On June 7-10, 2021, the delegation led by Chairwoman Liu Jianhua of the World Association of Abacus and Mental Arithmetic (WAAMA) and the Chinese Abacus and Mental Arithmetic Association (CAMAA) visited Shanxi and Henan for an investigation on the work of abacus and mental arithmetic in two provinces. This investigation seeks to learn about the inheritance and protection of abacus intangible cultural heritage, the popularization and development of abacus and mental arithmetic education, as well as the implementation of principal responsibility and the Opinions on Strengthening the Inheritance and Development of Abacus and Mental Arithmetic of the Ministry of Finance in two provinces, and promote creative transformation and innovative development of traditional abacus culture in the new era. Cheng Beiping (Secretary-General of WAAMA and Executive Vice Chairman of CAMAA), Zhao Xiangyi (Secretary-General of CAMAA and Assistant to Secretary-General of WAAMA), Liu Qinying (Deputy Secretary-General of CAMAA), Feng Chunqiu (Vice President and Secretary-General of WAAMA Member Organization--the Abacus and Mental Arithmetic Association of Jilin Province) and Huang Wenkun (Executive President of the Abacus and Mental Arithmetic Institute, Chinese Academy of Fiscal Sciences) accompanied during the investigation.
(Chairwoman Liu Jianhua is reading the abacus and mental arithmetic materials of Jinzhong Teachers College)
On the morning of June 8, the investigation group first visited Jinzhong Normal Junior College (hereinafter referred to as Jinzhong Teachers College). As introduced by Vice President Liu Jinjie, abacus and mental arithmetic is a special course of the College, and a large number of primary school and kindergarten teachers with professional qualities and skills in abacus and mental arithmetic have been trained in recent years, receiving wide recognition from the society and parents. Wang Yue’ai (Head of the Department of Mathematical Sciences) elaborated to the investigation group on the successful practices of Jinzhong Teachers College in the training of abacus and mental arithmetic teachers as well as education and teaching. During the teaching process, the Abacus Mental Arithmetic Curriculum Standard was formulated, and the school-based teaching textbook Abacus and Mental Arithmetic Curriculum suitable for normal colleges and universities was completed and published. As of this semester, a total of more than 6,000 students from 137 classes have studied the abacus and mental arithmetic courses, training a large number of practical abacus and mental arithmetic talents for the province and other provinces.
On the afternoon of June 8, the investigation group held a symposium with Shanxi Provincial Department of Finance and the Abacus and Mental Arithmetic Association of Shanxi Province. An Xiaofei (Deputy Director General of Shanxi Provincial Department of Finance), Zhao Lisheng (President of Provincial Finance and Taxation College), Zhang Baolin, (President of Provincial Institute of Fiscal Sciences), Xing Xusheng (Director of Accounting Department), Liu Li (Secretary-General of the Abacus and Mental Arithmetic Association of Shanxi Province) and Wei Zhongmei (Deputy Secretary-General of the Abacus and Mental Arithmetic Association of Shanxi Province) participated in the symposium.
Deputy Director General An Xiaofei introduced the implementation of abacus and mental arithmetic work in Shanxi Province in an all-round manner. An Xiaofei said that, since its establishment 41 years ago, the Abacus and Mental Arithmetic Association of Shanxi Province has always upheld the goal of protecting and inheriting abacus culture and popularizing abacus and mental arithmetic education, made continuous innovations and tided over various difficulties in carrying out abacus and mental arithmetic education, academic research, business training, appraisal competition, science popularization and other work under the support and guidance of CAMAA, with many important results produced in the abacus community nationwide. To name a few, the Notes on Abacus were prepared, the “Shanxi Merchants Culture and Abacus Academic Forum” was held, the International Symposium on Chinese Abacus Culture Inheritance & Results Promotion Meeting of Abacus Resources Database was jointly organized, and the National Experimental Zone for Abacus and Mental Arithmetic Education and Teaching was built in Lingshi, making due contribution to the inheritance of abacus culture and the promotion of abacus and mental arithmetic education. An Xiaofei also made reports on many specific issues currently faced by the Abacus and Mental Arithmetic Association of Shanxi Province to the investigation group, such as the part-time leadership of the association, the lack of funding sources, and the inability to organize the competition and arrange exhibitions.
Executive Vice Chairman Cheng Beiping introduced the protection and inheritance work of abacus intangible cultural heritage carried out by CAMAA in recent years: (1) Actively promote the General Office of the Ministry of Finance to issue and distribute the Opinions on Strengthening the Inheritance and Development of Abacus and Mental Arithmetic to provide a policy basis for the work of abacus and mental arithmetic associations at all levels; (2) Advance three researches, including the Research on the Influencing Factors, Cognitive Behavior and Brain Mechanism of Popularized Abacus and Mental Arithmetic Migration Ability, Research on the Design and Teaching Implementation of Abacus and Mental Arithmetic Courses in Primary Schools and Comparative Research on the Training Effect of Three Typical Methods including Abacus and Mental Arithmetic and Their Brain Mechanisms; (3) Assist the members of the CPPCC in the Proposal on Inclusion of “Another System of Knowledge” into National Basic Education, and the Proposal on Promoting the Inclusion of Abacus Culture into Mathematics Classroom in Primary Schools, as well as the deputy to the National People's Congress in the Proposal on Strengthening Abacus Education in Finance and Economics Colleges and Universities; (4) With strong support from the Chinese Academy of Fiscal Sciences (hereinafter referred to as CAFS), comprehensively usher in a new “three-in-one” development pattern of the Secretariat of CAMAA, Abacus and Mental Arithmetic Research Center and Abacus and Mental Arithmetic Institute, and gradually explore the integrated industry-university-research development path in the field of abacus and mental arithmetic.
Feng Chunqiu (Vice President and Secretary-General of the Abacus and Mental Arithmetic Association of Jilin Province) shared the experience of the Abacus and Mental Arithmetic Association of Jilin Province in organizational structure, fund guarantee, teacher training, organization of activities and other aspects.
Huang Wenkun (Executive President of the Abacus and Mental Arithmetic Institute, Chinese Academy of Fiscal Sciences) introduced relevant situation of the Abacus and Mental Arithmetic Institute. Since its establishment in August 2020, the Abacus and Mental Arithmetic Institute has adhered to the non-profit orientation and the principle of market-driven innovation and development, established a state-owned enterprise- Beijing Caike Everest Technology Co., Ltd. funded by CAFS, and carried out abacus and mental arithmetic appraisal, competitions, teacher training, appraiser training and other business with the authorization of CAMAA, achieving good results. Huang Wenkun said, the Abacus and Mental Arithmetic Institute would like to provide necessary support for the development of the Abacus and Mental Arithmetic Association of Shanxi Province, and carry out extensive cooperation with it in various aspects based on mutual learning.
Chairwoman Liu Jianhua delivered a speech. She gave fully affirmation to various work by the Abacus and Mental Arithmetic Association of Shanxi Province, adding that Chinese Abacus Skills, as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity, is embracing a significant period of strategic development opportunities. We should be fully aware of the importance and urgency of inheriting and protecting abacus intangible cultural heritage under the new situation. With a fine tradition of inheriting and protecting abacus intangible cultural heritage, Shanxi Province should actively explore the educational enlightenment function of abacus and mental arithmetic, consciously shoulder the mission of inheriting and protecting abacus intangible cultural heritage in the new era, and further guarantee the inheritance and protection of abacus intangible cultural heritage by “looking, listening, asking and feeling the pulse”. Liu Jianhua emphasized that, the Abacus and Mental Arithmetic Association of Shanxi Province should vigorously carry forward “the spirit of the ox” to strengthen the management of social organizations, actively promote general elections of the Association, and strive for the support from competent departments in terms of talent introduction and fund use. CAMAA and the Institute should pursue more extensive exchanges and cooperation with the provincial abacus and mental arithmetic associations, fully reveal the cultural, scientific, educational and social value of abacus and mental arithmetic in the new era, and constantly render a new innovation and development pattern of the abacus and mental arithmetic cause.
(Seminar in Shanxi Province)
During the investigation in Shanxi Province, Wu Zhiyuan (Director of Shanxi Provincial Finance Department) accompanied Chairwoman Liu Jianhua to visit the newly-built Shanxi Finance Development Exhibition Hall; Zhao Lisheng (President of Shanxi Finance and Taxation College) accompanied the investigation group to the abacus museum in the College--the Accounting Culture Demonstration Hall of Shanxi Finance and Taxation College.
On the afternoon of June 9, the investigation group arrived in Henan Province, and conducted an investigation on Zhengzhou Youzhi Foreign Language School, accompanied by Wang Jun (Researcher of Zhengzhou Municipal Bureau of Finance) and Yuan Zhibin (President of Zhengzhou Abacus and Mental Abacus Association). Teachers and students performed wonderful shows they created and adapted such as “Where is the Abacus”, “Abacus Class", and “Abacus Rap”, showing the investigation group a good abacus and mental arithmetic learning atmosphere and superb level of abacus and mental arithmetic. Subsequently, the investigation group observed the classroom teaching of abacus and mental arithmetic at Youzhi Foreign Language School.
Vice President Nie Xin made work reports to the investigation group from four aspects, including the basic information of Youzhi Education Group, the connotation of Dacheng wisdom education of Qian Xuesen, the role of abacus and mental arithmetic in shortening the length of schooling and the results obtained since the development of abacus and mental arithmetic by Youzhi Group.
(The investigation group is observing the abacus and mental arithmetic class in the kindergarten of Zhengzhou Coal Mining Machinery Group Co., Ltd.)
On the morning of June 10, the investigation group visited the kindergarten of Zhengzhou Coal Mining Machinery Group Co., Ltd., where they listened to the report on the abacus and mental arithmetic work carried out by the kindergarten, enjoyed the abacus and mental arithmetic performance of kindergarten children on site, and watched the abacus and mental arithmetic classes of large-, middle- and small-sized classes. The investigation group was deeply impressed by the kindergarten's abacus mathematics curriculum theory featuring enlightenment in abacus, wisdom in games, integration in life, innovation in inheritance and development in practice, as well as the characteristics of integrating teaching activities with games and daily life.
After the field investigation, the investigation group held a symposium with Henan Provincial Department of Finance and WAAMA Member Organization--the Abacus and Mental Abacus Association of Henan Province. Liu Xiangyu (Deputy Director of Provincial Finance Department), Hu Xingwang (Grade II Inspector), Guo Hongzhen (Director of Policy Research Office) and other leaders attended the symposium.
Guo Hongzhen introduced the achievements made by the Abacus and Mental Abacus Association of Henan Province in the construction of the abacus and mental arithmetic education demonstration base, competition organization, teacher training, theoretical research, academic exchanges, textbook preparation, etc. For example, it has successfully built the National Experimental Zone for Abacus and Mental Arithmetic Education and Teaching in Yuanhui District, Luohe City, organized teacher training in various forms, actively participated in the competitions organized by CAMAA and WAAMA, and organized the Cross-Strait Abacus Seminar. He also explained to the investigation group the difficulties faced by the Association in terms of general election, annual inspection, funding sources, etc. He said, the Abacus and Mental Abacus Association of Henan Province will maintain extensive communication with relevant departments and actively prepare for the general election.
In his speech, Inspector Hu Xingwang further highlighted the importance of carrying out abacus and mental arithmetic education in Henan Province from the historical and realistic dimensions and based on the current population quantity and structural characteristics of Henan Province, and put forward two suggestions of strengthening the role of the organizational platform and training more abacus talents with high academic qualifications.
Chairwoman Liu Jianhua said in her speech that Chinese Abacus Skill was included in the “List of Masterpieces of the Intangible Heritage of Humanity” in 2013, and promoted to the whole world by virtue of its unique scientific, cultural, educational and social natures. Many researches suggest that, the abacus and mental arithmetic developed on the basis of abacus can not only improve calculation capability, but also play a significant role in developing children's intellectual potential. Against this backdrop, we are embracing an unprecedented opportunity for the inheritance and development of abacus and mental arithmetic. In her speech, Liu Jianhua affirmed the positive role of private educational institutions in inheriting, protecting and developing abacus and mental arithmetic, and promoting the introduction of abacus and mental arithmetic into classrooms, and stressed that the Abacus and Mental Abacus Association of Henan Province should draw on the excellent achievements of CAMAA and the Abacus and Mental Arithmetic Association of Jilin Province based on actual conditions of the province, complete the election work in time, adapt to the market demands, expand funding sources, and embark on a new path for the development of abacus and mental arithmetic in Henan Province.
(Seminar in Henan Province)
This investigation features a tight schedule and substantial contents. The investigation group learned about the implementation of abacus and mental arithmetic work in Shanxi and Henan provinces through field researches and forums, achieving the desired purpose and producing remarkable results: (i) Attract higher attention from the leaders of financial departments to the work of the Association; (ii) promote the organization construction of the Association, especially in terms of organization and fund guarantee; (iii) further publicize the scientificity and enlightening role of abacus and mental arithmetic; (iv) enhance the ties and communications between CAMAA, WAAMA and various member organizations as well as between member organizations, and provide experience reference for the development of abacus and mental arithmetic nationwide.