The abacus is an ancient counting instrument, but learning to use it teaches essential mental skills that benefit children for life, which is why it is still a commonly taught skill in schools across Asia. On the ten bars, there are five different color beads, with 100 beads in total. Numbers 1 to 10 run horizontally and vertically across the abacus to help younger children see what they are doing at a glance. The abacus is not just a counting instrument, it also shows the relationship between numbers and quantities, while teaching methodical and regular number arrangement.