Dominoes

From Culin publication: g. TONG KAU. No. 44. - From Wenchow. The twenty-one natural dominoes quintupled, and the following seventeen special cards: (1) 6-6 6-3, (2) 1-1 1-3, (3) 4-4 1-3, (4) 2-4 4-4, (5) 3-3 5-6, (6) 1-2 2-4, (8) 4-5 5-5, (9), (10), (11), the sequence 1-6, (a) man, "civilian;" (b) mo, "military;" (c) tsung, "universal;" (d) t'oi, "highness;" (e) ho, "lily;" (f) p'ui, "heap up." The blanks are used only to replace cards lost. The coloring of the cards is immaterial. Total, 122. The pack as above is known as Fa Tong kau, "Flowery Tong kau." The simpler form, or Tong kau proper, has only five special cards, viz.: 6-6 6-3, 1-1 1-3, 4-4 1-3, 6-6 3-3, 1-2 2-4. It is usually put up with two blanks."