The origin of this type of cards are the bank notes.
The different suits correspond to coins, hundreds of coins, thousands of coins and ten thousands of coins.
The oldests known decks have four suits. The decks with 3 suits evolved and can be classified in 5 families :

文錢門-餅-ten-Văn-batik 索子門-條-sop-Sách-manek 萬-万字門-贯-gon-Vạn-ban 公将-花将
東莞牌-东莞牌-dung guan paai大红=皇叔
小红=小王
八束=支花+百塔
北海牌 - bak hoi paai
南通长牌-nan tong pai-笃子胡-游胡紅花,白花,老千
南通长牌-nan tong pai-笃子胡-游胡紅花,白花,万千
南通长牌-nan tong pai-笃子胡-游胡红花、白花、千子福、禄、寿、财、喜
江西长牌-jiangxi pai红花、白花、千子福、禄、寿、财、喜
天津-Tianjin金祘,王英,万千
Vietnam : Bài tới
Vietnam : Bài Tổ Tôm
Vietnam : Bài Chắn
Malaysia:Cheki红花 nyonya
白花 kuching
千子 lau chian
Singapore:Cherki
Indonesia:Chichi
Thailand
馬雀牌-马雀牌-麻將牌-ma jeuk
文錢門-餅-ten-Văn 索子門-條-sop-Sách 萬字門-贯-gon-Vạn 十字門-拾-sip- specials
水浒叶子 water margin leaf cards
马吊 ma diao
客家牌 haak ga paai麋钱:Leeten
麋花:Leefa
Vietnam : Bài BấtÔng-Lão
Không-Thang
Chi-Chi