Uploaded July 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Chisanbop is a finger counting and calculating method created by Hang Young Pai and Sung Jin Pai. This is episode 88 of my video series about old calculating methods. #clearyourfingers
This project represented far more research than my typical videos. Special thanks for helpful conversations with Randi Wolf, Sohmi Pai, and Ed Lieberthal's long-time friend and business partner. Thanks also to MaryLou Driedger.
Heeja Park Pai interview footage is © Korean American Story, used by permission. Translation help from Jacob Hanbin Eun.
"Chisanbop" calligraphy by Sang Man Kim: etsy.com/shop/SamuelsArtGallery
End song inspired by "Hotter than a Molotov" by The Coup: youtu.be/X8AW7PmsxAY
Chris Staecker webarea: https://faculty.fairfield.edu/cstaecker
Some sources:
Commercial featuring Fred MacMurray:
youtube.com/watch?v=vtARCOoQTT8
Phil Donahue show:
archive.org/details/chisanbop_phil_donahue
Clips from the Today Show with Tom Brokaw:
archive.org/details/today_202506
Clips from the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson:
archive.org/details/chisanbop-on-carson
Additional hands footage from Fingermath: Calculating for facts and fun: archive.org/details/fingermath-videos
My full collection of primary sources (audio, video, and full scanned books and marketing materials) at Internet Archive:
archive.org/search?query=uploader%3A%22chrisstaecker%40gmail.com%22+AND+chisanbop
Photos of Heeja Park Pai with Robert Leslie from Korean magazine The Ladies Joong Ang, July 1991.
Social media chisanbop videos (in order)
Hi my name is Robin youtube.com/watch?v=aU34aJN7gY0
This is called Chisanbop youtube.com/watch?v=9Nf2XM-C76I
How to add with Chismbop youtube.com/watch?v=iaRNG4tPLfM
Guys have you seen chisanbop? tiktok.com/@cheggmath/video/7340386406109351210
Técnica CHISANBOP youtube.com/shorts/mAhQgHbwtMM
Hold on let me ajust a little bit CHISANBOP youtube.com/watch?v=-Wq9L_pZFuU
Hey what's up guys youtube.com/watch?v=YzhuQHnEsIY
Mental abacus boy: youtube.com/shorts/p4pi5v64RDg
Mental abacus girl: youtube.com/shorts/XZtZjp2TX3w
Criss cross multiplication video: youtube.com/shorts/Nn0AnS_akcM
0:00 Introduction
3:24 Read your fingers (basics)
7:09 The Pais come to America
14:55 Addition and subtraction
22:38 Chisanbop on TV
34:45 Multiplication
38:10 Chisanbop Enterprises Inc
47:04 Hang solo
1:00:30 Fingermath
1:10:37 Aftermath
Chisanbop is a finger counting and calculating method created by Hang Young Pai and Sung Jin Pai. This is episode 88 of my video series about old calculating methods. #clearyourfingers
This project represented far more research than my typical videos. Special thanks for helpful conversations with Randi Wolf, Sohmi Pai, and Ed Lieberthal's long-time friend and business partner. Thanks also to MaryLou Driedger.
Heeja Park Pai interview footage is © Korean American Story, used by permission. Translation help from Jacob Hanbin Eun.
"Chisanbop" calligraphy by Sang Man Kim: etsy.com/shop/SamuelsArtGallery
End song inspired by "Hotter than a Molotov" by The Coup: youtu.be/X8AW7PmsxAY
Chris Staecker webarea: https://faculty.fairfield.edu/cstaecker
Some sources:
Commercial featuring Fred MacMurray:
youtube.com/watch?v=vtARCOoQTT8
Phil Donahue show:
archive.org/details/chisanbop_phil_donahue
Clips from the Today Show with Tom Brokaw:
archive.org/details/today_202506
Clips from the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson:
archive.org/details/chisanbop-on-carson
Additional hands footage from Fingermath: Calculating for facts and fun: archive.org/details/fingermath-videos
My full collection of primary sources (audio, video, and full scanned books and marketing materials) at Internet Archive:
archive.org/search?query=uploader%3A%22chrisstaecker%40gmail.com%22+AND+chisanbop
Photos of Heeja Park Pai with Robert Leslie from Korean magazine The Ladies Joong Ang, July 1991.
Social media chisanbop videos (in order)
Hi my name is Robin youtube.com/watch?v=aU34aJN7gY0
This is called Chisanbop youtube.com/watch?v=9Nf2XM-C76I
How to add with Chismbop youtube.com/watch?v=iaRNG4tPLfM
Guys have you seen chisanbop? tiktok.com/@cheggmath/video/7340386406109351210
Técnica CHISANBOP youtube.com/shorts/mAhQgHbwtMM
Hold on let me ajust a little bit CHISANBOP youtube.com/watch?v=-Wq9L_pZFuU
Hey what's up guys youtube.com/watch?v=YzhuQHnEsIY
Mental abacus boy: youtube.com/shorts/p4pi5v64RDg
Mental abacus girl: youtube.com/shorts/XZtZjp2TX3w
Criss cross multiplication video: youtube.com/shorts/Nn0AnS_akcM
0:00 Introduction
3:24 Read your fingers (basics)
7:09 The Pais come to America
14:55 Addition and subtraction
22:38 Chisanbop on TV
34:45 Multiplication
38:10 Chisanbop Enterprises Inc
47:04 Hang solo
1:00:30 Fingermath
1:10:37 Aftermath
