C'ACSI, a skunk

Geolocation

Citation

David Jabin, “C'ACSI, a skunk,” String figures, accessed February 24, 2026, https://stringfigures.huma-num.fr/items/show/280.
  • Overall presentation

  • Name : C'ACSI, a skunk

  • Creator : David Jabin

  • Contributor(s) : Celestino Friesen and Reinelia Pérez, Samaria village, Nivacle Unida comunity, Central Chaco, Paraguay.

  • Date : 2019-2020


  • Information on the string figure

    • General presentation of the string figure

    This string figure represents a skunk (of the Conepatus chinga species). The skunk is a character that appears frequently in Nivacle mythology.

    In this three-dimensional figure, the central diamond represents the body of the animal, the son held by the fingers draw the legs and the small loop is the tail.

    Construction method (ISFA)

    1. Place the loop around the left wrist. L1 and L2 grab the long loop at some distance from the right hand, and drag the loop to the back of the hand.
    2. Pass the former ulnar and radial left wrist strings between the couples of fingers (L2,L3) and (L1,L2) respectively. Proximally, pass R1 and R2 under the radial L2 string, then grab the ulnar L2 string and return.
    3. Transfer the loop carried by R1 and R2 to L2.
    4. The long dorsal hanging loop is taken back to the palm side of the left hand.
    5. Proximally insert R1 and R5 in the hanging loop to place it in Position I on the right hand.
    6. L1 and L5 pick up the right palmar string. Extend.
    7. Distally, insert R2 into L2 loop (dorsal side). Transfer L2 loop to R2.
    8. Release right W.
    9. Release L3 and extend slightly.

    Close references (bibliography)

    C'ACSI have a closely similar construction method and the identical final pattern than MUKUNE figure collected among the neighboring Nandeva people. However for these people, this model symbolizes another animal: the opposum.
  • Item references

  • Key words : String figures, Nivacle, paraguayan Chaco

  • Publisher : Laboratory SPHERE (UMR 7219, University of Paris & CNRS)

  • Rights : Creative Commons / Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike CC BY-NC-SA

  • Format : jpeg, mp4, tex

  • Language : Nivacle, spanish

  • Location : Village of Samaria, Boquerón Department, Paraguay, South America.

  • Description : Nivacle string figure, method of construction, linguistic data, cultural aspects

Output Formats