Hab.ts du Japon from playing cards "Jeu d'Or" 18th century

This playing card, likely dating from the 18th century, presents a vision of Japanese customs through European eyes. Note the figures bearing scepters. These are not merely decorative, they are laden with cultural significance. Scepters and staffs have long been symbols of authority, appearing across diverse cultures from ancient Egypt to the Roman Empire. Consider the scepter as a 'dynamo symbol,' an object charged with power that transcends time. We see echoes of this in medieval royal staffs, and even in the ceremonial batons of military leaders. But observe how the scepter transforms. In some contexts, it symbolizes divine right; in others, military might. Its presence here, in a card game, suggests a more playful, perhaps even satirical, commentary on power and exoticism. These symbols are not static; they evolve, their meanings shifting and layering as they journey through history, influencing our collective subconscious.