A Beginner’s Guide to History and How to Play
Hwatu (화투), often called Korean flower cards, is more than a game. It is a living tradition enjoyed across generations, especially during holidays, family gatherings, and cozy game nights.
Whether you are brand new or rediscovering it through family memories, this guide walks you through where Hwatu comes from and how to start playing.
🕰️ A Brief History of Hwatu
Hwatu has a long journey across East Asia.
🌏 Origins
Hwatu traces its roots to Hanafuda, a Japanese card game developed in the 18th to 19th century. Hanafuda itself evolved from earlier Chinese playing cards after number-based cards were restricted and replaced with symbolic artwork.
Through trade and cultural exchange in the late 1800s and early 1900s, these cards made their way to Korea.
🇰🇷 How Hwatu Became Korean
In Korea, the cards and gameplay were adapted to match local culture and play style.
Over time, Hwatu developed its own identity through
🌸 Faster-paced rules
🎯 Competitive scoring
🗣️ Strong social interaction
From this evolution came Go Stop (고스톱), the most widely played Hwatu game today.
🎨 Meaning Behind the Card Designs
Each Hwatu deck has 48 cards, divided into 12 months, with four cards per month.
The artwork reflects
🌺 Flowers and plants
🐦 Animals and birds
🌙 Seasonal elements like rain, moon, and sun
These images are deeply connected to farming life, seasons, and nature.
🌸 Understanding Hwatu Suits (Months)
Unlike Western playing cards, Hwatu cards are organized by months, not by numbers or suits.
Each month represents a seasonal plant, animal, or natural scene, reflecting Korea’s agrarian calendar and East Asian symbolism.
There are 12 months, and each month has 4 cards, creating a 48-card deck.
🗓️ The 12 Hwatu Months Explained
Not every month has the same combination, which is why memorizing months helps players recognize scoring opportunities faster.
🌄 January | 송학 (Songhak)
Pine & Crane
Symbolizes longevity, stability, and good fortune
Includes a Bright card featuring a crane
🌸 February | 매화 (Maehwa)
Plum Blossom
Represents perseverance and hope during winter’s end
Often features a bird card
🌸 March | 벚꽃 (Beotkkot)
Cherry Blossom
Symbol of beauty and life’s fleeting moments
Includes a Bright card with a curtain ribbon
🌿 April | 등꽃 (Deungkkot)
Wisteria
Associated with elegance and growth
Features a bird card and ribbon
🌿 May | 난초 (Nancho)
Iris
Represents purification and protection
Includes an animal card that also counts as Double Junk (쌍피)
🌺 June | 모란 (Moran)
Peony
Symbol of wealth, honor, and prosperity
Contains animal cards and ribbon cards
🌾 July | 흑싸리 (Heukssari)
Bush Clover
Associated with endurance and late summer
Features animal cards and junk cards
🌕 August | 공산 (Gongsan)
Full Moon & Mountain
Symbolizes harvest time and reflection
Includes a Bright card with a moon
🌼 September | 국화 (Gukhwa)
Chrysanthemum
Represents resilience and autumn balance
Includes animal cards and Double Junk
🍁 October | 단풍 (Danpung)
Maple Leaves
Symbol of change and transition
Features animal cards and a blue ribbon
🌧️ November | 오동 (Odong)
Paulownia Tree
Associated with rest and preparation
Includes Double Junk (쌍피) cards
🌧️ December | 비 (Bi)
Rain Scene
Symbolizes hardship, renewal, and reflection
Includes a Bright card showing a traveler in the rain
🧠 Why the Month System Matters
✔️ It ties the game to seasonal storytelling
✔️ It adds memory and strategy beyond simple matching
✔️ It reflects traditional Korean values of nature, timing, and balance
This structure is what makes Hwatu both a game and a cultural experience, not just a card deck.
🎀 The Three Ribbon Colors in Hwatu
In Korean Hwatu, ribbon cards (띠 tti) are grouped by color and writing. These ribbon sets are important for scoring in Go-Stop and many family rule variations.
🔴 Red Ribbons | 홍단 (Hongdan)
Months:
January 송학
February 매화
March 벚꽃
✔️ Red ribbon with writing
✔️ Collect all three to complete Hongdan
✔️ Common scoring set in Go-Stop
Red ribbons are often associated with poetry, celebration, and the early spring season.
🔵 Blue Ribbons | 청단 (Cheongdan)
Months:
June 모란
September 국화
October 단풍
✔️ Blue ribbon with writing
✔️ Collect all three to complete Cheongdan
✔️ Common scoring set
Blue ribbons are linked to later seasons and themes of maturity and transition.
⚪ Plain Ribbons | 띠 (Tti)
Months:
April 등꽃
May 난초
July 흑싸리
✔️ Ribbon with no writing
✔️ Used for general ribbon counting
✔️ Often used for blocking opponents rather than forming named sets
Plain ribbons focus on strategy and timing rather than set bonuses.
🎉 Hwatu Today
Today, Hwatu is commonly played during
🎊 Seollal (Lunar New Year)
🌕 Chuseok (Harvest Festival)
🏡 Family and friend gatherings
It remains a symbol of togetherness, strategy, and shared tradition.
🃏 How to Play Hwatu (Go Stop Basics)
There are many regional and house variations, but this is a beginner-friendly overview.
🎴 Card Types You Will See
Hwatu cards are grouped into categories that score differently. Learning these types makes gameplay much easier.
🌟 Bright Cards (광)
High-value cards that can quickly change the outcome of a game.
🌸 Ribbon Cards (띠)
Colorful cards that form scoring combinations when collected in sets.
🦢 Animal Cards (열끗)
Mid-value cards are often used to build steady points.
🍃 Junk Cards (피)
Basic point cards that are common and easy to collect.
🍃🍃 Double Junk Cards (쌍피)
Special junk cards are worth two Pi instead of one. These are important for Pi-based scoring and can make a big difference late in the game.
🧮 Go-Stop Point System Basics
In Go-Stop, players earn points by collecting specific card combinations. Once you reach the minimum score, you choose whether to Stop and win or Go and continue playing for higher points.
🎯 When Can You Stop
🟢 You may declare Stop when you reach 3 points or more
🚀 Choosing Go increases risk but can raise your final score
🌟 Bright Cards (광)
☀️ 3 Brights = 3 points
☀️ 4 Brights = 4 points
☀️ 5 Brights = 15 points
⚠️ Note
If you have 3 Brights, including the Rain Bright, the score is usually reduced by 1 depending on house rules.
🌸 Ribbon Cards (띠)
🎀 3 Ribbon Cards = 3 points
🎀 Each additional ribbon after 3 = +1 point
Special ribbon sets may score extra depending on house rules.
🦢 Animal Cards (열끗)
🐦 5 Animal Cards = 1 point
🐦 Each additional animal card after 5 = +1 point
Some animals may form special combos depending on the rules.
🍃 Junk Cards (피)
🍃 10 Pi Cards = 1 point
🍃 Each additional Pi card after 10 = +1 point
🍃🍃 Double Junk (쌍피) counts as 2 Pi cards, making them very valuable for Pi scoring.
🚀 Go Bonuses and Penalties (Common Rules)
These rules add excitement and risk. Usage may vary.
🚀 Go Bonus
Each time you declare Go, your score may increase.
💥 Shake Bonus (흔들기)
If you start with three matching month cards, points may double.
⚠️ Penalty Rules
Losing after another player declares Go may result in higher penalties.
🏠 House Rules May Vary
Scoring bonuses and penalties can differ by household or region. Always agree on rules before starting.
🧒🎴 Kid Friendly Go Stop Scoring
This version is great for kids, beginners, or family play. It keeps the game fun and easy without complicated bonuses.
⭐ When the Game Can End
🟢 A player can say Stop when they reach 3 points
🎉 The first player to Stop wins the round
🌟 Bright Cards (광)
☀️ 3 Bright cards = 3 points
☀️ 4 Bright cards = 4 points
☀️ 5 Bright cards = 5 points
Skip special rain rules to keep it simple.
🌸 Ribbon Cards (띠)
🎀 3 Ribbon cards = 1 point
🎀 Every extra Ribbon = +1 point
🦢 Animal Cards (열끗)
🐦 5 Animal cards = 1 point
🐦 Every extra Animal = +1 point
🍃 Junk Cards (피)
🍃 10 Junk cards = 1 point
🍃 Every extra Junk = +1 point
🍃🍃 Double Junk (쌍피) counts as 2 Junk cards
🚦 Go or Stop for Kids
🛑 Stop
End the game and win safely
🚀 Go
Keep playing to get more points
Optional rule for older kids
🏠 Easy House Rules for Families
👨👩👧👦 Skip penalties and bonus doubling
🎴 No Shake or special bonus rules
😊 Focus on matching cards and counting points together
🌈 Why This Version Works
✨ Easy to remember
✨ Encourages counting and matching
✨ Keeps games short and fun
✨ Perfect for learning together
🧠 Why the Point System Matters
Understanding scoring helps players
🎯 Decide when to Stop or Go
👀 Watch opponents more carefully
⚖️ Balance safe play with bold moves
Go-Stop rewards both calculation and courage.
🎲 Game Setup
👥 Players
2 to 4 players
🃏 Deal
Each player receives cards, and a small layout is placed face up in the center.
🎯 Goal
Collect scoring combinations and decide when to stop or continue.
▶️ Basic Turn Flow
1️⃣ Play one card from your hand
2️⃣ Match it with a card on the table if possible
3️⃣ Draw one card from the deck
4️⃣ Capture cards based on matches
Captured cards are kept face up in front of you so everyone can see your progress.
🎯 Scoring and Go Stop
When you reach a scoring threshold, you have a choice.
🟢 Go
Continue playing to increase your score
Risk of giving opponents chances to catch up
🛑 Stop
End the round and score your points
Choosing when to Go or Stop is where strategy shines.
🏠 House Rules May Vary
Hwatu is traditionally flexible.
🏠 Families and regions often adjust
🎲 Scoring thresholds
🎴 Bonus rules
⏪ Special rules like Back Do
There is no single correct way to play. The best version is the one everyone agrees on.
🌙 Why We Love Hwatu at Luna Hobby Store
Hwatu is not just a card game. It is
✨ A bridge between generations
✨ A mix of luck and strategy
✨ A celebration of seasonal art and tradition
Whether you are learning for the first time or teaching someone new, Hwatu brings people together.
🌙 Bring tradition to your table
Explore Hwatu and classic Korean game sets at Luna Hobby Store. Thoughtfully chosen for meaningful play, cultural learning, and memorable game nights. SHOP HERE
