TAROT HISTORY

HISTORY OF TAROT Learn how tarot evolved from a card game into what it is today

TAROT DE MARSEILLES SET //WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

1. A MEDIEVAL CARD GAME

In the early 15th century, “trionfi” cards were used in Italy as a card game. This deck included four suits (similar to how current card decks are made) and trump cards for a total of 60-70 cards. As rounds, or tricks, continued, each player would offer a card and scores were counted at the end of each round.

2. TAROCCO BOLOGNESE

Around the 15th century, the Tarocco Bolognese emerged as a 62-card deck. According to a manuscript from 1750, it was one of the first decks used for fortune-telling.

3. TAROT DE MARSEILLES

By the late 16th century, the “fortune-telling” tarot movement had taken off in France. The most popular deck was the Tarot de Marseilles, and players assigned spiritual meanings to each card.

4. ALLIETTE AND ARCANA

Jean-Baptiste Alliette, an eminent French occultist, created a tarot deck in 1789 for the sole purpose of spiritual use. The deck expanded to 78 cards with Major and Minor Arcana categories. The Major Arcana contains 10 allegorical figures, five abstract concepts and seven personified objects.

TAROT ETYMOLOGY Even the word “tarot” has a rich history attached to it. Here’s a quick explanation of its etymology as well as the Japanese translation of tarot.

ITALIAN ROOTS

A 70-card game derived from festivals (trionfo) during the Italian Renaissance.

TAROCH foolishness

Trionfi became known as tarocho in Italy during the 16th century when “the fool” card was added to the deck.

JAPANESE TRANSLATION

KATAKANA SYLLABLES タ: ta Sixteenth syllable in the gojūon order ロ: ro Forty-third syllable in the gojūon order

TAROTTO

tarot The French equivalent of tarocho, which also evolved from trionfi. Taraux then became “tarot.”

KATAKANA SYLLABLES ッ: tsu Eighteenth syllable in the gojūon order ト: to Twentieth syllable in the gojūon order