String Figures
String figures are a type of
entertainment that is known in every part of the world. Anthropologists have
recorded many figures in the ethnographic literature. String figures are known by
various names—cat’s cradle (England), string talking (Japan), well-rope
(China), the ladder game (South Celebes), wolf talking (Korea)---each culture
has it’s own descriptive term.
Detailed instructions for beginning moves such as Opening
A, names of strings and hand positions can be found in chapter 3 of Roberta
Edwards Lenkeit’s text Introducing Cultural Anthropology (Mayfield,
2001), as well as Carolyn Furness Jayne String Figures and How to Make Them,
Dover Publications, NY 1962 (originally published 1906) and W. W. Rouse Ball Fun
with String Figures, Dover Publications, NY 1971.
The best string is a medium-weight cotton household
string. Tie ends of a piece about 6
feet long to form a loop. You might experiment to find a length of string that
is comfortable for you to work with but 5 ˝ to 6 feet lengths work best for
most figures.
In Introducing Cultural Anthropology and in class
you learned to form Opening A and make the figures of Outrigger Canoe, Cup and
Saucer, Rocket Ship, and Throwing Spear. Once you are comfortable doing these
you can proceed to the following figures. Thousands of our students have helped
us to write these directions so that they are user friendly. Some find it
easier to have a second person read the instructions to you as you create the
figures. Work through each sequence slowly.
Quick Review of Opening A—an opening sequence for many figures
1. string
in first position (loop runs behind thumb/across front of palm and behind
little finger of both hands)
2. with
right index, pick up left palm string from underneath and return
3. with
left index, pick up right palm string below right index from underneath and
return
Quick
Review of Basic "body" directions:
·
with string in Opening A & hands in "Basic
position" (thumbs pointing up and fingers pointing away from you) look at
your strings:
·
Thumb has a "near" string [closest to your chest
and positioned at base of thumb] and thumb has a “far” string [on far side of
thumb and crossing the opposite thumb and continues to the opposite index finger
and becomes the “near index string”]
·
Index has a “near” string [closest to your chest] and a
"far" string [far side of index finger and crosses the opposite baby
and becomes the “near baby string”]
·
No string on middle or ring fingers
·
Baby has a "near” [close to your chest - running from
far side of opposite index finger] and a 'far' string [runs straight between
baby fingers]
More String Figures
HEAD
ESCAPE
(Philippines)
This figure is an example of a catch (or escape)
figure.
1. Place string over your head, hanging in front
of your chest in a loop.
2. Grasp
right string hanging on right side of chest and pass this string COUNTER
CLOCKWISE around head [i.e. string moves across chest to the left and goes
completely around head/neck.
3. Now
perform OPENING A (important: remember to use your RIGHT INDEX
finger first).
4. Drop
baby fingers - you now have a single
loop hanging from the index fingers. The strings between your index fingers and
thumbs cross each other.
5. Lift
your hands straight up and place the big loop over your head. It is important to make sure that the single
string part of the loop goes under your chin and the crossed strings that run
from thumbs to index fingers goes over the top of your head and ends up at the
back of your neck.
6. Gently release thumbs/index fingers from
string and lay strings on your chest.
7. Now
you are ready for the escape. VERY GENTLY pull down hand-over-hand] on the
longest string on the LEFT of your chest (it is part of a large loop). It usually takes 4-6 hand over hand
pull-downs to accomplish complete release of the head. If you have followed the
directions correctly the string loops from behind the head all fall away.
If
you have not followed directions correctly the head remains trapped. It
is very important when
performing this figure to do the final moves slowly so that if you have made a
mistake you do not hurt your neck. This figure is not recommended for children
younger than ten.
HANDCUFFS
(requires a partner)
This is a catch (or escape) figure.
1. Do OPENING A
2. Partner
stands in front of you, places palms of hands together and extends both hands
through the loop created by your index fingers (large center opening in the
figure).
3. Release
all strings EXCEPT THUMBS [partner is now handcuffed] This is the
"catch" part of the figure.
4. Do OPENING A again [keeping partner
handcuffed]
5. Partner
extends both hands UP THROUGH the INDEX FINGER LOOP (coming from below by your
wrists).
6. Now
you are ready for the escape trick.
Release all strings EXCEPT THUMBS and pull your hands apart - handcuffs
will be released from partner.
Note: young children particularly enjoy learning
this figure.
MOTH
(Zulu)
This is a pattern figure.
note: Try
doubling your initial loop before beginning this figure as it requires less
string.
note: This
figure demonstrates the mirror imaging that was mentioned earlier. Each right
finger/thumb move is mirrored (or copied) by the left finger/thumb. As you
practice you will get better at doing such moves simultaneously, but it is O.K.
to do first one finger/thumb and then the other.
1. Do OPENING A.
2. Drop thumbs.
3. Thumbs
go OVER both index finger strings, and
pick up the near baby finger string from underneath on your thumbnails [mirrored moves]. Return thumbs
to BASIC POSITION (the new thumb string will slip down to the base of thumb as
you return to BASIC POSITION). You may
do thumbs simultaneously or one at a time.
4. Drop baby finger strings.
5. Both
hands: thumbnail picks up NEAR index string from below and return to BASIC
POSITION [now you have an upper and a lower near thumb string].
6. Carefully
lift left lower near thumb string over thumb and drop it between the thumb and
index finger. Repeat with right lower thumb string. CAUTION: Do not move upper
thumb strings and be careful not to release these.
7. You
will now note that a triangular loop has been created which is suspended from the
string running behind the index finger and thumb. Bend each index finger down
and place in the center of this triangular-shaped loop. Press the index fingers
against the palm.
8. Keeping
the forefinger pressed against the palm, rotate hands so palms FACE DOWN and
let the string on the back of the index finger slide off into the center.
Caution: do not lose thumb loop.
9. With
palms now facing DOWN [note: thumbs point down/fingers point away from you]
gently spread index fingers and thumbs to reveal the moth.
RELEASE: Drop thumb loops and slowly separate hands.
Note: the knot in your original string loop may tangle this release.
Note: The move that you made in step #6 of this
figure is often referred to
in the various literature as
"Navahoing the loop " [names for the early description of this move
as used among the Navaho] A lower
position loop is picked up and dropped over the thumb or finger while retaining
and not disturbing the upper loop on that finger. You should be familiar with this term so that you recognize it
when you research other figures in the literature.
SIBERIAN
HOUSE
(Little
Diomede Island,
Alaska &
Japan)
This is a pattern figure
1. Do OPENING A.
2. Both
hands rotate palms to face up. Bend fingers
and press them against palm [this will enclose both index finger strings and
the far thumb string]. Note the remaining near thumb string. Toss the NEAR THUMB string over the fist and
AWAY from your body in a single motion. Open hands and return to BASIC
POSITION. Note the loops on your baby fingers. Below these loops is a single
string running between the hands (and around the back of the hands). You will
also note that thumbs no longer have a string.
3. Both
thumbs now go between the upper near index finger string and lower near index
finger string (this one passes across the back of the hand.) Reach with thumbs and pick up from below the
single string running between the hands (below the baby finger loops ). Return
this string by pulling the thumbs back through the same path (that is under the
upper near index finger string but over the lower near index finger string).
Resume
BASIC POSITION.
4. Both
hands: lift the single string on back of wrist over the fingers and drop
between hands. You may accomplish this by using your teeth or using your thumb
and index fingers first on one hand and then the other. CAUTION: do not lose
any of the loops on thumbs, index fingers or baby fingers.
5. Position
thumbs pointing up and palms facing each other. You will now see the Siberian
House! Gently straighten house walls with forefingers.
6. GENTLY
release index finger loops to reveal two children playing next to the house. If
you gently pull your hands apart the house will collapse and the children will
flee into the woods - a jerky hand movement will add interest to the running
individuals. This last move is also the release move for this figure.
OSAGE DIAMONDS
(JACOB'S
LADDER)
1. Do OPENING A.
2. Drop thumbs.
3. Both
hands: rotate palms to face AWAY from
body. Pick up BOTTOM baby string from
underneath with thumbnail and rotate palms back to BASIC POSITION.
4. Both
hands: thumbs go OVER near index finger
string and pick up far index finger string from underneath . Return to BASIC
POSITION.
5. Drop baby finger strings.
6. Both
hands: baby finger goes OVER the near index string and picks up, from
underneath, the FAR thumb string [the single string on the far side of
thumb-remember that you are the point of reference]. Return to BASIC POSITION.
7. Both
hands: drop thumbs. Thumbs then go OVER the near and far index finger strings
and pick up the near baby finger strings, from underneath, with the thumbnail
and return thumbs to BASIC POSITION.
8. With
your right thumb and index finger, grasp the left near index finger string at
base of index finger (grasp this string on the finger side of the single string
that runs across the palm).
Lift this string and drop it
over the thumb (you will now have both index finger and thumb in the loop that
was on the index finger alone). Resume
BASIC POSITION.
9. Repeat
the move in #8 for the right hand. This
is another example of the mirror image moves common to string figures.
10. Both
hands: note that each thumb has an upper string [just moved from the index
finger] and a lower string. GENTLY pick
up the BOTTOM NEAR thumb string and drop over the thumb (between the thumb and
index finger) [i.e. you Navaho the loop].
11. Both
hands: GENTLY move hands to reveal a
triangle at the base of the thumb. Bend index finger and insert it into the
triangle. PRESS index finger against palm.
12. SLOWLY
rotate hands toward each other so the palms are facing DOWN and thumbs are
pointing at your chest [important: continue to press index finger against
palm]-your elbows will rise up away from your body during this maneuver. Let
string on the back of the index fingers slide off and simultaneously release
baby fingers. Continue to rotate the palms away, spread thumb and index so that
the thumbs point DOWN, and the index fingers point UP.
The diamonds should be
revealed. As you gain expertise, the
diamonds should be of nearly equal size.
RELEASE: Lay the completed figure in your lap. Locate the center of the figure where an
"X" is formed. Opposite the center of the "X" are upper and
lower parallel strings. Grasp these strings with your thumbs and index fingers
and pull in opposite directions.
APACHE
DOOR
(Apache)
This is a pattern figure with mirrored moves at
every step.
1. OPENING A.
2. With
right index finger and thumb grasp left index finger loop. Lift loop off of
index finger and insert entire left hand (all five fingers) through the loop.
Do same movement with other hand by picking up the right index finger loop with
the left index finger and thumb. Then lift loop off of index finger and insert
entire right hand through the loop.
3. With
each thumb simultaneously pick up the near baby finger strings from underneath
and return to BASIC POSITION.
Note the strings on your thumb.
There are two strings on the near side of your thumb and one string on the far
side of your thumb. There is also a string around the back of your hand.
4. With
baby fingers simultaneously pick up the single far thumb string from underneath
and return to BASIC POSITION. Pick up this string near the base of each thumb.
5. O.K.
take a deep breath before you proceed with the next moves. Rotate basic
position so that fingers point away from your chest and your thumbs point up.
The object of the next move is
to circle the thumb with all of the strings that are now between the hands. To
accomplish this sweep the left hand clockwise around the thumb going between
the thumb and index finger of the right hand.
Hold the right hand in the BASIC
POSITION and pull the left hand slightly down. This will reveal three strings
on the right thumb-two upper strings and one lower string.
With the left index finger and
thumb, grasp the two upper right thumb strings. Now gently pull your right thumb out of the loop. Let all strings
fall away from right thumb. Next,
reinsert right thumb back into the loop that is being held by the left thumb
and index finger. Resume BASIC POSITION.
You will now do a similar move
around the left thumb. To accomplish this sweep the right hand counterclockwise
around the left thumb going between the thumb and index finger of the left
hand.
Hold the left hand in the BASIC
POSITION and pull the right hand slightly down. This will reveal three strings
on the left thumb-two upper strings and one lower string.
With the right index finger and
thumb, grasp the two upper right thumb strings. Now gently pull your left thumb out of the loop. Let all strings
fall away from left thumb. Next,
reinsert left thumb back into the loop that is being held by the right thumb
and index finger. Resume BASIC
POSITION.
6. You
are now ready to make the final moves that will create the Apache Door. The object of these next moves is to lift
the single strings that are on the back of each hand over all five fingers and
drop the string into the center. IT IS IMPORTANT NOT TO LOSE ANY OF THE STRINGS
THAT ARE ON THE THUMBS AND BABY FINGERS in the process. While holding the left
thumb and fingers together, reach over with the right thumb and index finger
and carefully lift the single string on the back of the left hand over all five
fingers of the left hand and drop the string on the palm side of the
hands. Repeat this process for the
string on the back of the right hand.
7. Hold
hands in BASIC POSITION and softly clap hands together two or three times. This
will adjust the string to reveal the Apache Door.
RELEASE: Slip loops off of thumbs and spread hands
apart.
DISAPPEARING
YAMS
Sequence of Moves:
Instructions are in progress…check back soon!
Figure directions by Don Lenkeit and Roberta
Lenkeit. E-mail them with comments.
lenkeitd@yosemite.cc.ca.us lenkeitr@yosemite.cc.ca.us
SUGGESTED READING for more figures:
Carolyn Furness Jayne. 1962. String Figures and
How to Make Them. New York: Dover
Publications (originally published 1906 as String
Figures).
W. W. Rouse Ball. 1971. Fun with String Figures.
New York: Dover Publications.
International String Figure Association: http://www.isfa.org/bisfa.htm
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