Tangram consists of seven geometric plates, including five isosceles right triangles, a square and a parallelogram with different sizes. Through different combinations of these graphics, we can spell out ever-changing graphics. It has been calculated that it can spell 1600 kinds of geometric figures. But you can't imagine that this kind of toy actually originated from a banquet layout of the ancients. How did this happen?

The earliest tangram originated from indoor games in the Song Dynasty. At that time, it was not called Tangram, but Yanjitu. Yanji is a small instrument used by the ancients to rest and sit up. In the Northern Song Dynasty, there was a scholar named Huang. He was knowledgeable, studied mathematics and geometry, and was hospitable.

In order to entertain guests, he designed a "banquet set" consisting of six small rectangular tables. This swallow includes a long table with an aspect ratio of 4 to 1, two long tables with an aspect ratio of 3 to 1 and three long tables with an aspect ratio of 2 to 1.

Huang will combine these six tables according to the number of guests and the orientation of their positions, which can meet the banquet requirements of different numbers and styles. Because this arrangement of indoor cases is quite interesting, it has gradually become the game content at literati banquets.

Later, someone added a small number to Yantu, and its aspect ratio was 1 to 1. Six tables become seven tables, and such a swallow map is also called a seven-star map. Seven situations will become a rectangle when put together, but they can change infinitely when combined separately.

In this way, people can put the table into different shapes according to the number of people attending the party, such as three people in a triangle, four people in a square and six people in a hexagon ... They can put it into different shapes at will according to the number of guests, and one * * * can evolve into 68 changes.

Ge Shan, a painter and inventor in the Ming Dynasty, designed the "butterfly wings" according to the principle of "swallowing a few paintings", which was named after the butterfly spreading its wings.

It is much more complicated than Yan Ji Tu, and consists of thirteen different triangles and trapeziums. After different combinations, "Butterfly Wings" can spell out more than 100 graphics. Later, someone reduced the banquet and changed the table into seven boards in five styles to make puzzles. The ancient practical and fun game of arranging seats has evolved into a toy, and this jigsaw puzzle is basically the same as our common jigsaw puzzle in the modern sense.

Summary: Tangram became popular as soon as it came out. /kloc-In the 0/8th century, Tangram spread abroad and became a popular puzzle game all over the world.