Japanese Soroban - (ABACUS)

Japanese Soroban - (ABACUS)

Soroban is the Japanese name for abacus.

And what is an abacus?
Abundant Beads, Addition and Calculation Utility System

The abacus, also called a counting frame, is a calculating tool that was in use in the ancient Near East, Europe, China, and Russia, centuries before the adoption of the written Arabic numeral system.

How do we know it's Japanese Soroban vs the Chinese Suanpan?
The Japanese Soroban has 5 beads per rod while the Chinese Suanpan has 7 beads per rod. The Japanese Soroban is simpler and uses our standard base 10 numbering system.

The exact origin of the abacus is still unknown. although some speculate that the abacus was invented in Babylonia in 2400 B.C. The abacus in the form we are most familiar with was first used in China in around 500 B.C.

The abacus is called “suanpan” (calculating pan) in China. It was mentioned in a 2nd century BC Chinese document, and versions may have been used for thousands of years prior.