Han Dynasty (2nd century BCE)
folk customs
UNESCO Intangible Heritage
North China
active
Chinese zhushuan is the knowledge and practice of arithmetic using the suanpan (abacus), a calculation tool with beads sliding on rods. Dating back to the 2nd century BCE, it preceded the written decimal system by centuries. Practitioners perform calculations through a combination of physical bead movement and mental visualization. Skilled abacists can perform complex arithmetic faster than electronic calculators. It remains taught in Chinese schools and used in traditional shops.
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