quipu; khipu; talking knots
Refers to the Andean recording device made of knotted strings. Used in historical or anthropological contexts.
In the Inca Empire, quipus were used to record information.
Compound of 縄 (nawa, 'rope') and 文字 (moji, 'character, writing'), literally 'rope characters'. The term describes the knotted-string system used in the Andes.