Who invented the nine-ring chain?

The origin of this intellectual toy is not exactly documented, so it is difficult to determine the specific inventor.

The Nine Rings is a traditional intellectual toy in China, which consists of nine rings and a frame. Players need to remove all the rings from the frame through a series of actions.

In folklore, Zhuge Liang and Zhou Wenwang are both considered as inventors of the Nine Chains, but these claims are not supported by conclusive historical evidence.

The earliest record of the Nine Rings appeared in the Warring States Period's Warring States Policy, but these records did not clearly point out the inventor. Therefore, the inventor of the nine-ring chain has no exact historical record.