Masyu

Learn about Masyu, How to Play, and More

Originally named Shinju no Kubikazari ("pearl necklace") or Shiroshinju Kuroshinju ("white pearls and black pearls"), Masyu is a logic puzzle designed by the Japanese company Nikoli. When reviewing the puzzle, Nikoli's president reputedly misread the kanji for "shinju"; consequently, the misnomer "Masyu," which means "evil influence," stuck as a joke. According to Wikipedia, "The purpose of [Masyu's] creation was to present a puzzle that uses no numbers or letters and yet retains depth and aesthetics." Deceptive in its simplicity, the clean design features black and white circles distributed across a grid of variable proportions. The circles symbolically represent black and white pearls, which are assigned discrete behaviors that the solver must respect. The object of this puzzle is to string together all the black and white pearls to form one continuous necklace that never folds over itself.

In addition to this rule forbidding intersecting loops, the other rules specify how the different beads affect the course of the string. To incorporate a white pearl, the string must pass through it and turn in the next cell on either end. (It may turn in the next cell on both ends, but it is only required to turn at least once.) To incorporate a black pearl, the string must turn inside it (a ninety-degree turn) and continue for one cell on both ends. Please consult this pamphlet for a few tips and to see more vividly what is and is not allowed. As you draw lines on the grid to form the necklace, you will quickly see how these rules logically affect the progression from scattered pieces to harmonious unity.

Far from exerting an "evil influence," Masyu puzzles promote clarity of mind and teach us to savor our simplest endeavors. Solve a Masyu over morning coffee or anytime you need a breather, and invite the soothing effects of beauty, logic, and intellectual challenge into your daily life. Over time, you may find that these deliberate moments of calm but alert contemplation have helped you develop a more relaxed attitude toward life's larger challenges and a subtler appreciation for the beauty in their resolution.