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Ceki (Javanese ꦕꦼꦏꦶ, Balinese ᬘᭂᬓᬶ), Chi Kee/Cherki, 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”The 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] cekianE[p. 174] or tyekénF[p. 160] or sikiah,G[p. 679] or chĕki.H[p. 53] 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 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 كياI[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?
#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.
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]
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.
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 Deck
The cards run kepala (literally ‘head’, Javanese ꦏꦥꦭ kapala), contains two copies of each card, giving 60 total. In Banyuwangi, Java 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).
in three suits, and there are three ‘honour cards’, giving 30 different cards. Each deck, orThe 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.
- Names for Coins
- hitam (‘black’), batik, piah (from Hokkien 餅 ‘round thing’), or tong (from Hokkien 筒 ‘barrel’);
- in Thai, ผัก phak ‘vegetable’.
- Names for Strings
- Names for Myriads (Numbers)
- ban (from Hokkien bān 萬/万 ‘myriad’), or cina (‘Chinese’);
- in Java, wong (ꦮꦺꦴꦁ ‘people’);X
- in Thai, คน khon ‘people’.
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Coins | ||||||||||
Strings | ||||||||||
Myriads |
#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 goncingT[p. 76] ‘scissors’; ᨁᨑᨗᨁᨗ garigiT[p. 79] [?]; ᨄᨄ pampangT[p. 98] ‘across’; ᨄᨚᨄᨚᨀ popokangT[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 pesoT[p. 140] ‘lame’; ᨅᨘᨀᨘ bukuT[p. 148] ‘bone’; ᨅᨚᨈᨘᨓᨒ bontuwalaT[p. 173] Bontoala, a place near Makassar, also the name of a type of large kris; ᨅᨓᨗ bawiT[p. 221] ‘pig’; ᨆᨉᨘᨑ manduraT[p. 249] [?]; ᨌᨄᨗ capiT[p. 385] ‘deformed’, also ‘cow’; ᨍᨘᨀᨘᨕᨙᨍ juku-éjaT[p. 402] ‘red fish’; ᨍᨚᨅᨚ jobongT[p. 408] [?]; ᨑᨚᨅᨙ rombéngT[p. 444] ‘long hair’; ᨔᨄᨗ sapiT[p. 554] ‘cow’; ᨔᨗᨄᨗ sipiT[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 | Older (Malay) (1894)AF[334] |
Malacca (Kristang) (1972)B | Malacca (Kristang) (2012)AG | Padang |
[unstated] |
Pekalongan |
Magelang |
Yogyakarta |
Surakarta |
[Surabaya?] |
Banyuwangi |
[Badung?] |
Badung |
Gianyar |
Klungkung |
Karangasem |
Buleleng |
Singaraja |
Lombok |
Lombok |
Banjarmasin |
Makassar |
Manado |
Ambon |
Timor |
Honours & Rank 1 | เอี่ยว iao, from Hokkien/Teochew 幺 io/iao¹, ‘ace’ | yu or yeo, from Hokkien/Teochew | iu (modern ayu) ايو 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 |
|||||||||||||||||||
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 |
iu mêrah bĕsar ايو ميره بسر large red/king ace |
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 lociyangT[p. 508] from Hokkien |
laucan, lokjan from Hokkien |
meirah lokjan red lokjan |
meirah besar big red |
|
เอี่ยวชี iao chi nun ace |
yu kuching cat ace |
iu kûching ايو كوچيڠ 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 | ||
เอี่ยวแดงนาง iao daeng nang red lady ace เอี่ยวนาง iao nang lady ace |
yu nyonya (娘仔?) ace |
iu mêrah s’krat ايو ميره سكرة partly red 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 | ||
เอี่ยวเกือก iao kueak shoe ace เอี่ยวรอง iao rong secondary ace |
yu kasut slipper ace (looks like a Nyonya slipper) |
iu kâsut ايو كاسة slipper ace |
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 tikaraT[p. 276] |
tikar plaited mat |
tikar plaited mat |
kaso [Saccharum spontaneum? mats are woven from this] |
|
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.AK[p. 62] |
iu pli ايو ڤلي ? ace |
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 lambusuT[p. 496] straight |
panjang long |
panjang long |
panjang long |
|
เอี่ยวหนู iao nu mouse ace (the symbol looks like a mouse’s tail) |
yu hue sio from Hokkien ‘monk’ 和尚 |
iu lîchin ايو ليچين smooth/bare ace (probably referring to the bald head) |
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 cinaT[p. 391] China |
cina | cina | cina | |
Rank 2 | สอง song two |
ji (Hokkien jī) |
lĕkok لكوق notched |
— | gee (Hokkien jī) |
bengkok ‘crooked’ | |||||||||||||||||||||
สองตา song ta eyes two สองตาโต song ta to shocked two |
ji hitam or ji bulat black or round two |
lĕkok lâmah لكوق لامه ? notched |
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 duwaT[p. 113] two coins |
duwa mata | duwa mata | batik | |
สององคต song (ongkot?) two Angada (a legendary monkey with an immovable leg) |
ji burung bird two |
lĕkok lêrek لكوق ليرق notched borer? |
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 | ||
สองคน song khon two people |
ji ban |
lĕkok cîna لكوق چين notched Chinese |
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 kondéT[p. 27] Chinese bun hairstyle |
miring angled |
miring angled |
miring angled |
|
Rank 3 | สาม sam three |
sa (Hokkien saⁿ) |
sêrong سيروڠ askew |
— | sar (Hokkien saⁿ) |
jarum ‘needle’ | |||||||||||||||||||||
สามตา sam ta three eyes สามตาโต sam ta to three big eyes |
sa batik batik three |
sêrong wâjik سيروڠ واجيق askew diamond |
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 | ||
สามนก sam nok three birds สามนกเตี้ย sam nok tia three short birds |
sa udang shrimp three |
sêrong gûnong سيروڠ ݢونڠ askew mountain |
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 |
||
สามคน sam khon three people |
sa ban | sêrong jârum سيروڠ جارم askew needle |
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 jarungT[p. 416] nail |
jarum needle |
jarum needle |
jarum needle |
|
Rank 4 | สี่ si four |
si (Hokkien sì) |
kĕpâla bûlat كڤلا بولة round head |
— | see (Hokkien sì) |
suduang ‘spoon’(?) | |||||||||||||||||||||
สี่มะเขือ si makhuea four eggplants |
si hitam black four |
kĕpâla bûlat gĕrôbok كڤلا بولة ݢروبق round head crockery chest |
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 | ||
สี่นม si nom four breasts สี่นมยาน si nom yan four hanging breasts |
si putih white four |
kĕpâla bûlat sûngkap كڤلا بولة سوڠكڤ round head loose hair |
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 |
||
สี่คน si khon four people |
si ban | kĕpâla bûlat sundul كڤلا بولة سوندل round head ? |
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) |
mâta dûa ماة دوا two eyes |
— | goh (Hokkien gō͘) |
babi ‘pig’ (looks like nostrils) | |||||||||||||||||||||
ห้าแตงโม ha taengmo five watermelons |
go pending pending five |
mâta dûa kĕlôning ماة دوا كلونيڠ ? two eyes |
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 pociT[p. 114] navel |
prahu | pusat navel |
pusat navel |
|
ห้านก ha nok five birds |
go burung bird five |
mâta dûa lêrek ماة دوا ليرق ? two eyes |
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 gogosoT[p. 69] a dish of sticky rice cooked in bamboo leaves |
têroes | têroes | kio putih | |
ห้าคน ha khon five people |
go ban | mâta dûa cîna ماة دوا چين Chinese two eyes |
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 لق (from Hokkien) |
— | lak (Hokkien la̍k) |
kapik ‘grill’ | |||||||||||||||||||||
หกตา hok ta six eyes |
lak hitam black six |
lak kroh لق كروه ? 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 anangT[p. 653] six |
anam mata | anam kaladi | tarasi | |
หกละเอียด hok laiat delicate six หกเซาะ hok so chiselled six |
lak putih white six |
lak tâli لق تالي rope 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)AK[p. 160] |
ᬧᭂᬗ᭄ᬓ pengka |
mer | mer | mer | mer | mer | bambu bamboo |
bêlah buluh wide stripes tarabei |
bambu bamboo |
bambu bamboo |
||
หกคน hok khon six people |
lak ban | lak chantek لق چنتيق beautiful six |
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 balaT[p. 200] house [see bottom of card] |
lakban | lakban | lakban | |
Rank 7 | เจ็ด chet seven |
jit (Hokkien chhit) |
chit چية (from Hokkien) |
— | chit (Hokkien chhit) |
sisiak ‘scales’ | |||||||||||||||||||||
เจ็ดพัด chet phat seven fans |
jit hitam or jit daun black or leaf seven |
chit sûngkai چية سوڠكي Peronema canescens (a leafy plant) 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 bandéraT[p. 175] flag |
bandéra | bulu ayam | bandéra | |
เจ็ดนก chet nok seven birds |
jit burung bird seven |
chit halus چية هالس fine 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 | ||
เจ็ดคน chet khon seven people |
jit ban | chit kâsar چية كاسر coarse seven |
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) |
mâta sâtu ماة ساتو one eye |
— | sepet ‘half-closed (eyes)’ |
pacah ‘broken’ | |||||||||||||||||||||
แปดตา paet ta eight eyes |
puek kerang cockle eight |
mâta sâtu plong ماة ساتو ڤلوڠ ? one eye |
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 sagantujuT[p. 551] eight |
delapan mata | delapan kaladi | delapan | |
แปดละเอียด paet laiat delicate eight แปดเซาะ paet so chiselled eight |
puek menak noble eight |
mâta sâtu bengkok ماة ساتو بڠكوق crooked one eye |
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’AL |
ᬳᬸᬮᬸ ulu |
ᬳᬸᬮᬸ ulu |
ᬫᬦᬶᬲ᭄ manis sweet |
ᬫᬦᬶᬲ᭄ manis |
ᬫᬦᬶᬲ᭄ manis |
ᬫᬦᬶᬲ᭄ manis |
ᬫᬦᬶᬲ᭄ manis |
manis | manis | manis | cinta | ||
แปดคน paet khon eight people |
puek ban | mâta sâtu kĕrbau ماة ساتو كربو buffalo one eye |
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) |
ânjing انجيڠ dog? |
— | kau (Hokkien káu) |
tali ‘rope’ | |||||||||||||||||||||
เก้าจัน kao chan nine Diospyros decandra, similar to a persimmon |
kau hitam black nine |
ânjing pîtis انجيڠ بيتس dog? cash |
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 rupiyaT[p. 440] rupees |
roda | rupiah rupees |
rupiah rupees |
|
เก้าแดง kao daeng red nine |
kau merah red nine |
ânjing hâti انجيڠ هاتي dog? heart/liver |
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-bangT[p. 63] red nine? |
kacang [bean/clitoris?] |
meirah kacang | kio meirah | |
เก้าคน kao khon nine people |
kau ban | ânjing kau انجيڠ كاو dog? nine |
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.AN[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 playersAO[p. 214]W[p. 125]
- Pèi, a Javanese game for three players where the goal is to collect specific scoring combinationsV[p. 58–70]
- Thothit, a Javanese game for three players where the goal is to capture identical pairsV[p. 71–2]
- Enthit, a similar Javanese game for three players where the goal is to capture identical quadrupletsV[p. 74]
- Thothit Kuna, an older and slower version of the gameV[p. 74]
- Thothit Yogyakarta, a luck-based Javanese game for three playersV[p. 73]
- Thit-Thit-Dulit, a luck-based Javanese game for two playersV[p. 73]
Simple gambling games:
- Sampen is a gambling game from Java that requires no skill
- Thothit Banyuwangi is a similar gameV[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 playersAO[p. 214]W[p. 122]
- Balik Lima BelasW[p. 127]/Balek Lima BelairAO[p. 124]/Bukak Lima Blas LehO[p. 167] (‘turn fifteen’), an alternate method of scoring Balik Satu
- Chot/Chote/Choke/Kiong, a four-player gameAO[p. 214]W[p. 127]O[p. 167]
- Gonggong, a Javan game for four or six playersV[p. 94–7]
- Tantanan, a fast-playing Javan game for four playersV[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 ڤتويI[p. 58] in older orthographies, probably also equivalent to ptu’i ꤶ꥓ꤳꥈꥆꥇ in Rejang.AP[92] which is mentioned by MayerAA[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 playersAO[p. 214]
- Tongkeng, a game for two peopleAO[p. 215]
- Cho It and ChochotAR[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
(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)AS
- Mesmaekers
Frères, a Belgian company based in Turnhout whose cards were imported to Java by Brandon Mesritz & Co.AT Their brands included:
- Dua Macan (‘two tigers’), trademark registered 15th October 1887.AU[p. 32] This brand was also used for other types of cards, like domino cards.
- 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.AU[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]
- PajungV[p. 12]
- 999V[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.
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