The story of JingHe Age (1997-2004)
JingHe Age (Beijing JingHe Age Software and Technology Corporation) was the official distributor of Magic: The Gathering in mainland China.
Just like Hobby Japan, Wizards of the Coast gave them special rights to create their own Magic items. During their partnership, they released two famous sets of promo tokens.
1. The 2002 Token Series
This series focused on Chinese artwork. These tokens were rewards for loyal players during the Torment and Judgment era.
If you are looking for the rarest tokens in the history of Magic: The Gathering, you have found them. The 2002 JingHe Age series is considered by many high-end collectors to be one the rarest tokens in the world.
Why are they so legendary?
- Extreme scarcity: Because they were only available in mainland China for a very short window, the “population” of these tokens is incredibly low. Finding a complete set today is nearly impossible.e
- Impossible quest: Unlike modern promos, you couldn’t just find these in a store. You had to buy 36 booster packs (Torment or Judgment), collect 36 physical stamps, and then mail them to the distributor in Beijing.
- Survivor bias: Very few players completed the collection, and even fewer envelopes survived the postal service and the passage of time.
2. The 2003 Token Series
This series was designed for an international audience. These cards are not printed on standard Magic card stock.
- The Packs: These came in small booster packs with 4 random cards (from a pool of 7).
- Rarity: The Angel and Dragon tokens are much harder to find than the others.
- How to get them: Players received one pack for every 4 boosters of Legions or Scourge (Simplified Chinese) they purchased.
Buyer Beware: The 2003 “Fakes”
Because the 2003 JingHe Age series is highly sought after, many fake copies are currently in circulation. These “new versions” are often sold as variants, but they are almost certainly counterfeits.
| Feature | Original Token (Real) | New Version (FAKE) |
| Light Test | Vibrant colors; deep blue 10th-anniversary logo | Pale and dull colors |
| Texture | Smooth finish and clean edges | Rough edges and “spotted” varnish |
| Back Logo | The blue symbol is correctly placed | The symbol is in the wrong spot |
| Print Quality | Crisp and clear details | Faded and blurry |
End of an Era: In February 2004, the distribution of Magic in China moved from JingHe Age to the OTC company.
Beyond the cards: rare JingHe Age licensed products (2002)
JingHe Age (JingHe Shi Dai) did not just distribute cards. Under official license from Wizards of the Coast (威世智), they produced unique lifestyle and educational items for the Chinese market. These are now rare “oddities” for serious collectors.
💿 Seventh Edition Starter CD-ROM (2002)
To introduce Magic to the massive Chinese audience, JingHe Age released an official interactive tutorial CD-ROM.
Why it’s rare: Most of these CDs were lost or damaged over the last 20 years. Finding one in its original sleeve is a treasure for MTG historians.
Content: It featured digital lessons on how to play the game, specifically based on the Seventh Edition rules and cards.
📅 The Official 2002 Calendar
This large-format calendar was a promotional item featuring iconic Magic artwork from the early 2000s.
Status: Because calendars are usually thrown away at the end of the year, very few copies still exist today. It is a “Holy Grail” for those who collect Magic memorabilia.
Design: It blended the Western fantasy art of MTG with Chinese calendar layouts.
🎨 Seventh Edition Stickers (2002)
JingHe Age also produced official sticker sheets featuring art and logos from the Seventh Edition.
Condition: Unused (unpeeled) sticker sheets are extremely difficult to find in “Mint” condition.
Licensing: These were fully authorized by Wizards of the Coast.
Details: The stickers often featured the classic Seventh Edition “White Border” aesthetic and the iconic mana symbols.
