Do We Still Need the Abacus?

Zhusuan is the name given to the techniques used on a Chinese abacus. It includes performing simple sums such as addition and subtraction， or far more complex operations including exponential multiplication. Zhusuan can be traced back to more than 2，500 years ago.

It is regarded as the fifth invention in Chinese history and was listed as a national intangible cultural heritage by the Chinese Government in 2008. Zhusuan was also officially listed as a UNESCO intangible cultural heritage on December 4， 2013.

Zhusuan used to be a basic skill that all financial workers in China would have known. For a long time， zhusuan was still taught to primary school students， and the practice is still in use in many rural marketplaces. However， the popularity of zhusuan has waned since the emergence of digital calculators.

Since zhusuan was announced as a world intangible cultural heritage， some have begun to advocate teaching the use of the abacus in primary schools again. This is said to be the best way to protect such a precious cultural artifact. However， others argue that while preserving zhusuan is important， this does not mean it needs to be taught in schools. The following are excerpts of opinions：Wang Chaocai （news.china.com.cn）： Zhusuan is an old method of calculating， and it can be helpful when solving some modern math problems. However， with the development of digital calculators， it is rarely used today.

Research proves that zhusuan can help develop childrens intelligence. Currently， around 2 million children are learning zhusuan. This technique is believed to be able to develop students concentration and reten- tivity as well as other measures of intellectual acuity. In turn， such improvements can help them perform better at school.

Wang Yaofeng （China Youth Daily）： As an important invention， the abacus is also known as the “most ancient computer.” It seems to be unavoidable that the abacus will give way to modern digital calculators and thus be marginalized and even abandoned by modern society. However， as part of the cultural heritage of China， zhusuan should be protected. Its inclusion on the world intangible cultural heritage list offers an opportunity for people to have a new understanding of this old calculating method and to further protect and develop it.

Many people criticized the decision to remove zhusuan from the primary school curriculum around 10 years ago， and suggested that schools reinstate the course. Indeed， zhusuan is a cultural heritage with a lot of value， but whether it should be brought back into the classroom is something that needs further discussion.endprint

As a practical technique， zhusuan does not need to be brought back into the classroom， but as a cultural artifact that should be handed down between generations. It can also be well protected by museums and cultural centers.

If everything that is listed as world cultural heritage hopes to find itself in schools， and are also made compulsory courses， they may trigger students resentment， instead of love and respect for these aspects of their own culture. This is not what we want to see.

Guo Wenjing （www.gmw.cn）： Although the abacus is used much less today than it was in the past， the number of people calling to bring it back to school is increasing. Their reasoning tends to be： Zhusuan is able to improve students intelligence； it is one of Chinese cultural treasures； and it is very valued in countries like Japan and Brazil. Its status as a world cultural heritage is likely to become another reason. However， in my opinion， it is already inevitable that zhusuan will fade out of use and it is unnecessary to attempt to deliberately reverse the trend.

We cannot deny the many functions and the significant and unique position of zhusuan in Chinese culture. It deserves to be well protected. However， its protection should be conducted in a natural way. Our cultural heritage must have a real connection with society. While society moves forward and peoples demands and needs change， culture is also supposed to keep moving forward. If zhusuan is thrown into the class just because it is now a world cultural heritage， regardless of its actual function in daily life， it might meet resistance from students and their parents. This could actually harm it more than help it.

It is great that zhusuan has been listed as a world cultural heritage. We hope that this traditional calculating method will play a bigger role in inspiring intelligence and promoting math， and that its new status can revitalize its place in modern society. Nevertheless， if this is impossible， we should respect the result and choice of history. Its identity as a world cultural heritage should not mean that it must be a course for students.

Zhang Xiliu （www.gmw.cn）： Its exciting that zhusuan is now a world cultural heritage， particularly at a time when zhusuan is retreating from daily use. Its success will help protect it from fading out and being forgotten.

Modern computers are much more powerful than the abacus in dealing with complex calculations， but some find working with an abacus more convenient for doing simple addition and subtraction. More importantly， the significance of zhusuan is not limited to calculation， its also a splendid part of Chinas traditional culture. In the modern age of computers， the question is not whether students should learn Zhusuan or not， but how to learn it and how to make full use of this cultural artifact. To encourage students to learn zhusuan and solve mathematical problems through it is a responsibility that we have to take for future generations， not only for China but for the whole world.endprint

Undeniably， this unique traditional culture is retreating from modern life. People have already got used to computers and schools have driven the abacus out of class. How to preserve zhusuan and how to balance it with modern digital calculators is an important question. Zhusuan educa- tion should be lifted to a “national strategic level.” Effective measures will surely help to promote the development of zhusuan in modern life. When its function continues， it will no longer be regarded only as a cultural relic， but as a useful tool to make mathematics and life easier.

Zhang Kuixing （Xian Evening News）： By now， China has successfully applied for more items to be listed as world intangible cultural heritage， including Kunqu opera， shadow plays and acupuncture. The success of adding zhusuan to the list will help more people have a better understanding of its history and function and strengthen Chinese peoples pride in their culture. As a result， more people may join in the efforts to preserve zhusuan.

However， we have to admit that with the emergence of digital calculators and computers， the abacus is used less and less. Zhusuan， as a basic course， has already been absent from primary schools for many years.

Zhusuan is no longer as important as it once was and its retreat seems unavoidable， but including it in the world cultural heritage list is a necessity. After all， the abacus made many contributions to Chinas social development in the past. Even today， although not used as often， it still plays a role in some areas. Some things， due to their unique cultural value， need to be preserved to delay their demise or to revitalize them. This is an important reason for the UN to set up things like the intangible cultural heritage list. It is hoped that people will learn to value and cherish their cultural heritage and even join in the efforts to help protect it from vanishing.endprint