Rubik’s Cube Keeps People Fascinated

“Playing Rubik’s Cube is the best way to intellectually stimulate the brain”, says retired professor from China – an expert at Rubik’s Cube – whose inspiration came from his hometown village

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Rubik’s Cube has come a long way since it was invented in 1974 by Ernő Rubik in Hungary, says Shichun Li, who is working on a new project called Rubik’s Cube Story.

“In this project, we design simple, unique methods of playing Rubik’s Cube. We focus on soft skills. We make it intellectually stimulating for all cultures an ages to learn Rubik’s Cube, rather than just teaching people to do it fast.”

Shichun Li is a retired professor from a university in China. Rubik’s Cube and its Math Model he taught online has 4.58 million hits.

“When Rubik’s Cube is twisted by one turn, most people can return it to its original setting. However, when Rubik’s Cube is twisted by three turns, most people find it difficult to return it. When Rubik’s Cube is twisted by five turns, most people cannot return it. Finally, they lose the original pattern of Rubik’s Cube and cannot complete it”, says Shichun Li.

“This is where a story comes in. We use stories to teach people how to complete Rubik’s Cube! For example, we restore the second layer by following the story of the Weaver Girl and the Cowherd (a Chinese folk tale), and it is not necessary to remember the formula”.

Shichun Li is an expert at Rubik’s Cube and has published three books on the subject. He published his book, Rubik’s Cube and its Application in Science in English in Canada, when he lived in Langley in 2002.

Recently, he has taught a Passion Project of Magic Square at Norma Rose Point School. In four sessions, he taught students 3×3   Magic Square, 4×4 Magic Square, the 8 puzzle, the 15 puzzle and Rubik’s Cube.

“My inspiration on Rubik’s Cube came from my hometown village. The boundless stretch of field is artlessly coloured by six colours of emblements: the light green of wheat, the blackish green of naked oats, the silvery white of buckwheat, the golden yellow of rapeseed, the off-white of potato and the red of green manured land. When you look around the field, you feel as if you stand in a natural colour phalanx. If you watch at the same location next year, the scenery of the field still looks like colour squares, but the colour of the location changes, because the land should be cultivated by turns”, written in the handout of the Passion Project.

Shichun Li got a Thank You Card from the student he taught. He was very happy when he read: “I’ve learned a lot from Magic Square”.

Rubik’s Cube Story project is a comprehensive activity. It includes Hungarian mathematical culture, American puzzle culture and Chinese puzzle culture. Many soft skills are learned by playing Rubik’s Cube, such as attention, intuitive ability memory, spatial awareness, mental agility, hand-eye coordination and problem-solving skills.  Playing Rubik’s Cube is the best way to intellectually stimulate the brain, says Shichun Li.

Rubik’s Cube Story project has been funded twice by the Neighbourhood Small Grants of the Vancouver Foundation and has found its place in many community activities for people of all cultures, young and old.

    Shichun Li looks forward to leading Rubik’s Cube Story workshops for seniors grant program at the UNA.