Huizhou Old Streets
How do you use a round abacus? I've absolutely no idea. Looks like the creativity of ancient Chinese is everywhere, even in the design of abacus - you can find all kinds of abacus in this museum!
There are altogether over 200 abacuses on display in the museum, each of different material, design, and function.
Here is a definitely the tiniest abacus I've ever seen and it's the smallest one in this museum. And it's embedded on a ring. It must belong to a Hui businessman; they like to do business all the time.
I guess it must be really busy to calculate the square root using this abacus, it's so long and got 81 columns, literally it's like playing some kind of instrument if you use this to do calculation. Pretty amazing.
A local elementary school was even named after Mr. Cheng Dawei to commemorate his achievements. Guess what is the strong point of the school's curriculum? The kids here can calculate real fast, even faster than calculators.
It's too fast! I could not even get my numbers keyed in yet. And look at their little hands; they are moving the imaginative beads on the abacus. This is a new calculation method created by this school. They use a combination way of the traditional method and calculating by heart to calculate the numbers.
Now I feel extremely safe walking next to this guy, Mr. Zhongkui in red robe. He is the god who specializing in capturing evil spirits, eating demons. Only in this kind of remote places in China, can you still find some authentic folk customs. For example, today's performance called Tiao Zhongkui!
Tiao Zhongkui is performed on every May 5 of lunar calendar year as a ritual to expel devils and bring good luck.
Many such ancient folk customs get to thrive in the countryside of Huizhou area due to its sheltered environment and unique culture 鈥 the loyalty toward tradition.
