The early abacus, which was used for counting, was in existence with the Babylonians 4000 years ago.

The Chinese abacus, which appeared at least 3000 years ago, was perhaps the first comprehensive calculating device that was actually used in performing addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division and was employed for several thousand years. A traditional Chinese abacus is made of a rectangular wooden frame and a bar going through the upper middle of the frame horizontally. There are thirteen evenly spaced vertical rods, each representing one decimal level. More rods were added to later versions.

On each rod, there are seven beads that can be slid up and down with five of them held below the middle bar and two above.

Zero on each rod is represented by the beads below the middle bar at the very bottom and the beads above at the very top. The numbers one to four are represented by sliding one–four beads below the middle bar up and five is given be sliding one bead above down. The numbers six to nine are represented by one bead above the middle bar slid down and one–four beads below slid up. The first and last beads on each rod are never used or are only used cosmetically during a calculation. Learn how to use it!

Wherever a Chinese goes, the abacus goes with him.

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