Tangrams

What are Tangrams Definition: The tangram (Chinese: literally "seven boards of skill") is a dissection puzzle consisting of seven flat shapes, called tans, which are put together to form shapes. The objective of the puzzle is to form a specific shape (given only in outline or silhouette) using all seven pieces, which may not overlap

History The earliest known printed reference to tangrams appears in a Chinese book dated 1813 The tangram's existence in the West has been verified to no earlier than the early 19th century, when they were brought to America on Chinese and American ships. The earliest known example, given to the son of an American ship owner in 1802, is made of ivory and has a silk box

History (Continued) The word tangram was first used in 1848 by Thomas Hill, later President of Harvard University, in his book Geometrical Puzzle for the Youth The author of Alice in Wonderland and mathematician Lewis Carroll reputedly was a tangram enthusiast and owned a Chinese book with tissue-thin pages containing 323 tangram designs