Why do Tarot cards feature so many religious symbols?

Ha, that's an excellent question! Many people new to Tarot have this very same query, often finding it a bit mysterious or even intimidating. The reasons behind it are actually quite fascinating, and I'll try to explain them to you in plain language.

This matter can be broken down into two parts: first, its "birth background," and second, its "later modifications."

First, let's talk about its "birth background."

Tarot cards first appeared in 15th-century Italy. Back then, they weren't used for fortune-telling; they were simply a card game played by nobles. Think about what 15th-century Europe was like: the entire society was steeped in Christian culture. From top to bottom, everything in life—art, literature, values—was intertwined with Christianity.

So, it was only natural for the card makers of that time to depict symbols that were most familiar and universally understood. It's like how in a modern movie, you'd naturally see cell phones, computers, and internet memes. For people back then, figures like "The Pope," "Judgment" (the angel blowing the trumpet), and "The Devil" were their culture's "top IPs"—symbols everyone recognized. These weren't drawn for proselytizing, but because these images themselves carried strong meanings—like power, scrutiny, temptation—making them very suitable for expressing concepts within the cards.

Therefore, the early religious symbols in Tarot were largely a "characteristic of the era," a product of the cultural environment at the time.

Next, let's discuss the "later modifications."

Tarot cards truly began to be associated with divination and mysticism around the late 18th to 19th centuries. This was a period when Europe saw a surge of interest in occult studies, and many mystics and secret societies (like the famous "Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn") turned their attention to Tarot.

They didn't see Tarot as just a game; they believed these cards held the secrets of the universe and the philosophies of life. So, this group began to "deeply develop" the Tarot. They integrated their own knowledge systems—such as the Kabbalistic Tree of Life, astrology, alchemy, numerology, and even ancient Egyptian mystical symbols—into the cards.

The most popular and common Tarot deck you see today, the "Rider-Waite Tarot," is a prime example from this period. Its designers were members of the "Golden Dawn" themselves, and they intentionally and systematically wove these complex religious and mystical symbols into all 78 cards.

• For instance, the two pillars behind the "High Priestess" card are related to the legends of Solomon's Temple.
• On the "Wheel of Fortune," you often find Hebrew letters and alchemical symbols.

So, why did they do this?

Because these religious and mythological symbols are, in themselves, a very powerful "symbolic language." They have condensed millennia of thought about humanity, divinity, life and death, good and evil.

By using these symbols, Tarot ceased to be simply about good or bad, and could express more complex and profound psychological states and life circumstances. For example, when we see "The Devil" card, we don't just think of the religious devil, but also our inner desires, bondage, and obsessions. When we see the angel in "Temperance," we think of balance, healing, and harmony.

To summarize simply:

Tarot cards initially carried religious symbols because they were born in a religiously rich cultural environment; this was their "birthmark." Later, mystics "added a lot of ingredients," integrating various religious and mystical symbols, transforming it from a card game into a "symbolic tool" for self-exploration and life interpretation.

So, you can view these religious symbols as "codes of wisdom" left by ancient people. They aren't meant to make you believe in a specific religion, but rather to borrow these universally resonant classic images to tell the stories of life that each of us might experience. Doesn't that make it seem less mysterious and more culturally rich?

Hello, that's a great question, and one many people have when they first encounter Tarot cards.

Actually, we need to start with the "birth" of Tarot cards. Think about it, Tarot cards first appeared around the 15th century in Italy. At that time in Europe, the entire social culture was tightly bound to Christianity. Art, life, and thought were all permeated with religious influences.

So, the artists who designed Tarot cards back then naturally used the most common and familiar things around them as their "material." Just as we might use popular internet memes or emojis in design today, the most deeply ingrained "IP" at the time was stories and figures from the Bible.

For example, if you look at "The Hierophant" card (often called "The Pope" historically), it referred to the Roman Pope at the time, a symbol of faith and tradition. "The Devil" card's imagery directly stemmed from Christian depictions of Satan, representing temptation and bondage. "Judgment" card often depicted the scene of the Last Judgment from the Bible, with angels blowing trumpets and the dead rising.

Using these religious symbols that everyone immediately understood created instant resonance, and the meanings of the cards became easier to grasp and remember. Initially, Tarot cards were primarily a card game played by the wealthy, and these images made the game more interesting and narrative-rich.

Later, around the 18th and 19th centuries, some occult enthusiasts, such as the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, began to systematically study Tarot cards and combine them with divination and mystical philosophy. They incorporated more diverse symbolic systems like astrology, alchemy, and the Kabbalistic Tree of Life on top of the existing Christian symbols. This is what made the symbolic meanings of Tarot cards increasingly complex and profound.

So, in simple terms:

1. Historical Origin: Born in an era rich in religious atmosphere, using religious symbols was the most natural choice at the time.
2. Cultural Resonance: These symbols were the "universal language" of the time, understood by everyone.
3. Later Development: Subsequent occultists "added layers" of more symbols, making it even richer.

Today, when we look at these symbols, we don't necessarily have to interpret them from a religious perspective. More often, they are treated as "archetypes." For instance, "The Hierophant" represents norms, mentors, and traditional institutions, while "The Devil" represents our inner desires and obsessions. They have evolved from purely religious figures into symbols that depict universal human psychology and life situations.