Volume 5 (1998): 304 pages - Table des Matières

Tribute

• Honor C. Maude — un Hommage à la Plus Haute Autorité sur les Jeux de Ficelle des Iles du Pacifique   par Mark A. Sherman, Pasadena, Californie, (pages 1-38) - Pendant presque soixante-dix ans Honor C. Maude a recueilli et écrit sur les jeux de ficelle. En fait, personne n'a écrit plus qu'elle sur ce sujet  — ses sept livres et huit articles incluent les instructions pour réaliser plus de 1000 jeux de ficelle! Cet hommage, qui inclue une biographie, une vue d'ensemble de son travail, et des interviews,est proposé en célébration de son quatre-vingt-treize ans.
  

Commentary

• Recueillir des Jeux de Ficelle  Papouasie-Nouvelle-Guinée en  1972-75 , par Philip D. Noble, Prestwick, Ecosse, (pages 39-46) - De 1972 à1975 Philip Noble à travaillé en Papouasie-Nouvelle-Guinée en tant que missionnaire pour l'Église Anglicane. Pendant son séjour, il a recueilli plus de 100 jeux de ficelle et tours, qu'il a plus tard publié dans un livre. Cet article décrit ses aventures passées à recueillir et les impressions de ses informateurs.
  
• Succession: L'art Art de relier les jeux de Ficelle , par Sam Cannarozzi Yada, Parcieux, France, (pages 47-55) - Succession est l'art d'exécuter dans un mouvement fluide, une série de jeux de ficelle reliés. Dans cet article l'auteur décrit la manière de raconter une histoire en employant une longue série de jeux de ficelle reliés.

Research Reports

• Topological Psychology and String Figures, by Guy Massat and Isabelle Normand, Paris, France, (pages 56-62) - Creating string figures is an exceptional method for understanding two fundamental concepts in contemporary science: emptiness and the theory of knots. Here the authors examine both concepts and briefly describe their use of string figures to treat psychopathological disorders.
• Polynesian String Figures and Rongorong Additional Remarks, by Sergei V. Rjabchikov, Krasnodar, Russia, (pages 63-76) - Based on historic accounts, it is known that Easter Island string figures (kai-kai) were intimately associated with the island's famous writing system (rongorongo): pupils enhanced their memory skills by learning to make string figures, then proceeded to learn the rongorongo script. In addition, the chants that accompanied the string figures were recited in the same manner that rongorongo records were recited. But was this association unique to Easter Island? In this article I compare string figure design motifs from Easter Island, Hawaii, the Tuamotus, the Marquesas Islands, Tonga, and New Zealand with rongorongo glyphs as a means of demonstrating that in ancient times, the script may have been known throughout Polynesia.
• String Figures as Indicators of Cultural Connections — an unpublished essay by Erich M. von Hornbostel, translated by Udo Engelhardt, Berlin, Germany, and Mark A. Sherman, Pasadena, California, (pages 77-84) - The following essay was written by ethnomusicologist Erich M. von Hornbostel (1877-1935) in response to criticism he received concerning his proposed shorthand notation for recording string figure construction methods. In it, the author defends his belief that methods are essential for evaluating repertoire similarities and therefore should be recorded. He also argues that string figures can and should be used as indicators of cultural relatedness or prior contact.
• Proposal for an Annotated String Figure Bibliography, by Richard Ratajczak, Sydney, Australia (pages 85-91) - Bibliographies are essential when doing research in any field. Unfortunately, most bibliographies provide author and title information only, with little or no description of what each entry contains. In this article, the author shows how entries in a string figure bibliography can be annotated with text and single-letter codes to help define content. He also demonstrates the utility of listing by name each string figure mentioned in a given publication.
• Reconstructing String Figure Patterns, by Joseph D'Antoni, Queens, New York, (pages 92-104) - By reversing the steps needed to dissolve a string figure, the original pattern can be reconstructed. Previously collected string figures, made by unknown methods, can then be duplicated. This idea is demonstrated by recovering two Roth Plate string figures.
• String Figures from Western Nepal, by Ann Sturley, Honolulu, Hawaii, and Daniel McCarthy, Riverside, California, (pages 105-119) - Descriptions of string figures from Nepal are exceedingly rare. In this article the authors present eight string figures and one series (the ubiquitous cat's cradle) gathered last year in Jhin, a small village in Myagdi district of Western Nepal. Some of the figures employ techniques previously recorded in neighboring Tibet, India, and Indonesia.

• Two String Figures from Central Nepal, by David Titus, Lawton, Oklahoma, (pages 120-125) - The two string figures described in this article were collected in November, 1997, from a woman living in Tansen, Nepal. Both are closely related to figures gathered in neighboring Tibet.
• Jeux de ficelle de Chine et du Tibet , par Will Wirt, Port Angeles, Washington, (pages 126-149) -  les descriptions en anglais de jeux de ficelle chinois sont très rares. Cet article décrit un certain nombre de nouvelles figures recueillies dans la Province du Yunnan, Municipalité de Pékin, et Lhassa, Tibet en 1997 (J'ai traduit presque toutes les figures ).
• Petite Tortue: Une série du  Jeu de Ficelle de Chine , par Axel Reichert, Bad Oldesloe, Allemagne (pages 150-153) - La série du jeu de ficelle décrite dans cet article comprend quatre motifs: petite tortue, petit nid, bretelles, et poisson. La série m'a été montré par un garçon nommé Xu Zhang, qui avait appris la série alors qu'il allait au jardin d'enfant à Lבn Zhou, Chine (province du Gan chu ). Elle est très apparentée à une série du Japon.
• Generalizing the Trap — an old string trick re-examined, by Gelvin Stevenson, Bronx, New York, (pages 153-158) - The Trap is a widely distributed string trick in which a volunteer's wrist is first caught, then set free by repeating an earlier move. The trick is known worldwide (Storer 1988: 278-279). In this article the author systematically varies the openings and directions of insertions to better understand how the trick works and to enhance the fun. A simple rule is then devised that predicts whether the volunteer's wrist will be set free or remain trapped.
• Usage de jeux de Ficelle pour l'Enseignement de l'Adresse Mathématique  — Partie 2: Le Système Dix Hommes, par James R. Murphy (inoli), Whitestone, New York (pages 159-209) - Les jeux de ficelle enseignent la persistance, la concentration, et la confiance ainsi que le succès ultime. Cet article présente le second "système" des quatre "systèmes" du jeu de ficelle développés par l'auteur pour enseigner aux étudiants en math à penser logiquement. La séquence tissage de la figure mère  — Dix Hommes — est d'abord décomposer en plusieurs phases.L'auteur illustre alors  comment chacune des phases peut être systématiquement modifiée pour créer litérallement des millions de motifs différents. L'auteur décrit aussi comment les jeux de ficelle peuvent aider les étudiants à comprendre des concepts mathématiques fondamentaux variés (nombres inverse, inverses additif, matrices).
• Dancing Man and Butterfly Queen — two recently invented string figures, by A.J. Oxton, Centre Conway, New Hampshire, (pages 210-214) - The two string figures described in this article were collected from a school teacher residing in New Hampshire. Both are delightful variations of commonly known figures. The latter is a short series accompanied by a story.
• Flirt Ficelle — une Collection de Technique des Jeux de Ficelle , par Steve Newkirk, Ojai, California, (pages 215-259) - Cet article présente cinquante-quatre jeux de ficelle inventés en 1969. L'autre montre comment des éléments répétitifs du motifs peuvent être employés pour construire une multitudes de jeux de ficelle élaborés. Il introduit aussi une nouvelle méthode les motifs finaux, dorénavant connue en tant qu'Extension  Newkirk.
• Fun With an Eight Foot Loop, by Martin Probert, Plymouth, England, (pages 260-269) - Complex string figures require long loops since much string is consumed by the central design. In this article the author presents several recent creations that illustrate this principle. Probert's fanciful creations include a series of figures with sheepshank knots, a 58-Mesh Hammock, Cat's Whiskers, Millipede Climbing a Tree, and Evolving Star — an iterative series that features an interlacing design motif.

Literature update - by Mark A. Sherman (page 270): A list of string figure articles and books recently discovered by our members.

Book and Video Reviews - by Sergei V. Rjabchikov, Joseph D'Antoni and Mark A. Sherman (pages 271-290)

• Igry s verevochkoy [String Games; in Russian], by E.Y. Afonkina and A.S. Afonkina.
• Ayatori Books, An illustrated listing of 55 Japanese string figure books.
• String Game Loops & Booklet, by Anne Akers Johnson.
• Getting Nimble Fingers (Video), by Sal and A. Johnston Abraham.

Letters to the Editor (pages 291-297)

• String Figures in Mitanni - Sergei V. Rjabchikov, Krasnodar, Russia. A letter drawing attention to the image of a child with a loop of string on an ancient seal from the Indo-European homeland.
• Hikiami — Japanese or Siberian? - Yukio Shishido, Kyoto, Japan. The author points out that a string figure collected on the northernmost island of Japan is actually of Siberian origin.
• Plinthios Brokhos — String Figure or Sailor's Knot? - James O. Porter, Mars, Pennsylvania. The author explains how to tie an old Greek sailor's knot which closely resembles a string figure from ancient Greece that was used by physicians for setting a broken jawbone.

• Silk Parachute Chord - James O. Porter, Mars, Pennsylvania. According to the author, silk parachute cord is the best string for making string figures.
• Creation vs. Invention - Carey C.K. Smith. L'auteur soutient qu'étant donné que les jeux de ficelle sont une forme d'art, ils sont donc créés, et non inventés.
• Natto means Soy Beans, but... - Tetsuo Sato, Kumamoto, Japan. A note explaining that the traditional Japanese string figure known as Natto represents the straw box in which soy beans are fermented.
• Costa Rican Chicken Toes - C.J. Hartman, castle Rock, Colorado. The author describes the frustration she experienced trying to collect string figures during a recent visit to Costa Rica.
• Diamonds Cross the Atlantic - Philip Noble, Prestwick, Ayrshire, Scotland. The author points out that a three diamond figure he collected in South Africa is also known up and down the Amazon.
• Diamant Oklahoma - Dave Titus, Lawton, Oklahoma. Décrit une méthode pour réaliser une figure un diamant, que l'auteur a recueillie d'un indien Kiowa.
• String Figure Goes to Heaven - Dave Titus, Lawton, Oklahoma. Obituary of Ed Grusing, a lifelong string figure enthusiast who was recently buried with string in hand.
• String Figure Paintings - E. Clare Stewart, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. A description of three acrylic paintings that illustrate the manufacture of a string figure and the cultural implications of the final design.
• Reluctant Reader Enchanted by String - Gail de Vos, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. A touching story of a young boy who was coaxed into learning how to read with the help of a string figure book.

Modern String Figures (pages 298-302)

• A Horse, Framed Diamond - invented by Pat Whale, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
• Framed Ladders (odd and even number) - invented by Kazuo Kamiya, Saitama, Japan.
• Monkey and Inchworm - invented by Toshio Maruyama, Saitama, Japan.
• Trick from Okinawa - collected by Hiroshi Noguchi, Tokyo, Japan.
• Eiffel Tower - invented by Sam Cannarozzi Yada, Parcieux, France.