I’m showing the cards photographically in the exact order they appear straight out of the box brand new. In the suit of Swords, the LWB doesn’t mention any specific mythological references for the figures depicted. It’s just a queen with a sword, or a valiant page, a dexterous youth, Taoist priest, four warriors, girls dancing with swords, etc.
The LWB does offer welcomed insights into Chinese symbolism. For example, the coral that the maidservant holds in the King of Staves symbolizes longevity and an official promotion. The peacock pictured on the Queen of Staves represents beauty and dignity. The tiger that has now become a carpet that the Knight of Staves is standing on conveys that he is valiant. The Page, pictured as an old man, conveys the meaning of the Page of Staves (per the LWB by Stuart Kaplan): an emissary, trusted friend, or a stranger bearing important or good news.
The Chinese inscriptions you see on the artwork offers insights into the card meaning, or at least the artist intentions, but these inscriptions didn’t get translated into the LWB, sadly. For example, the Ace of Swords reads: “the body and the sword merge as one.” But then the LWB just says, “A man practices martial arts, exhibiting skill and discipline.”
Then there are times when it feels like whoever wrote the LWB card meanings is not in agreement about said card meanings with the artist illustrating the deck. |
