A horizontal rod in the upper deck of the Abacus frame divides one bead on top and the other 4 below. Each bead represents a unique value, which they derive only when they touch the bar.

By Toshio Nakano, Honorary Professor DAITO BUNKA University

The calculation tool called Zhusuan has a very old history in itself. From around BC 3,000 ~ BC 2,000 in Mesopotamia (now Iraq), it was said that lines were marked on sand and little rocks were used for calculation. Subsequently a calculation tool that is known as the 'Line Zhusuan' was made in ancient Greek. The Romans also made 'Groove Zhusuan' which they used for calculation.

It is said that these tools were introduced in China but there are many different theories on how calculation tools spread through the world. From around BC 770 ~ BC 476, China used 'Suanchou' for calculation. And, the oldest record of a calculation instrument similar to the Zhusuan can be seen in a document dated 200 AD. Principles of Algorithm, is the first bead-calculation book in China, written by Wang Wensu of the Ming Dynasty, an expert in bead calculation. According to the document, China introduced the first Zhusuan to Japan, in the 16th century.

While studying the tool for 400 years, Japan has improved and revolutionized the Soroban (Japanese Abacus) to what we use today.

In the recent years, the modernized Zhusuan has been introduced back to China where it is actively used. Not to mention, Zhusuan is also commonly used in other countries such as Korea, Taiwan, United States and Brazil. Zhusuan is practical, useful in solving mathematical problems and especially is very handy in teaching the concept of numbers to children in lower grades.

Children all across the world have a tendency of disliking math and calculations. Children who dislike calculation may not necessarily fail in life, but they do tend to face difficulties in life and this may result in a delay in the development of their brain functions, related to calculations. It may fairly be said that an improvement of calculation skills through Zhusuan, etc forms the basics of human education.

(A) Improvement of the Mathematic Sense

By teaching Zhusuan to children, especially at the ages between 4 and 9, it improves their use of the four arithmetic rules and they can accomplish this at twice the speed as well.

The most remarkable quality of having Zhusuan education is that one can calculate simple numbers by mental arithmetic, without using any tools. Currently in China, Korea, Taiwan, Malaysia and Japan people can calculate up to 10 digits all in their head.

At present, we are living in the 'computer age', where computers are considered faster than Zhusuan. This is true only for complex calculations of numbers, provided the computer is programmed properly. However, the fact is that humans program computers and they are the ones who operate them. In Japan it has been seen that people without mathematical sense are more likely to make input mistakes. So, to summarize, people who operate computers should possess the ability to catch numbers and words accurately and with speed. The best way to improve this ability would come from Zhusuan Education.

(B) Educational Value of Zhusuan Education

At the moment, the Zhusuan bailey tests are divided into 20 different ranks. The students with the ability to score higher than 15th rank (i.e. students scoring meagerly in the lower bracket in the bailey tests) have constantly maintained upper most scores in Japanese high schools. These results are due to the fact that Zhusuan Education has deeply effected the activation and development of the human brain.

Still it is unclear to whether the human brain has developed only after Zhusuan Education or that a hereditary 'good brain' has improved owing to it. Schools presently involved in psychology, cerebral studies, and Zhusuan education, have been doing researches related to this topic. Occasionally, reports have been released from these researches and in the future new answers to this question should come about.

(C) Effects of Zhusuan Education on the Human Brain

Studies relating to the human brain have made remarkable progress in the recent years. Professor Toshiro Hayashi of Kyoto University, who is a representative scholar in this study, has reported the following issue titled 'The Human Brain and Zhusuan'.

The nerve tissue of the sense nerve, which controls the movement of the fingers, has been found to be very abundant, which means that the movements of fingers when using Zhusuan requires many nerve tissues to move simultaneously. Furthermore, these movements of fingers especially the thumb and index finger requires greater skills compared to playing a piano.

With regards to the above report, it can be said that Zhusuan education is a necessary step in basic human education. Its educational value to children is vital in the formation of the human brain.

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