算さん木ぎ

noun

calculation sticks; counting rods

Historical mathematical tools: small sticks used for arithmetic in East Asia before the abacus became common. Often encountered in historical or mathematical contexts.

• 算さん木ぎは古こ代だい中ちゅう国ごくで発はつ明めいされ、日本にほんにも伝つたわった計けい算さん道どう具ぐだ。

  Counting rods were invented in ancient China and later introduced to Japan as a calculation tool.

noun

divining rods; divination sticks

Used in traditional East Asian divination, such as 易占 (I Ching divination). The same physical sticks may serve both calculation and divination purposes historically.

• 易えき者しゃが算さん木ぎを並ならべて占うらないを始はじめた。

  The diviner laid out the divining rods and began the fortune-telling.