List of string figures
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The following is a list of string figures, various figures which can be made using a loop of string, and which occur in games such as cat's cradle. Most of the titles are translations and/or descriptions.
Format
Explanation of the format of these listings:
- "name 1" (location of name), [specific citation] "name 2" (location 2): opening position[, extension, notes] [general citation]
- subsequent figures
List












- "Ace of Diamonds" (Hawaii: "E-ke-ma-nu"): position 1, similar to Cat's cradle's "Mattress"[4][5]
- "Ace of Hearts" (Hawaii: "E-ke-pe-ki"): ???[5]
- "Ace of Spades" (Hawaii: "E-ke-ha-ka"): ???[5]
- "Andromeda Galaxy" (invented): opening A[6]
- "Antares" (Nauru): opening A[7]
- "Apache Door" (Apache),[8] "Pancho" (Navajo),[8] "Sling" (Zuni),[8] "Tent Door"/"String Bag"/"Horde"/"Poncho"/"Streamers"/"Fish Net"[9] (N. America): opening A,[10] (Navajo): position 1[11]
- "Apache Teepee" (Apache): nonstandard[12]
- "Arms" (Nunivak Inuit: "moguk"): ???[13]
- "Legs" ("eruk")[13]
- "Arrow" (Navajo: "Ka"): opening A[14]
- "Baby Being Born" (Wadaman): position 1[15]
- "Bagobo Diamonds" (Bagobo, also Linao Moros): opening A[16]
- "Bagobo Two Diamonds" (Bagobo): opening A[16]
- "Bear's Den" (Kwakiutl):[17]
- "Bird" (Papua): position 1[20]
- "Bird House" (Hawaii: "A-na-ma-nu"): ???[5]
- "Bird's Nest" (Navajo): position 1[21]
- "Bow" (Navajo: "Atl-ti"): Navajo opening[22]
- "Breastbone and Ribs" (Inuit: "Grut"): ribcage opening[23]
- "Breasts" (Hawaii: "Wai-u-la-wa"): ???[5]
- "Brush House" (Zuni: "Pi-cho-wai, ham-pun-nai"), "Hut" (Pueblo: "Nathu"), (Klamath): nonstandard[24]
- "Six-Pointed Star": continuation[24]
- "Butterfly" (Navajo: "Ga-lo-ki/'Ga-hi-ki"): Navajo opening[25][26]
- "Butterfly" (Nauru: "Ijewaioi"): ???[27]
- "Candle Thief" (England, Ireland, Germany): nonstandard[28]
- "Canoe with Two Masts" (Torres Straits: "Nar"): opening A, requires two people or use of a toe[29]
- "Canoe with Two Sails" (Gilbert Islands, chant: Te Wa Ma le-Na): opening A[30]
- "Caribou" (Cumberland Sound Inuit: "Tuktuqdjung"),[31] "Caribou" (St. Michael Island Inuit: "tuk-tuk"):[13] opening A
- "Caroline Islands Catch" (Ngatik): opening A, similar to "King Fish"[32]
- "Caroline Islands Diamonds" (Ngatik): nonstandard, Caroline extension[33]
- "Carrying Bundles of Wood" (Navajo): opening A[34]
- "Casting the Fish-Spear" (Torres Straits): opening A,[35] similar to "Fish-Spear"
- "Catching a Cockroach" (Samoa): nonstandard[36]
- Cat's cradle (Europe),[37] game of string (Russia),[38] kang sok (Southern China: "well rope"),[39] Jack in the Pulpit[40] (regional U.S.): Cradle
- 1: "Cradle": around wrists[37][41]
- 2: "Soldier's Bed",[37] "Mattress"[42]
- 3: "Candles",[37] "Calm Sea"[42]
- 4: "Manger",[37] "Upturned Cradle"[42]
- End: "Saw"[37]
- 5 & 12: "Diamonds",[37] Carpet, (Russia)[38] "Mattress Turned Over"[42]
- 6: "Cat's Eye"[37][42]
- 7: "Fish in a Dish",[37] "Pig on Pegs"[42]
- 10: "Hand Drum"/"Scraggly"[37]
- End: "Two Royal Crowns"/"Grandfather Clock"[37]
- End: "Lucky Tea Kettle"[37]
- "Chicken Bum" (Guianas, Peru, Sierra Leone), "Wink" (Hawaii): nonstandard[43]
- "Chochaío" (Palau: "Bird"): opening B[44]
- "Circles and Triangles" (Ngatik: Bur-bur-ani jau): opening A[45]
- "Clothes Line" (Cape Prince of Wales Inuit: "iniarat"): ???[13]
- "Cobweb" (Whanganui): position 1[46]
- "Coconut Net" (Gilbert Islands: "Teibu Te Tatai"): around wrists[47]
- "Coral" (Uap: "Melang"): opening A, Caroline extension[48]
- "Variation of Coral" (invented)[49]
- "Cup and Saucer" (Europe),[50][51] "Sake Cup"/"House" (Japan),[50] "Canoe with Outrigger" (New Caledonia[51]),[50] "Skinning the Bison"/"Dressing a Skin"[52] (Salish):[51] opening A
- "Owl's Eyes" (Europe): opening A[53]
- "Cutting the Hand" (Inuit): opening A[54]
- "Dancer" (Caroline and Loyalty Islands): position 1[55]
- "Diadem",[56] "Jacob's Ladder" (Europe),[56][57] "Osage Diamonds" (Osage),[56][57][58] "Fence"/"Ladder" (Irish),[58] "Calabesh Net" (Africa),[57] "Le pont de Quebec"[57] (Quebec, "Quebec Bridge"): opening A
- "Dog On a Leash" (Nunivak Island Inuit: "kaymuchta"): ???[13]
- "Dog with Large Ears" (Copper Inuit): nonstandard[60]
- "Dravidian Trick" (Dravidian):[61]
- "Drunken Tree" (Eastern Toba): opening A[62]
- "Eel" (Papua), "Catching Crabs" (Gilbert Islands): nonstandard[63]
- "Egarawinago" (Nauru: "Lady of Quality"): ???[27]
- "Egona and Egameang Sitting On a Stone" (Nauru): ???[27]
- "Erupting Volcano" (Mapuche): opening A[64]
- "Fighting Head-hunters" (Torres Straits: Ares, or Murray and Duaur men fighting): opening A[65]
- "Find the Owl" (Navajo): opening A[34]
- "Flint and Steel" (Yap: "Nifi")/"Origin of Fire" (Torres Straits),[66] "Chellaba" (Africa: "turn over"),[67] "Tinder-box"[68] (Caroline Islands): position 1
- "Finger Catch" (Chippewa): nonstandard[69]
- "Fire Drill" (Kwakiutl): opening B[70]
- "Fish" (???): Murray opening[71]
- "Pig" (Lifu Island, Loyalty Islands)[72]
- "Frog" (Patomana, British Guiana)[72]
- "Silau" (Papuan, Goodenough Island: "Evil Spirit"): Murray opening[71]
- "Fish-Spear" (Torres Straits: "Baur"),[73][74][75] "Pitching a Tent" (Salish, B.C.),[74][75] "Sea-Egg (Echinus) Spear" (Clayoquaht),[75] "Duck Spear" (Alaska),[74] "Coconut Palm Tree" (Africa),[74] "Parachute" (Europe),[76] "Witches Broom"[74] (Europe): position 1,[74][75] similar to "Hogan" but with three lines, and similar to "Casting the Fish-Spear"
- "Floor Mat" (Nauru): ???[27]
- "Flower" (Navajo): position 1[77]
- "Fly"/"Mosquito"/"Smashing a Coconut"/"Flying Fox" (Solomon Islands[78]): nonstandard[79]
- "Fly On the Nose" (Torres Straits: "Buli"): nonstandard, trick[80]
- "Flying Bird" (South Sea Islands): position 1[81]
- "Four Boys Hand-in-Hand" (Australia): Murray opening[47]
- "Fox and Whale" (King Island Inuit: "achvuk-tezeuk"):[13] position 1[82]
- "Ghost Dance" (New Guinea): two person[83]
- "Gated Well"/"Well" (South Sea Islands),[84] "Velovelo" (Fiji: "Dugout Canoe"), "Ti Meta" (Murray Island: "Ti Bird's Nest"),[85] "Basket"/"Wooden Food Bowl" (???): opening A[86]
- "Giraffe Eating Grass" (Japan): opening A, variation of "Two Brown Bears"[90]
- "Ha-le-ku-mu-ma-ka-a" (Hawaii): ???[5]
- "Hammock" (Muslim): position 1[91]
- "Hammock [Weaving]" (N. or S. America): two person[92]
- "'Hanging'" (Philippines & Yap): nonstandard, trick[93]
- "Hare" (Inuit: "Ukaliaqdjung"): ???[94]
- "Hawk" (Wardaman): opening A, two people[95]
- "Headhunters" (Murray island): opening A[96]
- "Hill and Two Ponds" (Inuit: "Qaqaqdjung Sesinging"): ???[94]
- "Hogan" (Navajo): nonstandard,[97] "Parachute" with four lines
- "House" (Australia): around wrists, two people[98]
- "House" (Yap: "Naun", Maori, North Queensland): opening A, two people[99]
- "Hull of a Ship" (Nauru: "Deimano"):[27]
- "Hunter Stalking a Seal" (Inuit): position 1[100]
- "Ibunemun" (Nauru: "Man"): ???[27]
- "Iburenio" (Nauru: a growth in the tomana tree): opening A[55]
- "Japanese Butterfly" (Japan): nonstandard[101][102]
- "Kani Mumun" (Gilbert Islands: 'dispersing clouds' or 'flight of the conquered'): position 1[103]
- "King Fish" (Murray Island: "Geigi", Mabuiag: "Dangal"[Dugong/Sea-cow]), "Kamo" (Torres Straits: "The Thief"):[104] opening A,[105] similar to "Caroline Islands Catch"
- "King's Throne"/"The Bed" (Gilbert Islands: Bao-n te nea): opening A[106]
- "Kiwi" (Maori): opening A[107]
- "Ko-he" (Hawaii): ???[5]
- "Laia Flower"/"Lotus Flower (New Hebrides): opening A[108][109]
- "Lairo" (Fiji: "Land Crab"): position 1 variant[110]
- "Lake Fish" (Anvik Inuit: "nanvumcheseah"): ???[13]
- "Leashing/Lines of Lochiel's Dogs"[111] (Scotland, Ireland, England),[112] "Raven's Feet"/"Crow's Feet" (Tanana Inuit),[13] "Ptarmigan Feet"/"Crows' Feet"[111] (N. America),[112] "Cock's Feet" (France),[112] "Chicken Toes"[111]/"Wooden Spoon" (Africa: "Umuzwa"),[112] "Emus'/Cockerels' Feet" (???),[111] "Two Tents" (???),[111] "Spade" (New Zealand),[113] "Ducks' Feet" (Scotland): opening A, nearly identical to "Two Hogans"[112]
- "Lightning" (Navajo: "Atsinil-klish", Tewa: "Vo-pi-ri-dai"): Navajo opening[116][117][118]
- "Little Boat"/"Two Boats" (King Island Inuit: "kayak"/"malruk-kayak"): ???[13]
- "Little Boy Carrying Wood" (Klamath): Navajo opening[119]
- "Little Fishes" (Murray Island: "Tup"): Navajo opening[120]
- "Little Fish That Hides in the Mud" (Klamath): nonstandard[121]
- "Little Girl with Pigtails" (Japan): opening A[122]
- "Lizard" (Navajo: Nashoi-dichizhi): Navajo opening[123][124]
- "Lozenge" (invented): opening A[125]
- "Ma-ka-pe-na" (Hawaii): ???[5]
- "Man" (Navajo: "Diné"): opening A, resembles "Coral"[126]
- "Man Climbing a Tree" (Australia): opening A[127]
- "Man in a Hammock" (???): around wrists[128]
- "Man on/and a Bed" (Torres Straits: "Le Sik"): opening A[129][130]
- "Hoochie Koochie Man" (Europe)[130]
- "Many Stars"[131]/"Starry Sky"[132] (Navajo: "Son-tlani"): opening A[133]
- "Firmament": two people[134]
- "Net" (Hawaii: "U-pe-na"): ???[5]
- "New Mittens" (Tanana: "ajakailaiguk"): ???[13]
- "O-ko-le-a-mo" (Hawaii): ???[5]
- "One Chief" (Yap: "Pilun"): position 1, Caroline extension[135]
- "Owl" 1 ("Nas-ja"): variation[133]
- "Owl" 2: variation[136]
- "Owl" 3: variation[136]
- "Seven Stars" ("Dil-ye-he"[Pleiades]): variation[137]
- "Two-Horned Star"[Son-bi-tere]/"Cow's Head": variation[138]
- "Two Coyotes" ("Ma-i-at-sani-il-watli"): variation[138]
- "Big Star": variation[138]
- "North Star" ("Tsun-tsi"): variation[137]
- "Carrying Wood" ("Chiz-jǒ-yĕt-lĭ"): variation[133]
- "Owl's Net": variation[139]
- "M" (Omaha): opening A[140]
- "Maui's Lasso" (Hawaii): opening A[141]
- "Melon Rind" (Papuan, Bamu River): position 1[142]
- "Moe Hora Hia" (Tuamotus: "Ghost's Path"): opening A[143]
- "Monkey Bum"[144]/"Flying Parrot" ([British] Guiana), "Wink" (Hawaii): nonstandard[145]
- "Moth" (Zulu), "Spectacles" (Europe): opening A[146][147]
- "Mouse" (Murray Island: "Kebe Mokeis"), "Express Train" (Germany), (Inuit, N. & S. America, Japan, Philippines, Australia): nonstandard, "Probably the most widely distributed of all the string figures."[148][149]
- "Mouth" (Topek Inuit: "Rote"),[150] "Trap" (Cape Prince of Wales Inuit: "keezook"):[13] Navajo opening
- "Mrs. Crab" (South Pacific), "Elastic Band" (Japan), "Twitcher" (Hawaii): position 1[151]
- "Mr. Spider" (Gilbert Islands): opening A[30]
- Murray opening[152]/Index opening (technical): opening position
- "Naio Tree" (Kauai and Niihau: False Sandalwood): position 1[153]
- Navajo opening (Navajo), Opening B (technical):[154] opening position[117][155][115]
- "Neneuri" (Gilbert Islands: maybe someone's name): opening A[142]
- "Night"/"Darkness"[115] (Hawaii: "Po",[5] also Pacific, Japan, Africa, South America): opening A[156]
- "Twinkling Star"[156]
- No Name (Ngatik): opening A[157]
- "One Hogan" (Navajo): nonstandard[158]
- Opening A[159][160][161]/Japanese opening[162] (technical: Inuit, N. & S. America, Papua[161]): position 1
- "Open the Gate" (Hawaii), "Island Separated from Land" (Fiji), "Kokoko" (New Guinea: bird call): opening A[163]
- "Osage Two Diamonds" (Osage): opening A[164][165]
- "Owl" (Navajo: "Nasha"): position 1, similar to "Starry Night"[166]
- "Palm Tree" (Torres Straits: "U"): opening A[167]
- "Paths to the Well" (Gilbert Islands): opening A, "clearly similar to," "Iburenio"[47]
- "Plinthios Brokhos" (Ancient Greece),[168][169][170] "Sun Clouded Over" (Australia),[171] "Giant Clam" (Fiji):[172] opening A
- "Polar Bear" (North Alaskan Inuit): position 1, variant of "Swan"[173]
- Pole Star (???): opening A[174]
- "Porcupine" (Klamath), "Wolf"/"Wolverine" (Cape Prince of Wales: "koftsick"/"kulonik"),[13] "Fox" (???): opening A[175]
- Position 1/First position[176] (technical): opening position[177][178]
- Position 2 (technical): opening position[179]
- "Post" (Hawaii: "Pou"): ???[5]
- "Priestess" (Nauru: "Etaroking"): ???[27]
- "Pu" (Hawaii): ???[5]
- "Pump" (Hawaii: "Pau-ma-wai"): ???[5]
- "Pygmy Diamonds" (Batwa): Navajo opening[180]
- "Rabbit" (Klamath): opening A[139][181][182]
- "Rabbit" (Anvik Inuit: "makadok"), "Bird On Eggs" (St. Michael Island): ???[13]
- "Rain" (Nauru: "O-eron"): opening A[47]
- "Rattlesnake and a Boy" (Klamath): opening A[183]
- "Rectangle" (???): position 1[4]
- "Ribcage" (Alaska Inuit): ribcage opening[184]
- Ribcage opening (technical): opening position[185]
- "Salt Cave" (Hawaii): opening A, variation of "Fishnet"[186]
- "Sandsnipe" (Kiribati): nonstandard[187]
- "Saw" (Hawaii: "Pa-hi-o-lo"),[5] "Saw" (Scotland): "Cradle"[188]
- "Sawing Together" (around the world),[189] "Saw Mill" (Ireland):[190] position 1/nonstandard, two people, trick
- "Scarab" (invented): all moves but one taken from "Well", "Crab", and "Fence"[191]
- "Seagull"/"Man Carrying a Kayak" (Nunivak Island Inuit: "tc-c-kyack"[13]): opening A[192]
- "Sealskin Carrying-bag" (St. Michael Island Inuit: "aginuk"): ???[13]
- "Kidneys" ("taktuk"): continuation[13]
- "Sea-snake" (Murray Island: "Pagi"):[193]
- "Seasnake" (Nauru: "Iiyanibongo"): ???[27]
- "Second Worm" (Navajo): Navajo opening[194]
- "See-saw" (Hawaii: "Ma-hi-ki"): ???[5]
- "Seven Diamonds" (Brillo Nuevo): nonstandard[195]
- "Sewing Machine" (Basel): "Cradle"[196]
- "Ship" (King Island Inuit: "umiakbuk"): ???[13]
- "Siberian House"[197][198]/"Two Brown Bears and Their Caves"[199] (Big Diomede Island Inuit):[13] opening A
- "Two Inuit Running Away" ("mugalonik enuck okparuktuk")[13]
- "Smith's Secret 1" (Europe): nonstandard[200]
- "Smith's Secret 2" (Alaskan Inuit): nonstandard[201]
- "Spectacles" (invented): opening A[202]
- "Square" (invented): begins as does "Apache Door"[203]
- "Stairs" (Cape Prince of Wales Inuit: "tutumukaligat"): ???[13]
- "Star of David" (???): nonstandard, two people[204]
- "Stickleback" (Guianas): nonstandard, two people[205]
- "Storm Clouds" (Navajo): Navajo opening[206]
- "Sun" (Nauru Island): opening A[207]
- "Sun" (Klamath): opening A[139]
- "Sunset" (Murray island: "Lem Baraigida"),[208] (Mabuiag: "Dògai", or "Star"): opening A, related to "Fighting Head-Hunters"[209]
- "Swan" (Mackenzie Delta Inuit): position 1,[210] variant of "Polar Bear"
- "Ta Ai" (Gilbert Islands: "Sun"): opening A[142]
- "Tallow Dips" (Great Britain): nonstandard[211]
- "Tao Ta 16" (Japan): opening A[212]
- "Ten Men"[34] (Ngatik),[213] "Turtle" (Australia),[213] "White Betel Leaf"/"Leaves of the Bread-fruit Tree"[34] (Pacific): opening A
- "Threading a Closed Loop" (Omaha, Pawnee, Kwakiutl, Japan, Caroline Islands): nonstandard, trick[216]
- "Three Stars" (Uap: "Dilipi-tuf"): opening A, Caroline extension[217]
- "Thumb Catch[er]"[79] (Osage, England), "Bow-String" (Tanana[13]): opening A, trick[218]
- "Tinamitto" (Nauru: "Dandy"): ???[27]
- "Toad and a Man" (Kwakiutl): opening A[219]
- "Torres Straits Lizard" (Murray Island: "Monan"), "Intestines of a Turtle" (Mabuiag: "Maita"): nonstandard, trick[220]
- "Tortoise" (???): ribcage opening, two person[221]
- "Tree Hole/Hole in the Tree"/"Sun"/"Moon"/"Female Sexual Organs" (Chama & Oceania): opening A[115]
- "Tree with Roots and Branches" (Guiana): position 1[55]
- "Trigger Fish" (Torres Straits: "Nageg"): "Well"[222]
- "Turtle" (Japan): opening A[223]
- "Turtle" (Yap): nonstandard, Caroline extension, resembles "Bagobo Diamonds"[224]
- "Ten Times": continuation, any even number of times possible[224]
- "Twin Stars" (Navajo: "Sono-tsihu")(Zuni): Navajo opening, closely resembles "Osage Two Diamonds"[225]
- "Two Boys Fighting for an Arrow" (Klamath): opening A variation[226]
- "Two Chiefs" (Yap: "Logaru-pilun"): opening A, Caroline extension[227]
- "Two Coyotes" (Navajo): opening A[115]
- "Cow's Head"/"Star with Two Horns" (Navajo)[166]
- "Two Dolphins" (invented): opening A[49][166]
- "Two Dragonflies" (Gilbert Islands: "U-oman ni keketi"): opening A[228]
- "Two Elks" (Klamath): opening A[139]
- "Two Hogans" (Navajo): opening A[229]
- "Two Islands Joined by a Log" (Warrau): opening A[230]
- "Two Islands Linked by a Bridge" (Warau, Guiana): opening A[228]
- "Two Little Boys Running Away" (Klamath): Navajo opening[231]
- "Two Mountains and a Stream" (St. Michael Island Inuit: "tituchtak"): ???[13]
- "Two Ptarmigans" (Cape Prince of Wales Inuit: "mugalonik-okhozgiuk"): ???[13]
- "Two Stars" (Navajo): opening A[232]
- "Two Wells" (Gilbert Islands: "Tan iti ran"): around wrists[228]
- "Two Women" (Nauru: "Echeog and Edawaroi"): ???[27]
- "Ussugdjung" (Cumberland Sound Inuit: "circle" or "sun"): position 1[115][233]
- "W" (Omaha): opening A[234]
- "Wanderer" (invented): nonstandard[235]
- "What Will You Do?" (Kwakiutl), "Old Woman" (Bella Coola): opening B[236]
- "Wheelbarrow" (invented): Navajo opening[155]
- "[White] Man in a Bed" (N. America): opening A[237]
- "[White Man's] Camp Bed"/"Fetish Man's Breastplate"/"Sumbo" (central Africa: "Fishing Net"): nonstandard[238]
- "Winking Eye" (Kauai): non-standard[239]
- "Wolf" (Inuit: "Amaroqdjung"): ???[94]
- "Woman" (Nauru: "Egattamma"): ???[27]
- "Woman Who Walks a Lot" (N. New Guinea): opening A[240]
- "Women of Rank" (Nauru: "Etima and Etowa"; Nauru women of rank): ???[27]
- "Worm" (Navajo): Navajo opening[241]
- "Would You Like a Sweet/Yam?" (northern Australia),[242] "Will You Have a Yam?"/"Food" (Torres Straits: "Lewer"):[243] position 1
- "Yam Thief"/"Snake in the Trees" (South America), "Mouse" (Inuit): nonstandard[244]
See also
References
External links
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