Ceki

Ceki (pronounced /tʃəki/) is a type of card deck and card game historically played across maritime Southeast Asia, including Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia, introduced by Chinese and Peranakan communities in the region. Ceki is a descendant of money suited Chinese playing cards illustrated by figures of Water Margin (水滸傳 Shuǐhǔ zhuàn) characters which underwent simplification and abstraction. Ceki decks could be played for several games, and during the colonial period ceki was played by various social groups openly as means of entertainment and socialization, and more illicitly for gambling. Interest to ceki declined considerably at the dawn of the 21st century, but today ceki is still played in certain regions such as the Minangkabau lands of West Sumatra and Bali.