China's abacus applies to be a World Intangible Cultural Heritage 珠算申请非遗

The Zhusuan, or China’s abacus, was doing the math long before the electronic calculator was invented. The simple counting aid is now applying to become an Intangible Cultural Heritage. The result will be revealed next month during UNESCO’s 8th intergovernmental Council in Azerbaijan.

珠算，即“中国的算盘”，在计算器被发明之前一直是主要的计算工具。这个简易的计算辅助工具现在已申请列入非物质文化遗产。下个月于阿塞拜疆举行的联合国教科文组织的第八次政府委员会将揭晓其结果。

With a history of over 1,800 years, the abacus is considered the world’s oldest computer.

珠算拥有1800多年的历史，被认为是世界上最古老的“电脑”。

However, with new technology and new gadgets, calculating with beads might seem archaic to some.

然而，随着新技术和新工具的发明，对一些人来说，用珠子计数的方法可能就显得过于陈旧了。

But to preserve this ancient wisdom, the government listed the abacus as a national-level intangible cultural heritage in 2008. Now the Ministry of Culture are hoping the abacus will be recognised on an international stage.

但为了保留这种古代的智慧成果，中国政府于2008年宣布珠算为国家级的非物质文化遗产。现在，文化部希望珠算能够在国际上同样得到认可。

"The entries are the most representative things from Chinese culture. After carefully examining and debating each one, the abacus really stood out. Apart from the mathematical calculations, the cultural connotations of the abacus rhymes are also very rich. So we all hope that the abacus will be listed by UNESCO," said Ma Wenhui, president of Department of Intangible Cultural Heritage, Ministry of Culture.

文化部非遗司司长马文辉说：“（名录上的）遗产都是最能代表中国文化的。在仔细地研究并讨论后，珠算最终脱颖而出。除了单纯的数学计算外，珠算口诀的文化内涵也极其丰富。所以我们希望珠算能被联合国教科文组织选中。”

The result will be released in early December.

结果将在12月上旬公布。

Since 2001, China has successfully applied for 37 items to be listed as World Intangible Cultural Heritages, including Kunqu opera, shadow play and acupuncture.

自2001年以来，中国成功地申请了37项世界非物质文化遗产，包括昆曲、皮影戏和针灸等。

China now has the most intangible cultural items listed by UNESCO.

中国现在也是联合国教科文组织中非物质文化遗产最多的国家。