h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: Another way to count - A693579
Author: pikachurinpoche - U189692

I rediscovered a base 25 counting system being saved by Tibetans. It enables you to count to 624 on your two hands, instead of only ten, like we do.

Hello pikachurinpoche!

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Hi Pik.,

I've seen Sherpas counting, using the joints of the fingers I think. They use the thumb to point at first the first joint of the little finger, then the send and then the tip of the finger. Then they move on to the ring finger, etc. I suppose they count to 12 using this system. I'm not sure of they user the other hand for powers of 12. I only saw it done when calculting elapsed days, for exmaple.

Heinrich Harrer said the people for (Borneo? I've forgotten) count the fingers that are not showing. So a fist is five. One raised finger is four, etc.

Awu.

Hi

After I realized all the Tibetans were counting funny, I polled them. I asked everyone to count for me. They must have thought I was crazy.

They did it in many different ways. None of them used both hands. I saw that on the Thankas and statues.

The system fits well with base 20. The Mayans used that base, and I'm presently looking for evidence concerning this form of counting. They don't have a lot of codecies, but they have a lot of stone work.

Some cultures raise up the thumb and say 1, while others raise it up and say 5. There has been a lot of time since the system was taught in Tibet, to now. There must be a lot of variation.

Thanks. Still, Pika

Hello again, Pika!

I wonder if it might be helpful, as several counting systems are being mentioned to amend the title to something like 'Other ways (or methods) of counting' - you may be able to find a snappier title. You could then put headings for each method, which would make reading easier.

Thank you. I hope to get to it soon.

Still, Pika