The Samurai Tarot

Measurements: 2.6 x 4.72 inches, or 66 x 120 mm.

Back of card: That famous illustration of a samurai warrior, with blade in hand, blade clenched in teeth, etc. Uniquely, not used as part of a card elsewhere in the deck. Right-side up on the bottom of the card, inverted on the top. May be inverted.

Booklet included: Yes, 64 pages, 2.6 x 4.74 inches, or 66 x 120 mm. Instructions in English, Italian, Spanish, French & German.

Publisher: Lo Scarabeo. Printed in Italy, imported by Llewellyn Worldwide.

Comments: Samurai were warriors of feudal Japan, and like their knightly counterparts in the west, the true goal of the warrior is self-mastery, not mere displays of strength. For what it's worth, the instructions say that both Major & minor arcanas are divided into the Five Rings of the Universe: Earth, Fire, Water, Wind & Air. I could find no such distinctions on the cards themselves.

In this deck, the images on the major arcana cards are not given names, but those shown on the court cards are. So, for example, the Knave of Wands are the Soga brothers; the Knight of Wands Shoki, hunter of demons; the Queen of Wands is the author Murasaki Shikibu, the King of Wands is the monk Shidoken.

Delineations are similar to Haiku, and just as difficult: Magician: The origin: The starting point of a journey is also its end. Even the Gods & Buddhas began with space.

The Goddess: Listening to oneself: Trust the goddess that hears & understands the sounds & secret voices of your heart.

The Empress: Creation: In the space of a dream the worlds of wavering reality create & destroy themselves.

etc.

An interesting deck.

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