History indicates that regular playing cards originated in China, during the 9th century, subsequent to their invention of the “dotted card” (cardstock numbered with black or red dots). Contemporary decks of cards used by the Chinese maintained the suit of coins and strings of coins, probably inspired by Mah Jong’s bamboos and circles. Playing cards then mushroomed to India and on to the Middle East. But it was during the 14th century, when Gypsy travelers swept across Europe, doing fortune telling using a standard playing card deck as they went, that cartomancy reading generally began.