How and who came up with the number and sign system for playing cards?

Question

Why did they decide to use Aces, Jacks, Queens and Kings. What is a Jack,and an Ace? Why put Jokers in the deck?Why did they pick clubs,hearts,diamonds,and spades for shapes; verses, squares,circles,stars,and rectangles?Thanks.

Answer 1

The first playing cards are thought to have originated in ancient China, although those cards would bare no resemblance to the cards we are used to seeing. Modern playing cards are derived from the ancient tarot deck. It is unclear when they first appeared in Europe, but there is evidence dating them back to the 1500's, and references to them as far back as the 1300's.
Each of the suits represent a different aspect of consciousness. Hearts represent love, relationships, and emotions. Diamonds represent money, work, and general fortune. The spades represent conflict, rational thought and decisions and how they are communicated. Clubs represent action, new direction and enterprise, change.
The face cards are representative of people and were used by ancient "fortunetellers" to determine who was exerting influence in a person's life. Although they are portrayed as royalty and aristocracy, they were used by and meant to be representative of common people. The aristocratic rank and the gender of the card spoke more about their personality and influence than their actual power or gender.
In a tarot deck, there are 4 face cards, king, queen, knight and page. The jack is a result of the combination of knight and page. Aces are equal to 1. Jokers were added to be used as wild cards or replacements for lost cards.
I think that covers all of your questions. I hope this helps!

Answer 2

well i know that with the jokers, they didnt start using them til quite late on! they used to have blank cards and then when there were jests they decided to put them in instead!

cards were used by royal ppl (henry VIII) and so they put those cards in!