For Patty and others, who’d like to follow the action more closely…
This diagram, which figures so prominently in The Bellini Card, is an eight-pointed star inside a square. The above illustration comes from a Japanese website and it is, as far as know, the only illustration of the Sand-Reckoner’s diagram online.
The idea that it was used as a fencing diagram, governing positions and strokes, was put to me in Hampshire some years ago. It has been on my mind ever since, not least because of its delightful name: I was glad to unpack it for The BelliniCard.
February 18, 2009 at 11:00 pm |
Many thanks, it’s quite different from my spatially distorted imaginings which I don’t think anyone could have used for fencing positions unless they were a spider!
April 6, 2009 at 3:15 pm |
Thank God I looked this up when I got to it in the book- otherwise much mental gymnastics.
July 3, 2009 at 4:22 am |
Thank you for your knowledge. I would have been crazy trying to think what it was otherwise.
July 3, 2009 at 5:49 pm |
I made up the name “The Sand Reckoner’s Diagram” for that device, five years ago and gave a presentation at the Research Into Lost Knowledge Organisation (RILKO) on the topic. With the encouragementy of John Michell (New View over Atlantis) and John Martineau of Wooden Books I am publishing my 35 years of study of the device under the name “Patterns of Eternity – Sacred Geometry and the Starcut diagram”.
July 3, 2009 at 5:53 pm |
PS people most certainly DID use it for fencing. My book “Paterns of Eternity” (coming out in early November) goes into some detail – and shows also the uses of this device in Indian, China and Egypt as well as releavnec to the Cabala, alchemy and the Sufi tradition.
November 9, 2009 at 10:00 pm |
devices such as the sand reckoner’s diagram have been used in sword practice for centurie. the japanese used and still use them in kendo. the spanish school of rapier fencing also used a similar diagram. the antonio bandera’s film of zorro shows him exercising on a spanish fencing star. each point of the star required a different stance, grip, etc. the spanish practiced on these obsessively which led to reflexive actions in a duel and made the spanish amongst the best swordsmen in the renaissance. there is a web article on this subject in one of the historical fencing sites out of new york (sorry, i don’t have the reference at hand)..
p
November 10, 2009 at 12:10 am |
What you say about diagrams is so interesting; the particular diagram I refer to, the Sand Reckoner’s Diagram, has of course an ancient and interesting history which Malcom Stewart’s ‘Patterns of Eternity’ explores.
I’ve just taken up fencing again myself, this time foil; I’m proud to record that my son Izzy has emerged as West Dorset champion.