从古文字看算盘的起源

The Origin of the Abacus from the Ancient Character

一般认为,算盘来源于算筹,但其产生于何时,迄今尚无定论.考诸古文字的"玄"、"算"、"筭"的形、音、义,都与"贝串"、"玉贯"有关,佐之以文献、考古和民俗材料的证据,认为:筹算和珠算,在产生上虽一先一后,但并非一个系统,珠算来源于"币贯算",可能与筹算并行了好长时间.算盘直接来源于具有"计数和计算"双重功能的"贝串"、"玉贯"、"钱贯",至迟产生于西周时期.

Chinese abacus is generally believed to derive from the counsel, but the time is inconclusive so far. The shape, sound and meaning of the ancient character ＂Xuan（玄） ＂, ＂Suan （筭）＂, ＂Suan （算）＂ are related to ＂Shell String＂, and ＂Jade String＂, and from other files of literature, archeology and folklore materials, the author think the counsel and the abacus were generated one after another, but not a system. The abacus was from the currency consistent operator and may be contemplated with the counsel in parallel for a long time. The abacus was directly from the ＂Tony String＂, ＂Jade String＂, and ＂the Money String＂ which had the function of ＂Counting and Calculations＂ and was probably produced no later than in the Western Zhou Dynasty.