The Public Paperfolding History Project

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The Socks / Tabi
 

This page attempts to record what is known about the history of the design I call the Socks (known as Tabi in Japanese). Please contact me if you know any of this information is incorrect or if you have any other information that should be added. Thank you.

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In China (and in publications by Chinese authors)

1917

The design appears in 'Xu Zhe zhi tu shuo' (More Illustrated Paperfolding) by Yongxiang Shi, which was published by the Commercial Press in Shanghai in 1917.

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In Japan (and in publications by Japanese authors)

1885

A design for 'tabi' or socks, derived from the Trousers, appears in 'Kindergarten Shoho' (Preliminary Kindergarten) by Iijima Hanjuro, which was copyrighted on October 4th Meiji 17 (1884) and published by Fukuda Senzo in August of Meiji 18 (1885).

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1905

A sequence that converts the Hat into the Socks appears in 'Shukoka Kyoju Saian' by Gentaro Tanahashi and Hideyoshi Okayama, which was published by Hobunkan in Tokyo in 1905. The Trousers seem to appear just as an intermediate form.

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