《汉字解码学》33 “算”字的出现，表明当时已使用算盘。 33 The word "count" appears, indicating that the abacus has been used.

《汉字解码学》33  “算”字的出现，表明当时已使用算盘（计算器具）。

算   ①甲骨文象二手在一笼罩物持算筹进行中计算之形。篆书的算字，是以竹为形符，下面以两手持具，说明在秦代以前，就发明了算盘。《说文》注：“数也。从竹，从具。”具，就是器具，当然就是算盘，而且是以竹子为材料制成的，算义为计数、计算。用数学方法从已知数推求未知数。引申计划、筹划、推测、认作、当作等。②《说文》注：“祘，明视以算之。从二示，”祘即计算，明明白白地眼看着计算出来。作名词，指算筹（演算工具）。

算Ⅰ(动) ① calculate ② include; count ③ plan; calculate ④ consider; regard as; count as ⑤ carry weight; count ⑥let it pass Ⅱ(副) at long last; finally

有人说，算盘是明代。看《清明上河图》有算盘，认为是宋代。有的认为在唐代。依文字“算”的出现，可以证明极可能在春秋时代。下面的故事，也说得合情合理：

孔子春秋時代魯國人。有一年，魯國的國君要選拔一個為朝廷理財的人，有位大臣推薦了孔子。
誰知，孔子理財並不得心應手，每天回家都要長嗟短歎一番。孔子夫人見丈夫面有憂色，就問 : 「你有什麼心思 ? 」孔子嘆了一口氣，說 : 「國君派我理財，想不到賬目零亂，算不清楚。」孔夫人聽了，勸道 : 「你不是常說做事要細心嗎 ? 我看，還是耐心幹下去吧 ? 」
但舊帳沒算好，新賬又來了，積下的帳目越多，孔子的心事就越沈重了。其實賬目不過是加加減減的問題，於是孔夫人便建議他用一根細繩子，穿上幾顆珠子，收入的就加上幾顆珠子，用去的就拿走幾顆珠子。
孔子後來再發展到用一根設十到百個，一根記百到千個，每根繩子穿上十珠子，每天用珠子算帳，既簡單，又方便。
再說魯國的國君，自從派孔子理財後，不知帳目算得如何，就派了一個叫子貢的小臣去查帳，子貢到孔子屋裡一看，見孔子在撥弄珠子，就回國君說 : 「孔丘 ( 孔子的名 ) 沒算賬，在撥弄珠子作樂。」國君大怒，命孔子把帳目拿來。一看，帳目清清楚楚。他十分驚異，便問孔子是怎麼算的。孔子便把用珠子算的事說了一篇。國君聽後，大為稱讚，子貢也當場拜孔子為師。以後，有人根據這道理，發明了算盤，把孔子當作發明算盤的祖師。

篆书的“算”字，应当是个明证吧？

33 The word "count" appears, indicating that the abacus has been used.

count （operator）   ① Oracle as a second-hand holding in a cage to calculate the shape of the calculation. Seal the operator's word, is a bamboo-shaped character, the following to the hands holding, indicating that in the Qin Dynasty before the invention of the abacus. "Said the text" Note: "The number also from the bamboo, from the." Is a device, of course, is abacus, and is made of bamboo for the material, the count is counting, calculation. The number of unknowns is derived mathematically from the known number. Extended plan, plan, speculate, recognize as, and so on. ② "said the text" Note: "祘, Ming as to count it from the two shows," 祘 that is calculated, clearly and simply looked at the calculated. (Noun) noun Similar terms for.
Count as ⑤ carry weight; count ⑥let it pass Ⅱ (副) at long last; finally count


Some people say that abacus is the Ming Dynasty. Look at the "Qingming Riverside" have abacus, that is the Song Dynasty. Some think in the Tang Dynasty. According to the text "operator" appears, can prove very likely in the Spring and Autumn Period. The following story, also put it reasonable:

The Spring and Autumn Period of Confucius. One year, the country's monarch Lu to select a financial person for the court, a minister recommended Confucius.
Who knows, Confucius financial management is not handy, every day home to long sigh some sigh. Confucius sighed and said, "The monarch sent me money to manage, and I can not think of a mess in my account." Mrs. Kong listened and advised, "I am afraid I can not understand what I mean." Do not you always say that you need to be careful? Do I still have to be patient? "
But the old account is not good, the new account again, the more accounts under the plot, Confucius's mind the more heavy. In fact, the account is only the problem of reduction, so Mrs. Kong suggested that he use a thin rope, put a few beads, income plus a few beads, used to take a few beads.
Confucius later developed to a ten to a hundred, a record of one hundred to one thousand, each rope to wear ten beads, with a daily bead accounts, both simple and convenient.
Say Lu monarch, since the distribution of Confucius financial management, I do not know how the accounts be considered to send a sub-tribute to the small minister to check accounts, sub-tribute to the Confucius room to see, see Confucius in fiddle with beads, The monarch said: "Confucius (the name of Confucius) did not reckon, in the fiddle with beads." The monarch was furious, ordered Confucius to bring the accounts. A look, accounts clear. He was very surprised, they asked Confucius how to count. Confucius put the beads count things that one. After hearing the monarch, greatly praised, Zigong also on the spot thanks to Confucius as a teacher. Later, someone based on this reason, invented the abacus, the founder of Confucius as the abacus.


Seal of the "operator" word, it should be a proof, right?