Geometry and dissection
Tangram
Seven simple tans become animals, letters, proofs, and silhouettes through area-preserving rearrangement.
- Math
- Shape transformation, symmetry, area, and convexity.
- Status
- Playable workbench live
Eastern Puzzle ArchiveInteractive archive / recreational mathematics
Ancient puzzles. Living mathematics.
Explore tangrams, ring puzzles, sliding blocks, and the mathematical ideas hidden inside centuries of Chinese puzzle culture.
Source-backed notesEnglish editorial adaptationInteractive mathematical workbenches
Featured puzzle
Try the Tangram before reading about it.
The first workbench turns the archive into something users can test by hand: rotate, drag, snap, and rebuild the square from seven tans.
Puzzle gateways
Three classical systems, three mathematical doors.
Binary state and recursion
Nine Linked Rings
A mechanical sequence puzzle where progress depends on legal state changes rather than brute force.
- Math
- Binary-like states, Gray code, recursion, and move counts.
- Status
- Simulator planned
Sliding blocks and search
Huarong Dao
A compact sliding-block system that turns a historical story shape into an algorithmic search problem.
- Math
- State-space graphs, breadth-first search, heuristics, and optimization.
- Status
- Interactive board planned
Living mathematics
Make the hidden structure visible.
Geometry
See how equal areas survive rotation, reflection, and recombination.
State
Treat every valid position as a readable system state, not just a picture.
Recursion
Break long mechanical sequences into repeated smaller patterns.
Search
Understand how sliding-block puzzles become paths through a graph.
Archive preview
Source material becomes public-facing notes, not raw OCR.
The Chinese source chapters stay traceable in the content pipeline. Public pages should be translated, edited, and rewritten for English readers.
A Short History of the Tangram
The archive begins with the uncertain origin story, overseas spread, and mathematical afterlife of the seven-piece puzzle.
Source pages 25-36View source noteTangram Mathematics
A source-backed path into dissection geometry, topology, graph thinking, and area-preserving transformations.
Source pages 42-96View source noteNine Linked Rings as a Sequence System
A bridge from a traditional mechanical puzzle to binary-like state notation and recursive solving.
Source pages 162-193View source noteHuarong Dao and Sliding-Block Search
A compact board, a famous escape goal, and a natural route into state-space exploration.
Source pages 205-289View source noteSources and methods
An independent archive with visible editorial process.
Eastern Puzzle Archive begins from Chinese recreational mathematics source material, then adds English editorial adaptation, diagrams, interaction, and correction notes. The first public release should stay modest, transparent, and useful.