NARA, Sep 05 (News On Japan) –
An historical multiplication desk, believed to be the oldest in Japan, has been found on the ruins of Fujiwara Palace in Nara Prefecture.
The wood pill, when seen underneath infrared gentle, reveals inscriptions equivalent to:
- 9 x 9 = 81
- 4 x 9 = 36
- 6 x 8 = 48
The wood artifact is roughly 1,300 years previous, making it the oldest recognized multiplication desk in Japan. The chart begins with the 9 occasions desk, with 5 equations written horizontally in a single line.
Kuniya Kuwata, Chief Researcher on the Department of Cultural Heritage, commented, “I initially thought Japanese multiplication charts only had 2 to 3 equations per line, so I was genuinely surprised to find one with so many, similar to those in China and Korea.”
The pill is believed to have been utilized by the “Emonfu” workplace, liable for safety and different administrative duties, possible for calculating the workdays of officers or tax-related figures.
Source: YOMIURI