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Four ancient Chinese educational toys
Throughout history, many of the classic puzzle games have originated in China. For example, jigsaw puzzles and the famous "Luban Lock" are believed to have Chinese roots. On the other hand, some games like "Huarong Road" were introduced from abroad and then adapted into unique Chinese versions.
Luban Locks may not have anything to do with the legendary carpenter Lu Ban.
The name of Luban Lock is closely associated with Lu Ban, a master craftsman in ancient China. According to legend, Lu Ban created this puzzle to test his son’s intelligence. The son was able to take it apart, which led to the idea that the puzzle was meant to be solved. However, the actual Luban Lock isn't an ancient door lock; instead, it resembles a cross-shaped cube made of interlocking wooden pieces.
The structure of the Luban Lock involves six wooden sticks arranged in a way that creates a stable but complex shape. This interlocking method is similar to early architectural techniques used in ancient China. Therefore, even though there's no solid historical evidence, it's often attributed to Lu Ban because of his reputation as a skilled carpenter.
Interestingly, the Luban Lock is also known as "Kong Mingsuo," named after Zhuge Liang, the brilliant strategist of the Three Kingdoms period. Some legends say he invented this toy based on the principles of the I Ching (Book of Changes). While these stories are likely mythological, they highlight the deep cultural significance of such puzzles in Chinese history.
Although these legends are not historically accurate, the game itself gained popularity in Europe during the 18th century. In 1785, a German toy company published two versions of the puzzle: one with six pieces and another with 24. These were later called "Six-piece Burr Puzzles," meaning a game of interlocking wooden sticks.
In China, the earliest recorded reference to the Luban Lock appears in a book titled "Chinese and Foreign Juggling Pictures" published in 1889. It was referred to as "Six Zi Lianfang," or "Six-Link Puzzle." The book also noted that the true origin of the puzzle remains unclear.
The simplest version of the Luban Lock consists of six wooden pieces, yet it can be extremely challenging to solve. American mathematician Bill Cutler once used a computer to analyze the puzzle and found over 120,000 possible configurations for the "Six Sons" version.
Huarong Road requires at least 81 moves! And people still love playing it!
The Huarong Road puzzle has a more recent origin. It was originally developed by British inventor Lewis Hardy, who patented a similar puzzle called "Pennant Puzzle" in 1909. This was the precursor to Huarong Road. Later, another British inventor filed a patent for a nearly identical game, which became the basis for the modern version.
When the puzzle reached China, it quickly became popular. In the 1960s, Shanghai's toy factories produced plastic versions of the puzzle, which were sold under names like "Dock Stall" or "Getting Rid of Paper Tigers." Eventually, the game was renamed "Hua Rong Dao," referencing the famous battle between Cao Cao and Guan Yu from the Three Kingdoms era.
In Japan, a similar puzzle existed in the 1940s, but it had different names. Instead of characters like Cao Cao, the pieces were named after family members, such as “Niang†(daughter) and others. The goal was for the main piece to escape, just like in the Chinese version.
The challenge of Huarong Road lies in its simplicity: only ten pieces, yet it takes at least 81 moves to complete. In 1964, an American researcher published a paper confirming that 81 steps were necessary, and computer analysis confirmed this. It shows how cleverly designed this puzzle really is.
Jiu Lianhuan has a connection to Zhuge Liang!
Compared to the Luban Lock and Huarong Road, Jiu Lianhuan (Nine Linked Rings) is a genuine traditional Chinese educational toy. Its name translates to "Nine Link Chain," and it has been mentioned in classical literature. For instance, the poet Zhou Bangyan wrote about solving chains, suggesting the puzzle's long history.
One famous story comes from the Warring States period. King Zhao of Qin sent a chain of jade to King Wei of Qi as a gift, but it was actually a test of intelligence. When the king couldn’t solve it, his ministers failed too—until the queen used a hammer to break the chain. This highlights just how difficult the puzzle could be.
While breaking the chain with a hammer might seem like cheating, it illustrates the puzzle’s complexity. Some legends even claim that Zhuge Liang created the Nine Linked Rings to entertain his wife while he was away at war. If true, it would make him the ultimate inventor of ancient China.
However, the term "nine-link" doesn’t necessarily mean exactly nine rings. In Chinese culture, the number nine symbolizes completeness and infinity, so the puzzle is designed to be extremely challenging, requiring up to 341 moves to solve.
It’s easy to see why the King of Qi might have needed a hammer to break the chain. Solving the Nine Linked Rings is a test of patience and strategy, making it one of the most enduring puzzles in Chinese tradition.
I always thought it was inspired by CCTV's "Jigsaw Puzzle" program!
The Tangram was inspired by a dining table.
In the Song Dynasty, a scholar named Huang Bosi created a set of small rectangular tables for banquets. He designed them to be rearranged depending on the number of guests. Later, he added a seventh table, allowing the group to form various shapes like triangles, squares, and hexagons.
In the Ming Dynasty, a man named Ge Hao expanded on this idea by introducing triangular pieces. His design, called "Butterfly Few," used thirteen different triangles to create over 100 shapes. This laid the foundation for the modern Tangram, which is now recognized worldwide as a classic puzzle.
The Tangram spread to Japan and Europe during the Ming Dynasty. Foreigners loved it and called it "Tangtu," meaning "jigsaw from China." Historian Joseph Needham praised it as one of the oldest pastimes in the East. Even the University of Cambridge holds a copy of the "Qiqiao New Spectrum," a Tangram-related book.
A famous fan of the Tangram was Napoleon Bonaparte. After his defeat at Waterloo, he was exiled to St. Helena. Before leaving, he took only a few essentials—and a Tangram puzzle. This simple toy remained with him until the end of his life.
According to "Chengdu Business Daily"