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The first known recording of the Chinese abacus is dated around 3000 B.C. Recordings of mathematical equations were carved into stone or wooden tablets, after the Chinese was used. The Chinese Abacus was originally made using stones or beads placed on either a grooved tablet or upon sand.
(Reference 'Abacus History ') - The Chinese abacus is separated into two levels on one level platform. The top level was originally called 'Heaven' with 2 single beads or stones placed on each rod and the bottom level was known as 'Earth' with 5 single stones or beads on each rod.
- The Chinese abacus is used by moving the beads or stones towards or away from the center of the abacus, along the rods which they are placed on. The beads or stones placed on the top part of the Chinese abacus, each have an individual value of five. The lower part of the Chinese abacus provides each stone or bead with a single value of one.
- The Chinese abacus is known as 'Suànpán'. Aproximately 20cm tall, the suànpán has been found within historical Yuan Dynasty documentation from around 14th Century A.D.
- The reason behind the Chinese abacus retaining the number five for the upper beads in the 'Heaven' section of the Chinese abacus relates to the five finger counting method on one hand. As to the single value of the number one, per lower level bead within the 'Earth' section, this relates to single finger counting.
- The Chinese abacus can be used for addition, subtraction, division and multiplication as well as much more complicated mathematical equations, such as fractions and more.
