Nauru

String figures from the Pacific Island nation of Nauru (nah-oo-roo) are often billed as the most elaborate designs ever created. Fifteen are illustrated in Jayne’s book. Honor Maude’s Nauru book includes instructions for making many more. One would assume that Nauruan construction methods are complex and difficult to master, but in reality they are rather straightforward.

Joseph D’Antoni wrote an article for the ISFA Bulletin called “Variation on Nauru Island Figures.” In it, he demonstrated that classical Nauruan figures typically begin with movements that create the center of the design:



Once the center is formed, a finishing sequence is applied to add flanking diamonds and make the figure easier to display. D’Antoni shows how various beginnings can be combined with various finishing sequences to create dozens of intricate designs with very little effort:



Certain manipulation sequences are common to many Nauru Island string figures. These sequences produce a predictable design in a specific part of a figure each time they are applied. Furthermore, these sequences are independent of one another and additive in nature. New figures can be rationally designed by linking these "design units" together in various combinations. One-hundred-thirty-five examples are provided by Joseph D'Antoni.

This table attempts to analyse the algorithms used in these figures.

The Structure Of Nauran Figures
Consider a figure's development as occurring in three stages — Opening, Middle, and End. It is at these stages that manipulation sequences are applied.


 * First are the Opening sequences which serve as the common starting point for many figures.


 * Next comes the Middle sequences which allow for some desired effect to be introduced into the figure.


 * The last stage in completing a figure is its presentation, and for that purpose there are several possible End sequences that may be used, each of which imparts its own aesthetic quality to the overall figure.

Opening Manipulation Sequences

 * Opening A


 * Nauru Opening I


 * Nauru Opening II

Middle Manipulation Sequences

 * Double Wall Diamond Move (DWD)


 * Loop Move


 * Clockwise Loop Move (CW)


 * Counterclockwise Loop Move (CCW)

End Manipulation Sequences
Four traditional finishing sequences are used in Nauran figures:


 * Small Amwangiyo


 * Amwangiyo


 * Nauru Ending


 * Eongatubabo

Some of these sequences use Caroline Extension to display the finished pattern.

Read Honor Maude's Book
File:Honor_Maude_The_string_figures_of_Nauru_Island.pdf