Lessons in Chinese abacus prove a huge hit
Print Edition
MORE than 200 students at Shanghai Lixin University of Commerce have applied to take a course in how to use a Chinese abacus.
Such lessons were once mandatory at the university, but they were phased out about 20 years ago as interest in the ancient calculating device waned.
“We’re really surprised by how many students wanted to enrol on the course,” said Wu Haitao, the tutor behind the idea to bring back the lessons.
“We have room only for 50 to 60 people per class, so a lot of people are now on the waiting list,” he said.
The program started last month and 90-minute lessons are held twice a week, he said.
“It takes 12 lessons for a student to grasp the basic skills,” he said.
“As a bonus, every student who completes the course and passes an exam gets to keep the abacus they used in the lessons,” he said.
While Wu is behind the man behind the program, its tutor is 73-year-old Pan Shanfu, who until last month was enjoying his retirement.
“It was difficult to find a suitable teacher, but Pan is ideal,” Wu said.
The septuagenarian began teaching Chinese abacus at the university in 1986, presenting 33 lessons each week.
“I’m happy to be able to pass on this ancient skill, but I’m worried that some students might not have the patience to see it through, especially as it’s no longer a mandatory course,” he said.
Chao Jiahao, one of the students taking the class, said he finds learning how to use the abacus really stimulating.
“Most people these days rely too much on computers, so they don’t know how to make calculations,” he said.
“Using an abacus, which is quite easy once you get the hang of it, trains your brain and tests your manual dexterity,” he said, adding that he thinks the course should be mandatory.
Zhan Xinrong, who is also on the program, said she is now hooked on using the ancient calculating device.
“I use it to do my day-to-day accounts, and all of my roommates are fascinated by it,” she said.
Wu said the university is now considering expanding the classes to the local community.
“But we’ll need to find more teachers,” he said.
The Chinese abacus (suan pan) dates back to the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 BC), and is often referred to as China’s fifth great invention, after the compass, gunpowder, movable type and paper.
The portable calculating device was used by Chinese traders for centuries. In 2013, UNESCO added it to its intangible cultural heritage list.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
