綾取り(あやとり) - Ayatori (Cat's Cradle)

Cat’s cradle is a traditional game that became popular in Japan, primarily among girls, during the Edo period (from 1603 to 1867). This game has also been played by Southeast Asians, American Indians, and other peoples. Cat’s cradle is played with a single piece of string that is approximately 1 meter (39.37 inches) long. Both ends of the string are tied together to form a loop. Woolen or worsted yarn, cotton braids, nylon strings, and other such materials are all suitable for playing cat’s cradle. The game begins with a player looping the string around the wrists and fingers of both hands. Then the player manipulates the loop to form various patterns that represent brooms, scissors, kotos (Japanese harps), hand drums, rivers, and other things. This game can be played individually or in pairs. When cat’s cradle is played by pairs, the players alternately take the loop from each other while manipulating it to form a new pattern. Thus, the string is repeatedly transferred between the two players and the pattern changes whenever one player takes the string from the other player.

あや取りは、江戸時代に主に女児の間で流行した伝承的な遊びです。この遊びは日本にだけ見られるのではなく、東南アジアの人々やアメリカのインディアンなどの間でも行われてきました。この遊びに必要な道具は、両端を結んで輪にした一本の糸またはひもだけです。ひもの長さは約1メートル必要で、ひもの種類は毛糸・打ち紐(木綿を丸く編んだひも)・ナイロン製のひもなどが適しています。遊び方は、この糸またはひもを輪にして左右の手首または指に掛け、掛け方を変えながらほうき・はさみ・琴・鼓(つづみ)・川などの形を作っていきます。この遊びは一人でも二人一組でもできます。二人で遊ぶ場合には、一人が作った形をもう一人に受け渡しながら形を変えていきます。これを交互に繰り返します。