The Game of Stems and Branches

A game based on the long cycle of years in the Chinese zodiac, with trump cards based on twelve magical creature

Stems-and-Branches is a pack of cards based on the old Chinese 60-year calendar, and its 2 meshed cycles: a 12 year one for the zodiac & its symbolic 12 beasts, & a 10 year one for the 5 phases. It also has the 5 Heavenly Creatures, as well as 12 fantastic creatures drawn from the pre-Han Dynasty Classic of Mountains and Seas. The cards comprise five suits of 12 cards, & two suits of trumps, so many traditional games may be adapted to play with the pack: we present Shanghai Stops as an example.