theyellowhobbit: (Default)
[personal profile] theyellowhobbit
Ok, not so ancient, since this was from the late 19th century. I was looking at Japan Day by Day doing research for my Japan paper, and found this:

An interesting game is played with the hand. Kneeling opposite each other the right hand of each player is flung out at the same instant. The hands must be in one of three positions: the palm open, representing paper; the index and middle finger open, suggesting a pair of scissors; the hand clenched, representing a stone. Now the paper can cover or conceal the stone; the stone can smash the scissors; and the scissors can cut the paper. Counting "one, two, three," the players fling their arms at the same time, and on the third stroke the hand must come in one of the three positions mentioned above. If your opponent comes out scissors and you come out paper, he has beaten you once, for scissors can cut the paper; if, however, you had come out stone, the stone can smash the scissors, and you have won. Either one winning three times in succession has won the game. You will notice little children when called upon to do an errand resort to this game, doing it once only, to see who shall go; drawing lots, in fact.

It's rock, paper, scissors! It came from Japan! Isn't that awesome?

Date: 2009-05-06 09:31 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] superducky1.livejournal.com
Apparently, the 19th century writer also failed to grasp the logic of "paper beats rock". Like, seriously? Who would think that paper beats rock?

Date: 2009-05-06 09:41 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] sen-ichi-rei.livejournal.com
I thought that on first glance, too, but he does mention it: "Now the paper can cover or conceal the stone." He just doesn't put it into the next part when he's giving the examples, I guess because he thought spelling out paper beating rock would be redundant.

Date: 2009-05-07 03:37 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] boroparkpyro.livejournal.com
when i was little, me and my brother used to play Rock Paper Scissors Match Goat Can Fire Water Person Bomb.

Date: 2009-05-11 01:27 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] margavriel.livejournal.com
דנשך לשונרא דאכלה לגדיא דזבן אבא בתרי זוזי...

Date: 2009-05-11 01:29 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] sen-ichi-rei.livejournal.com
Except that would only work if then the goat could eat God or something...

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