Nelson

Can anyone recommend resources for learning to use an abacus? Physical media preferred, but websites are also ok. English language please.

I have a Chinese-style (suanpan) and two Japanese-style (soroban) abacuses. I'm especially interested in advanced techniques that you would need if you were replacing your calculator with an abacus.

Are there other abacus types useful for specific calculations?

I find the Lee Kai-chen Abacus fascinating: http://totton.idirect.com/abacus/Lee/

#abacuses #suanpan #soroban

Dec 27 at 6:41pmWeb
Show threadMegan Lynch (she/her)Dec 27

@skyfaller I recall there are competitions for abacus among Indian schoolkids and I think in China and Japan as well. As with all competitive things, that opens up lots of tutoring to do well in them. Which means YouTube.

I don't have a recommendation, but this channel looked better than average. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mm1PLiKe0rE

Master All Abacus Techniques: A Complete Guide to Solving Sums

YouTube
Show threadacmDec 28
@skyfaller you live a fascinating life! :))
Show threadmax_powerDec 28
@skyfaller I can recommend
Show threadmax_powerDec 28
@skyfaller In case you haven't found it already https://archive.org/details/japaneseabacus00taka
The Japanese Abacus : Takashi Kojima : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

Internet Archive
Show threadSoroban Exam WebsiteJan 31
@skyfaller You can try "Soroban" by "THE JAPAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY" (pdf). You can find a recompressed version at our site https://www.sorobanexam.org with a generator of exercises if you need one
Soroban Exam - Home

This site provides a generator of exam worksheets for the soroban, a little software to practice anzan and a virtual soroban with tutorials.