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Playing Cards Found in Mongol Invasion Shipwreck Off Japan
Archaeology Magazine ^ | November 6, 2026 | editors / unattributed

Posted on 11/10/2026 7:55:12 AM PST by SunkenCiv

The Mainichi reports that another thirteenth-century shipwreck has been discovered off Takashima Island, after two others had previously been identified in 2011 and 2015. It is believed that all three vessels went down during the 1281 Battle of Koan, when the Mongol-led Chinese Yuan Dynasty attempted to invade Japan. The recently investigated ship originally measured around 100 feet long and was equipped with living quarters, likely serving as the mother ship of the fleet. Among the items recovered by archaeologists were five dice and 29 small cards used to play koppai, a game that originated in China. "The koppai cards, which are considered precursors to mahjong tiles, were likely used for recreation," said Yoshifumi Ikeda, an archaeology professor at Kokugakuin University who conducted the investigation jointly with the Matsuura Municipal Government. "The discoveries offer a glimpse into life during wartime." To read about the Mongol naval invasions of Japan, go to "History's 10 Greatest Wrecks: Khubilai Khan Fleet."

(Excerpt) Read more at archaeology.org ...


TOPICS: History; Science; Travel
KEYWORDS: 1281; battleofkoan; china; godsgravesglyphs; japan; khubilaikhan; koppai; middleages; mongols; shipwreck; takashimaisland; yuandynasty

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Die uncovered in a Mongol shipwreck off Takashima Island, Japan
Matsuura Municipal Board of Education, Nagasaki Prefecture
Matsuura Municipal Board of Education, Nagasaki Prefecture

1 posted on 11/10/2026 7:55:12 AM PST by SunkenCiv
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To: StayAt HomeMother; Ernest_at_the_Beach; 1ofmanyfree; 21twelve; 24Karet; 2ndDivisionVet; 31R1O; ...

2 posted on 11/10/2026 7:57:14 AM PST by SunkenCiv (TDS -- it's not just for DNC shills and jihadists anymore -- oh, wait, yeah it is.)
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To: SunkenCiv
Whats the big deal?


3 posted on 11/10/2026 8:08:53 AM PST by Magnum44 (...against all enemies, foreign and domestic... )
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To: SunkenCiv

Thanks ‘civ. Looks like dominos but they could have been playing WAR. Fun card game. Even the kids like it.

Amazing history BUMP!


4 posted on 11/10/2026 8:22:11 AM PST by PGalt (Past Peak Civilization?)
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To: Magnum44

5 posted on 11/10/2026 8:40:25 AM PST by z3n (Kakistocracy)
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To: PGalt

Probably were playing Go Fish.


6 posted on 11/10/2026 8:59:17 AM PST by SunkenCiv (TDS -- it's not just for DNC shills and jihadists anymore -- oh, wait, yeah it is.)
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