This string figure has appeared in many wonderfully illustrated Ayatori books published in Japan. The oldest reference to this figure may be in a 1980 book written by Hiroshi Noguchi.
This beautiful three dimensional string figure -- called Fa'e Papa by the islanders -- represents the legendary House of Atanua, the first woman in Marquesan mythology. The house is located under the sea at the foot of the Atuona valley.
Lifu is an island in the Loyalty chain near New Caledonia. This trick has been modified slightly. Instead of using the big toe, I used the right index finger, and the left hand performs most of the action.
First, the performer winds the string around his neck and hands. Second, he allows the tips of his index fingers to touch (left illustration). Third, he moves his hands away from his head and the string slips free of the hands (right illustration) as if by magic.
The Chukchee people inhabit the northeasternmost part of Siberia. This highly visual figure was collected in 1909 and was eventually described in a book by Kathleen Haddon. A series of two figures are made, one represents a paddling kayaker, the other mountain peaks. This is a rather long, and difficult pair of figures to form.
The upright loop represents a man in the kayak. The maker sways his index fingers from side to side to simulate the kayaker in motion.
As the kayakder glides along the water he views majestic mountain peaks off in the distance.
This sliding figure simulates a baby dropping from a mother's womb.
At least two players are required for this figure. Andersen recommends three: two to form the figure and one to thread a string through the design.
