᭀᬓᭀᬃ lojor long	ᬲ᭄ᬮᭀᬤᭀᬃ slodor [probably round-tipped lance]	ᬲᭂᬮᭀᬤᭀᬃ selodor [probably round-tipped lance]	ᬲᭂᬮᭀᬤᭀᬃ selodor [probably round-tipped lance]	ᬮᭀᬚᭀᬃ (lojor?)	panjang long	ᨒᨅᨘᨔᨘ lambusu^{T[p. 496]} straight	panjang long	panjang long	panjang long
Original Original Original Original Original 1 Myriads	เอี่ยวหนู iao nu mouse ace (the symbol looks like a mouse’s tail)	yu hue sio from Hokkien ‘monk’ 和尚	China/ladrán China/thief	China China	hiu bungo flower shark	ꦥꦼꦠꦶꦏ꧀ pêtik	beset peeled [bald?]	gundhul bald pletik spark	(iyo) gundhul bald petik [spark?]	(iyo) gundhul bald petik [spark?]	p’té [unknown]	putri woman or princess	ᬘᬶᬦ cina China	ᬘᬶᬦ cina	ᬘᬶᬦ cina	ᬘᬶᬦ cina	ᬘᬶᬦ cina	ᬘᬶᬦ cina	ᬘᬶᬦ cina	ᬘᬶᬦ cina	ᬘᬶᬦ cina	nyonyah	ᨌᨗᨊ cina^{T[p. 391]} China	cina	cina	cina
Rank 2	สอง song two	ji (Hokkien jī)	—	gee (Hokkien jī)	bengkok ‘crooked’
Original Original Original Original Original 2 Coins	สองตา song ta eyes two สองตาโต song ta to shocked two	ji hitam or ji bulat black or round two	bola ball	bola ball	bengkok itam/wajik black/diamond crooked	ꦥ꧀ꦭꦺꦴꦩ꧀ꦥꦺꦴꦁ plompong gaping mouth	pelong wide open	plompong gaping mouth	loro plompong gaping two plontho prostitute	loro plompong gaping two plontho prostitute	dhimpil tolu chipped [fifth week of Javanese calendar?]	komplong to gape	ᬩᬸᬕ᭄ᬤᬸᬯ bug dua [two dried betel nuts?]	ᬚᭂᬩᬸᬕ᭄ᬤᬸᬯ jebug dua	ᬚᭂᬩᬸᬕ᭄ᬤᬸᬯ jebug dua ᬧᭀᬗ᭄ᬕᬂ ponggang hole	ᬚᬩᭀᬕ᭄ᬤᬸᬯ jabog dua	ᬧᭀᬗ᭄ᬕᬂ ponggang hole	ᬕᭀᬩᭀᬕ᭄ᬤᬸᬯ gobog dua (omplong KBW)	ᬕᭀᬩᭀᬕ᭄ᬤᬸᬯ gobog dua	ᬚᭂᬩᬸᬕ᭄ᬤᬸᬯ jebug dua	ᬕᭀᬩᭀᬕ᭄ᬤᬸᬯ gobog dua	tambur dua two drums palumpung [?]	ᨄᨗᨌᨗᨉᨘᨓ picing duwa^{T[p. 113]} two coins	duwa mata	duwa mata	batik
Original Original Original Original Original 2 Strings	สององคต song (ongkot?) two Angada (a legendary monkey with an immovable leg)	ji burung bird two	beechu worm	bicu, geli-geli caterpillar, worm	bengkok gadang big crooked	ꦢꦺꦁꦏꦺꦏ꧀ déngkék	dengkek	dengkek	(loro) dengkek	(loro) dengkek	cekok neck-hollow	dengkek	ᬤᭂᬗ᭄ᬓᭂᬓ᭄ dengkek having a bent back	ᬲᭂᬗ᭄ᬓᭂᬓ᭄ sengkek	ᬲᭂᬗ᭄ᬓᭂᬓ᭄ sengkek	ᬤᭂᬗ᭄ᬓᭂᬓ᭄ dengkek	ᬤᭂᬗ᭄ᬓᭂᬓ᭄ dengkek	ᬤᭂᬗ᭄ᬓᭂᬓ᭄ dengkek (dengkel, dengkol)	ᬤᭂᬗ᭄ᬓᭂᬓ᭄ dengkek	ᬤᭂᬗ᭄ᬓᭂᬓ᭄ dengkek	ᬤᭂᬗ᭄ᬓᭂᬓ᭄ dengkek	téngkong		bèngkok	bongkok	bongko
Original Original Original Original Original 2 Myriads	สองคน song khon two people	ji ban	noiba bride	noiba bride	bengkok aluih genteel crooked	ꦝꦶꦩ꧀ꦥꦶꦭ꧀ꦕꦶꦤ dhimpil cina chipped Chinese	munthil small tight knot, Javanese hairstyle	dhimpil chipped	loro cina China two loro dhimpil chipped two	loro cina China two loro dhimpil chipped two	dhimpil wong chipped person	wong bendhol person with a bump	ᬧᭂᬮᬶᬓ᭄ pelik [?]	ᬧ᭄ᬮᬶᬓ᭄ plik	ᬧ᭄ᬮᬶᬓ᭄ plik	ᬘᭂᬮᬶᬓ᭄ celik	ᬧ᭄ᬮᬶᬓ᭄ plik	ᬓᭀᬮᭀ kolo (gobog, ketonglang KBW)	ᬓᭀᬮᭀ kolo	ᬓᭀᬮᭀ kolo	ᬓᭀᬮᭀ kolo	miring angled	ᨀᨚᨉᨙ kondé^{T[p. 27]} Chinese bun hairstyle	miring angled	miring angled	miring angled
Rank 3	สาม sam three	sa (Hokkien saⁿ)	—	sar (Hokkien saⁿ)	jarum ‘needle’
Original Original Original Original Original 3 Coins	สามตา sam ta three eyes สามตาโต sam ta to three big eyes	sa batik batik three	crossan heart, or brooch of Cabaia-wood	batik batik	jarum wajik/itam diamond/black needle	ꦮꦗꦶꦏ꧀ wajik diamond	wajik diamond	plenthi pithi	(telu) plenthi tambur cilik small drum telu pithi	(telu) plenthi tambur cilik small drum telu pithi	cerut [constricted?] jarum needle	gebles/gobog cilik/curut	ᬩᬸᬕ᭄ᬢᭂᬮᬸ bug telu [three dried betel nuts?]	ᬩᬸᬕ᭄ᬢᭂᬮᬸ bug telu	ᬚ᭄ᬩᬸᬕ᭄ᬢᭂᬮᬸ jbug telu	ᬚᭂᬩᭀᬕ᭄ᬢᭂᬮᬸ jabog telu	ᬩᬸᬕ᭄ᬢᭂᬮᬸ bug telu	ᬕᭀᬩᭀᬕ᭄ᬢᭂᬮᬸ gobog telu	ᬕᭀᬩᭀᬕ᭄ᬢᭂᬮᬸ gobog telu	ᬚᭂᬩᬸᬕ᭄ᬢᭂᬮᬸ jebug telu	(ᬕᭀᬩᭀᬕ᭄ᬢᭂᬮᬸ) (gobog telu?)	tambur tiga three drums		tiga mata	tiga mata	kukis
Original Original Original Original Original 3 Strings	สามนก sam nok three birds สามนกเตี้ย sam nok tia three short birds	sa udang shrimp three	kambrang shrimp	kambrang, kotek, cucuk shrimp, penis, thorn	jarum gadang big needle	ꦒꦹꦤꦸꦁ gunung mountain	gunung mountain	gunung mountain	(telu) gunung mountain (three)	(telu) gunung mountain (three)	gunung mountain	gunung mountain	ᬕᬸᬦᬸᬂ gunung mountain	ᬕᬸᬦᬸᬂ gunung mountain	ᬕᬸᬦᬸᬂ gunung mountain	ᬕᬸᬦᬸᬂ gunung mountain	ᬕᬸᬦᬸᬂ gunung mountain	ᬕᬸᬦᬸᬂ gunung mountain	ᬕᬸᬦᬸᬂ gunung mountain	ᬕᬸᬦᬸᬂ gunung mountain	ᬕᬸᬦᬸᬂ gunung mountain	(jarum) gunung (needle) mountain		udang shrimp	udang shrimp	udang shrimp
Original Original Original Original Original 3 Myriads	สามคน sam khon three people	sa ban	chuchō prick (Malay cucok) agula needle	agula needle	jarum aluih genteel needle	ꦗꦫꦸꦩ꧀ jarum needle	telu cina, cingik	telu cina, jarum	singit, jarum	telu cina, jarum, gudhul	jarum wong needle person	wong cungit, wong curut	ᬘᬮᬶᬂ caling	ᬘᬮᬶᬂ caling	ᬘᬸᬲ᭄ cus	ᬘᬸᬲ᭄ cus	ᬘᬸᬲ᭄ cues	ᬚᬭᬸᬫ᭄ jarum needle	ᬚᬭᬸᬫ᭄ jarum needle	ᬚᬭᬸᬫ᭄ jarum needle	ᬚᬭᬸᬫ᭄ jarum needle	jarum (alus) needle	ᨍᨑᨘ jarung^{T[p. 416]} nail	jarum needle	jarum needle	jarum needle
Rank 4	สี่ si four	si (Hokkien sì)	—	see (Hokkien sì)	suduang ‘spoon’(?)
Original Original Original Original Original 4 Coins	สี่มะเขือ si makhuea four eggplants	si hitam black four	manuco/rã frog	kodok frog	suduang itam/wajik black/diamond spoon	ꦠꦩ꧀ꦧꦸꦂ tambur drum	tambur drum	tambur drum	tambur gedhé big drum	papat tambur four drum tambur gedhé big drum	gobok coin	gebles/gobod gedhé	ᬩᭂᬮᬄ belah split	ᬩᬸᬕ᭄ᬕᭂᬤᬾ bug gedé big betel nut?	ᬩᭂᬮᬄ (jebug) belah split [betel nut?]	ᬚᬩᭀᬕ᭄ᬧᬶᬬᬕ᭄ jabog piag	ᬩᭂᬲᬃ besar	ᬩᭂᬮᬄ belah (gobog besar)	ᬩᭂᬮᬄ belah	ᬩᭂᬲᬃ besar	ᬕᭀᬩᭀᬕ᭄ᬩᭂᬲᬃ gobog besar	tambur (satu)		as	tambur	ekor
Original Original Original Original Original 4 Strings	สี่นม si nom four breasts สี่นมยาน si nom yan four hanging breasts	si putih white four	basio plate	basiu plate	pinggang waist	ꦕꦮꦁ cawang forked	gapet	cawang forked pat pedhot interrupted four	(pat) cawang forked (four)	(pat) cawang forked (four)	cawang forked	cawang forked	ᬲᬗ᭄ᬓᬧ᭄ sangkap [unknown]	ᬲᬗ᭄ᬓᬧ᭄ sangkap	ᬲᬗ᭄ᬓᬧ᭄ sangkap (bebed)	ᬲᬗ᭄ᬓᬧ᭄ sangkap	ᬲᬗ᭄ᬓᬧ᭄ sangkap	ᬘᬯᬂ cawang	ᬘᬯᬂ cawang	ᬘᬯᬂ cawang	ᬘᬯᬂ cawang	pinggang waist		putus cut	putus pinggang	pinggang waist
Original Original Original Original Original 4 Myriads	สี่คน si khon four people	si ban	ryiami/curto short	nyami yam	suduang putiah white spoon	ꦕꦶꦤ cina China/Chinese	bodong protruding (navel)	pat cina Chinese four	bodong protruding (navel)	papat cina Chinese four kondhé, nyonyah	sundhul to reach or touch up high	wong sundhul person reach or touch up high	ᬫᭂᬦ᭄ᬤᬸᬢ᭄ mendut steamed rice flour balls	ᬕᭂᬦ᭄ᬤᭀᬢ᭄ gendot	ᬓ᭄ᬩᭀᬂ kbong	ᬓᭀᬩᭀᬂ kobong	ᬓᭀᬩᭀᬂ kobong	ᬓᭀᬩᭀᬂ kobong (kebong)	ᬓᭀᬩᭀᬂ kobong	ᬘᭂᬍᬓ᭄ celek	ᬘᭂᬍᬓ᭄ celek	pajung		kondei	kondei	kondei
Rank 5	ห้า ha five	go (Hokkien gō͘)	—	goh (Hokkien gō͘)	babi ‘pig’ (looks like nostrils)
Original Original Original Original Original 5 Coins	ห้าแตงโม ha taengmo five watermelons	go pending pending five	panding sarong-fastener	pending sarong-fastener	babi pusek navel pig	ꦧꦧꦶꦏꦟ꧀ꦛꦺꦴꦁ (modern ꦏꦤ꧀ꦛꦺꦴꦁ) babi kaṇthong (kanthong) pig bag	kanthong bag	kanthong bag	(lima) kanthong bag (five) lumpang mortar	(lima) kanthong bag (five) lumpang mortar	cupa [unknown]	pau wudel navel bodong protruding (navel)	ᬧ᭄ᬭᬳᬸ prau boat	ᬧᬳᬸ pau	ᬧᬳᬸ pau	(ᬧᬳᬸ) pau[?]	(ᬧᬳᬸ) pau[?]	ᬧᬳᬸ pau	ᬧᬳᬸ pau	perahu	ᬧᬳᬸ pau	klonéng	ᨄᨚᨌᨗ poci^{T[p. 114]} navel	prahu	pusat navel	pusat navel
Original Original Original Original Original 5 Strings	ห้านก ha nok five birds	go burung bird five	baker cow	baka cow	babi gadang big pig	ꦧꦧꦶꦭꦶꦤ꧀ꦠꦿꦶꦏ꧀ babi lintrik	lima kleja	lima lintrik, kecuk	tholo	lima linktrik, pecuk	babi lintrik pig [unknown]	cucuk babi thorn ping	ᬫᬢᭂᬕᭂᬤᬾ mate gedé big eye	ᬲᬸᬫ᭄ᬧᬸᬮ᭄ sumpul	ᬧᬮᬸ palu	?	ᬕᭀᬕᭀᬲ᭄ gogos	ᬕᭀᬕᭀᬲ᭄ gogos	ᬕᭀᬕᭀᬲ᭄ gogos	gogoas	ᬕᭀᬕᭀᬲ᭄ gogos	pantat	ᨁᨚᨁᨚᨔᨚ gogoso^{T[p. 69]} a dish of sticky rice cooked in bamboo leaves	têroes	têroes	kio putih
Original Original Original Original Original 5 Myriads	ห้าคน ha khon five people	go ban	governu/goberno governor europeano european	ropianu european	babi aluih genteel pig	ꦧꦧꦶꦕꦶꦤ babi cina pig China	gombal rag	lima cina China five	babi pig	lima cina, babi China five, pig	babi wong pig person	wong babi person pig	ᬩᭀᬗ᭄ᬓᬃ bongkar [unload: forklift?]	ᬩᭀᬗ᭄ᬓᬃ bongkar	ᬩᭀᬗ᭄ᬓᬃ bongkar	ᬧᬂᬧᬂ pangpang	ᬘᬗ᭄ᬕᬄ canggah	ᬧᭀᬮᬓ᭄ polak	ᬧᭀᬮᬓ᭄ polak	ᬧᭀᬮᬓ᭄ polak	ᬧᭀᬮᬓ᭄ polak	babi		babi (pai tuwa)	babi (pai tuwa)	babi (pai tuwa)
Rank 6	หก hok six	lak (Hokkien la̍k)	—	lak (Hokkien la̍k)	kapik ‘grill’
Original Original Original Original Original 6 Coins	หกตา hok ta six eyes	lak hitam black six	gordo fat	godra fat	kapik anam grilled six	ꦏꦼꦫꦺꦴꦏ꧀ꦒ꦳ꦥꦶꦠ꧀ kêrok ghapit curry-comb tongs	kerok curry-comb	kerok curry-comb	(nem) kerok	(nem) kerok	mendhung dark rain cloud	kerok curry-comb	ᬦ᭄ᬬᭂᬫ᭄ nyem [pun on six?]	ᬧᬶᬲ᭄ᬦᭂᬫ᭄ pis nem six coins	ᬧᬶᬲ᭄ᬦᭂᬫ᭄ pis nem six coins	ᬧᬶᬲ᭄ᬦᭂᬫ᭄ pis nem six coins	ᬧᬶᬲ᭄ᬦᭂᬫ᭄ pis nem six coins	ᬢᬶᬫᬦᭂᬫ᭄ tima nem (pipis nem) six coins	ᬢᬶᬫᬦᭂᬫ᭄ tima nem (pipis nem) six coins	ᬧᬶᬲ᭄ᬦᭂᬫ᭄ pis nem six coins	ᬢᬶᬫᬦᭂᬫ᭄ tima nem (pipis nem) six coins	kerok	ᨕᨊ anang^{T[p. 653]} six	anam mata	anam kaladi	tarasi
Original Original Original Original Original 6 Strings	หกละเอียด hok laiat delicate six หกเซาะ hok so chiselled six	lak putih white six	gala bamboo	gala bamboo	kapik manih grilled sweet	ꦏ꧀ꦭꦺꦗꦒ꦳ꦥꦶꦠ꧀ kléja ghapit	kléja	kléja	(nem) kléja, bagus	(nem) kléja, bagus	candra [moon/month?]	tanem [high register: to plant?]	mer [unknown]	mer	ᬓᬼᬦ᭄ᬢᬾᬂ klenténg Chinese temple (onomatopœic: bells)^{AJ[p. 160]}	ᬧᭂᬗ᭄ᬓ pengka	mer	mer	mer	mer	mer	bambu bamboo		bêlah buluh wide stripes tarabei	bambu bamboo	bambu bamboo
Original Original Original Original Original 6 Myriads	หกคน hok khon six people	lak ban	osu bone	osu bone	kapik aluih grilled genteel	ꦕꦶꦤꦒ꦳ꦥꦶꦠ꧀ cina ghapit Chinese tongs	nem cina China six	nem cina China six	siyong bombyok	nem cina China six	gabit [probably tongs]	wong gapit tongs person	ᬓᬼᬦ᭄ᬢᬾᬂ klenténg Chinese temple	ᬍᬢᬾᬂ leteng	ᬩᬸᬭᬢ᭄ burat makeup	ᬩᬸᬭᬢ᭄ burat makeup	ᬩᬸᬳᬢ᭄ buat [makeup?]	ᬫᭂᬕᬢ᭄ megat (gapit)	ᬫᭂᬕᬢ᭄ megat	ᬫᭂᬕᬢ᭄ megat	ᬫᭂᬕᬢ᭄ megat	rumah building [temple?]	ᨅᨒ bala^{T[p. 200]} house [see bottom of card]	lakban	lakban	lakban
Rank 7	เจ็ด chet seven	jit (Hokkien chhit)	—	chit (Hokkien chhit)	sisiak ‘scales’
Original Original Original Original Original 7 Coins	เจ็ดพัด chet phat seven fans	jit hitam or jit daun black or leaf seven	lóia flag	layar sail	sisiak bendera flag scales	ꦫꦺꦪꦧ꧀ꦭꦪꦂ réyab layar sweep hair, sail	geper	sember, pitu kera	sember	(pitu) kera, keder	layar sail	layar sail	ᬧᬓᬸ paku [fern or nail?]	ᬧᬶᬲ᭄ᬢᬸ pis tu	ᬧᬶᬲ᭄ᬢᬸ pis tu	ᬧᬶᬲ᭄ᬧᬶᬢᬸ pipis pitu seven coins	ᬩᭂᬦ᭄ᬤᬾᬭ bendéra flag	ᬩᭂᬦ᭄ᬤᬾᬭ bendéra (layar) flag (sail)	ᬩᭂᬦ᭄ᬤᬾᬭ bendéra (layar) flag (sail)	ᬩᭂᬦ᭄ᬤᬾᬭ bendera flag	ᬩᭂᬦ᭄ᬤᬾᬭ bendéra (bendéra layar) flag	layar	ᨅᨉᨙᨑ bandéra^{T[p. 175]} flag	bandéra	bulu ayam	bandéra
Original Original Original Original Original 7 Strings	เจ็ดนก chet nok seven birds	jit burung bird seven	galinha chicken	galinha chicken	sisiak gadang big scales	ꦫꦺꦪꦧ꧀ꦭꦶꦤ꧀ꦠꦿꦶꦏ꧀ réyab lintrik	lintrik	pitu kecuk	pitu lintrik, pecuk pitu	pitu lintrik, pecuk pitu	réyab lintrik [unknown]	cucuk kereg	ᬭᬶᬂᬬᬶᬂ ringying [unknown]	merenying	ᬭᬶᬜᬶᬂ rinying	ᬭᬶᬜᬶᬂ rinying	ᬘᬸᬭᬶᬂ curing an instrument or bird-like decoration	ᬘᬸᬭᬶᬂ curing an instrument or bird-like decoration	ᬘᬸᬭᬶᬂ curing an instrument or bird-like decoration	ᬘᬸᬭᬶᬂ curing an instrument or bird-like decoration	ᬘᬸᬭᬶᬂ curing an instrument or bird-like decoration	bulu		galéma	gohu	josef
Original Original Original Original Original 7 Myriads	เจ็ดคน chet khon seven people	jit ban	malayu malay	malayu malay	sisiak aluih genteel scales	ꦫꦺꦪꦧ꧀ꦕꦶꦤ réyab cina	pitu cina China seven	pitu cina China seven	pitu cina China seven	pitu cina China seven	reab wong [unknown]	wong kereg	ᬭᬶᬗ᭄ᬕᬶᬢ᭄ ringgit serrated	ᬭᬶᬗ᭄ᬕᬶᬢ᭄ ringgit serrated	ᬭᬶᬗ᭄ᬕᬶᬢ᭄ ringgit serrated	ᬭᬶᬗ᭄ᬕᬶᬢ᭄ ringgit serrated	ᬭᬶᬗ᭄ᬕᬶᬢ᭄ ringgit serrated	ᬭᬶᬗ᭄ᬕᬶᬢ᭄ ringgit (bagus) (fine) serrated	ᬭᬶᬗ᭄ᬕᬶᬢ᭄ ringgit serrated	ᬭᬶᬗ᭄ᬕᬶᬢ᭄ ringgit	ᬭᬶᬗ᭄ᬕᬶᬢ᭄ ringgit	sisir comb		ringgit	sisir comb	sisir comb
Rank 8	แปด paet eight	puek (Hokkien poeh)	—	sepet ‘half-closed (eyes)’	pacah ‘broken’
Original Original Original Original Original 8 Coins	แปดตา paet ta eight eyes	puek kerang cockle eight	brau ship	prau ship	pacah lapan broken eight	ꦊꦏꦺꦴꦏ꧀ꦥꦶꦕꦶꦱ꧀ lêkok picis	wolu kerok	picis, wolu kerok	(wolu) picis, (wolu) wang	(wolu) picis, (wolu) wang	lekok pecis dented [peci or coin?]	picis, buthak, buthak tai	ᬲᭂᬓᬸᬢᬸᬲ᭄ sekutus [adj:eight?]	ᬧᬶᬲ᭄ᬢᬸᬲ᭄ pis tus eight coins	ᬧᬶᬲ᭄ᬢᬸᬲ᭄ pis tus eight coins	ᬧᬶᬲ᭄ᬓᬸᬢᬸᬲ᭄ pipis kutus eight coins	ᬧᬶᬲ᭄ᬢᬸᬲ᭄ pis tus eight coins	ᬢᬶᬫᬓᬸᬢᬸᬲ᭄ tima kutus	ᬢᬶᬫᬓᬸᬢᬸᬲ᭄ tima kutus	ᬧᬶᬲ᭄ᬳᬸᬮᬸ pis ulu eight coins	(tima kutus?)	dalapan eight	ᨔᨁᨈᨘᨍᨘ sagantuju^{T[p. 551]} eight	delapan mata	delapan kaladi	delapan
Original Original Original Original Original 8 Strings	แปดละเอียด paet laiat delicate eight แปดเซาะ paet so chiselled eight	puek menak noble eight	baji/dosi sweet	manis/dosi sweet	pacah manih broken sweet	ꦊꦏꦺꦴꦏ꧀ꦭꦶꦤ꧀ꦠꦿꦶꦏ꧀ lêkok lintrik	wolu manis	wolu lintrik, manis	manis	wolu lintrik/pecuk/manis	lekok lintrik dented [unknown]	cucuk buthak/manis	ᬳᬸᬮᬸ ulu eight/upstream	ᬫᬤᬾ madé a ‘four-fold cord’^AK	ᬳᬸᬮᬸ ulu	ᬳᬸᬮᬸ ulu	ᬫᬦᬶᬲ᭄ manis sweet	ᬫᬦᬶᬲ᭄ manis	ᬫᬦᬶᬲ᭄ manis	ᬫᬦᬶᬲ᭄ manis	ᬫᬦᬶᬲ᭄ manis	manis		manis	manis	cinta
Original Original Original Original Original 8 Myriads	แปดคน paet khon eight people	puek ban	belu old	belu old	pacah aluih broken genteel	ꦊꦏꦺꦴꦏ꧀ꦕꦶꦤ lêkok cina	budheg [deaf/stupid?]	wolu cina China eight	budheg [deaf/stupid?]	wolu cina China eight	lekok wong dented person	wong buthak	ᬫᬦᬓ᭄ manak to have a child	ᬫᬦᬓ᭄ manak to have a child	ᬫᬦᬓ᭄ manak to have a child	ᬘᭂᬍᬓ᭄ celek	ᬍᬧᭀᬓ᭄ lepok	ᬓᬼᬧᭀᬓ᭄ klepok	ᬓᬼᬧᭀᬓ᭄ kelepok	ᬓᬼᬧᭀᬓ᭄ kelepok	ᬓᬼᬧᭀᬓ᭄ kelepok	pecah broken?		dukun a shaman	picah kapala	picah
Rank 9	เก้า kao nine	kau (Hokkien káu)	—	kau (Hokkien káu)	tali ‘rope’
Original Original Original Original Original 9 Coins	เก้าจัน kao chan nine Diospyros decandra, similar to a persimmon	kau hitam black nine	Mōru Moor/Indian	Mōru Moor/Indian	tali bulek round rope	ꦒꦁꦥꦶꦕꦶꦱ꧀ gang picis gap money	glindhing wheels	glindhing wheels	(sanga) glindhing, plolo picis gedhé large coins	(sanga) glindhing, plolo picis gedhé large coins	pecis [peci or coin?]	picis money glindhing wheels	ᬲᬗ sanga nine	ᬲᬗ sanga nine	ᬲᬗ sanga nine	ᬧᬶᬲ᭄ᬲᬗ pis sanga nine coins	ᬲᬗ sanga nine	ᬢ᭄ᬭᭀᬫ᭄ᬧᭀᬂ trompong Balinese gamelan	ᬢᭂᬭᭀᬫ᭄ᬧᭀᬂ terompong [probably Balinese gamelan]	ᬕᬵᬤ gada a mace	ᬕᬵᬤ gada	bulat galéndéng	ᨑᨘᨄᨗᨐ rupiya^{T[p. 440]} rupees	roda	rupiah rupees	rupiah rupees
Original Original Original Original Original 9 Strings	เก้าแดง kao daeng red nine	kau merah red nine	botol/bottle/whisky bottle	botel bottle	tali merah red rope	ꦒꦁꦭꦶꦤ꧀ꦠꦿꦶꦏ꧀ gang lintrik	sanga bang red nine	sanga bang red nine	obor torch	sanga ban/lintrik rows or red nine obor torch	gang abang red gap	cucuk abang/besar red/large prick	ᬩᭂᬲᬃ besar large	ᬩᭂᬲᬃ gesar	ᬩᭂᬲᬃ besar	ᬮᬶᬦ᭄ᬢ᭄ᬭᬶᬓ᭄ᬩᭂᬲᬃ lintrik besar	ᬢᬾᬚ téja shining/red	ᬢᬾᬚ téja shining/red	ᬢᬾᬚ téja shining/red	ᬢᬾᬚ téja shining/red	ᬢᬾᬚ téja shining/red	léntri, lantri	ᨀᨓᨚᨅ kawo-bang^{T[p. 63]} red nine?	kacang [bean/clitoris?]	meirah kacang	kio meirah
Original Original Original Original Original 9 Myriads	เก้าคน kao khon nine people	kau ban	Mary, Mérri, Maria, Kau Mary Mary	Mary Mary	tali aluih genteel rope	ꦒꦁꦕꦶꦤ gang cina	keyang	keyang	keyang	sanga cina, kayang, kéyang	gang gap	wong cucuk thorn man	ᬓᬳᭀ kao from Hokkien ‘nine’ (káu)?	ᬓᬳᬸ kau	ᬓᬳᬸ kau	ᬓᬳᬸ kau	ᬚᭂᬭᬶᬂ jering [upright?]	ᬚᭂᬭᬶᬂ jering	ᬚᭂᬭᬶᬂ jering	ᬚᭂᬭᬶᬂ jering	ᬚᭂᬭᬶᬂ jering	turus		gargaji (baduri)	gargaji (baduri)	suwanggi

Games

There are many games played with Ceki cards.^{AM[p. 124]} For most of them, I do not know of any other sets of rules recorded online.

Fishing games (where players capture cards from a central pool):

Cholek Tiga (‘draw three’), a Malaysian game for two or three players^{AN[p. 214]}^{W[p. 125]}
Pèi, a Javanese game for three players where the goal is to collect specific scoring combinations^{V[p. 58–70]}
Thothit, a Javanese game for three players where the goal is to capture identical pairs^{V[p. 71–2]}
Enthit, a similar Javanese game for three players where the goal is to capture identical quadruplets^{V[p. 74]}
Thothit Kuna, an older and slower version of the game^{V[p. 74]}
Thothit Yogyakarta, a luck-based Javanese game for three players^{V[p. 73]}
Thit-Thit-Dulit, a luck-based Javanese game for two players^{V[p. 73]}

Simple gambling games:

Sampen is a gambling game from Java that requires no skill
Thothit Banyuwangi is a similar game^{V[p. 76]}

Trick-taking games:

Kartu Lima is a Javan game with unusual card rankings

Draw & discard games (like Mahjong):

Balik Satu (‘turn one’), a Malaysian game with no fixed number of players^{AN[p. 214]}^{W[p. 122]}
Balik Lima Belas^{W[p. 127]}/Balek Lima Belair^{AN[p. 124]}/Bukak Lima Blas Leh^{O[p. 167]} (‘turn fifteen’), an alternate method of scoring Balik Satu
Chot/Chote/Choke/Kiong, a four-player game^{AN[p. 214]}^{W[p. 127]}^{O[p. 167]}
Gonggong, a Javan game for four or six players^{V[p. 94–7]}
Tantanan, a fast-playing Javan game for four players^{V[p. 98]}
Pong a Malaysian version of a Thai game, played by four people, also played with Mahjong tiles

Other games from Malaysia/Singapore, for which I have no rules, are:

Pak Tui, which is described as a solitaire game in ⁨A Baba Malay Dictionary⁩ (p. 215). This is probably also the PatuiPatoei or ڤتوي^{I[p. 58]} in older orthographies. which is mentioned by Mayer^{AA[p. 499]} and Matthes. The name might be from the Chinese 八對 ‘eight pairs’ (Hokkien pat tùi),This possibility raised in Himly (1889, p. 572). in which case the game could be something similar to Tantanan.
Choke/Chote (Ramay), a game for more than four players^{AN[p. 214]}
Tongkeng, a game for two people^{AN[p. 215]}
Cho It and Chochot^{AP[p. 88]} — could Chochot be the same as Chot or Thothit?

In some descriptions, Ceki is itself a game (a variant of Balik Satu) and the cards called by other names such as ijo. ⁨Een blik in het Javaansche volksleven⁩ [A glimpse into Javanese folk life] (p. 499) gives the games koa, koa-baq, koa-gonggong (Gonggong), pehi (Pèi?), patui, panghao, and cĕki, but without explanations.

Manufacturers & Brands

A bird perched on a branch. — The logo for Handelsvereeniging Harmsen Verweij & Dunlop N.V..
© George Pollard 🅭🅯🄏🄎

(Extinct) European manufacturers included:

Camoin, a French company that was based in Marseille
Handelsvereeniging Harmsen Verweij & Dunlop N.V., a Dutch company that had offices in Java, Sumatra, and Celebes (Sulawesi)^AQ
Mesmaekers Frères, a Belgian company based in Turnhout whose cards were imported to Java by Brandon Mesritz & Co.^AR Their brands included:
- Dua Macan (‘two tigers’), trademark registered 15th October 1887.^{AS[p. 32]} This brand was also used for other types of cards, like domino cards.

A black and white advertisement with an image of two tigers fighting. — Newspaper advertisement in Sin Po, 20th March 1922, for Mesmaekers Frères’ Dua Macan (‘two tigers’) brand ceki cards (kartoe tjeki), being sold by Handel Mij. (also publishers of the newspaper). 🅮

Cartamundi, a Belgian company based in Turnhout, and now the largest manufacturer of playing cards in the world. Their brands included:
- Three Goats Brand (also labelled 行通南?), trademark registered 26 July 1972.^{AS[p. 47]} Decks containing Ceki cards seem to have been in a red packet and labelled ‘A’; green and ‘B’ were four-colour cards.

Old Indonesian brands included:

Bajing (‘squirrel’)^{V[p. 12]}
Pajung^{V[p. 12]}
999^{V[p. 12]}
Leo (‘lion’)^{V[p. 12]}
Warak (‘rhino’)^{V[p. 12]}
Kodok (‘frog’)^{V[p. 12]}
Kunci (‘lock/key’)^{V[p. 12]}

Modern Indonesian brands include:

$ Dollar
Ceki Jitu/Cap Udang, ‘shrimp brand’; trademark registered 8th September, 2009
Ceki Hiu, ‘shark ceki’ (Old Thousand has a colour image of a shark)
Ceki Kalong Mas (bat symbol, Old Thousand inscribed 𫑟林?)
Ceki Leak, a mythological creature; trademark registered 27th August, 2013
Ceki Sinar Rejeki, ‘lucky ray’?
Flipper Brand
Gold Fish
Gunting Baja, from Bali
Gunting Rumput
Gar’da Kencana
Jangkar Kapal, ‘ship anchor’
Kabuki
Kalajengking, ‘scorpion’
Kapal Ferry (Old Thousand has a colour image of a ship)
Liberty/777 (with an image of the Statue of Liberty)
Lintrik Cap Semar
Pura Dewa, from Bali
Tjap Klabang (cap klabang), ‘centipede brand’; trademark registered 28th October, 2015

The only current Malaysian manufacturer I know of is Yong Guan Heng & Co., who sell Cherki cards under the Single Lion brand (單獅嘜).

Credits

Special thanks to:

Aditya for double-checking my Javanese transcriptions.
Aditya Bayu Perdana for supplying the names in the Balinese script.

References

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Ceki cards

#Malaysia & Singapore

#Indonesia

#The Deck

#Card Names

#Games

#Manufacturers & Brands

#Credits

#References

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