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Mathematical Treasures - Korean sangi rods

Author(s): 
Frank J. Swetz and Victor J. Katz

This set of late 19th-century sangi, wooden computing rods, originated in Korea. They are contained in their cloth carrying case. Sangi were also used in Japan up until about 1700. These computing rods or sticks, and their resulting numeration system, were originally derived from suanzi, rods used in China from ancient times through the Yuan Dynasty (1271–1368). The Chinese rods were replaced by the suanpan, or bead abacus, which was then adapted with variations throughout Asia.

Another view of the set.

Index to Mathematical Treasures

Index of Mathematical Objects

Frank J. Swetz and Victor J. Katz, "Mathematical Treasures - Korean sangi rods," Convergence (January 2011)

Mathematical Treasures from the Smith and Plimpton Collections at Columbia University