This month’s Artifact of the Month is a Japanese abacus, also known as a soroban.
The abacus is a counting device that allows its user to do quick mathematical calculations. The abacus used in Japan was adapted from the Chinese.
The elements of both abaci are similar in construction. They both have top beads “heavenly beads” and lower beads “Earthly beads.” The key difference between the two is the Chinese abacus has two rows of “heavenly beads” while the Japanese version only has one row.
This particular abacus can be dated between 1850 and 1930 just by the number of beads on the counting tray.
After 1930, the modern Japanese abacus includes four lower beads and one on top to line up with Japanese math textbook revisions. This abacus has five beads on the bottom. Not much is known about the owner of this particular abacus. The only identification information found on the object is “April 7 – 1966, Kim Ota.”
Kim Ota probably owned this abacus, but the meaning of the date remains a mystery. Furthermore, it is unknown where this abacus was used.
Today, younger children are taught math on the abacus, and eventually move away from a physical abacus to a mental one and adding large numbers quickly. This is called the Flash Anzan Method, making the Japanese some of the fastest mental mathematic computers in the world.
The museum has another abacus on permanent display, but it is a Chinese abacus. Come visit the Sweetwater County Historical Museum and see if you can spot the differences between the two abacai. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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