Zhou Bi Suan Jing

Geometric proof of the Pythagorean theorem from the Zhou Bi Suan Jing

The Zhou Bi Suan Jing, or Chou Pei Suan Ching, (周髀算經) is one of the oldest Chinese mathematical texts. "Zhou" refers to the ancient dynasty Zhou (周) c. 1046-771 BCE; "Bi" means arm and according to the book, it refers to the gnomon of the sundial. The book is dedicated to astronomical observation and calculation. "Suan Jing" or "classic of arithmetic" were appended in later time to honor the achievement of the book in mathematics.^[1]

This book dates from the period of the Zhou Dynasty (1046 BCE—256 BCE), yet its compilation and addition of materials continued into the Han Dynasty (202 BCE – 220 CE). It is an anonymous collection of 246 problems encountered by the Duke of Zhou and his astronomer and mathematician, Shang Gao. Each question has stated their numerical answer and corresponding arithmetic algorithm. This book contains one of the first recorded proofs of the Pythagorean Theorem.

Commentators such as Liu Hui (263 CE), Zu Geng (early sixth century), Li Chunfeng (602–670 CE) and Yang Hui (1270 CE) have expanded on this text.

References

↑ http://naturalunits.blogspot.com/2013/10/the-pythagorean-theorem-in-zhou-bi-suan.html

Boyer, Carl B., A History of Mathematics, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2nd edition, (1991). ISBN 0-471-54397-7.

External links

Full text of the Zhou Bi Suan Jing, including diagrams - Chinese Text Project.
Full text of the Zhou Bi Suan Jing, at Project Gutenberg
Christopher Cullen. Astronomy and Mathematics in Ancient China: The 'Zhou Bi Suan Jing', Cambridge University Press, 2007. ISBN 0521035376

Han dynasty topics

History	Chu–Han Contention (Feast at Hong Gate) Lü Clan Disturbance Rebellion of the Seven States Han–Xiongnu War Gojoseon–Han War Southward expansion (Han–Minyue War Han–Nanyue War Han–Dian War First Chinese domination of Vietnam Trung sisters' rebellion Second Chinese domination of Vietnam) Xin dynasty Red Eyebrows and Lülin Goguryeo–Han War Disasters of the Partisan Prohibitions Way of the Five Pecks of Rice Yellow Turban Rebellion End of the Han dynasty

Society and culture	Records of the Grand Historian Book of Han Gansu Flying Horse Huainanzi Eight Immortals of Huainan Mawangdui Silk Texts Luxuriant Dew of the Spring and Autumn Annals Yiwu Zhi Old Texts Han poetry Fu

Government and military	Emperor List Family tree Three Lords and Nine Ministers Nine Ministers Three Ducal Ministers Kings Four Commanderies Protectorate of the Western Regions (Chief Official) List of government titles

Economics	Silk Road Ancient Chinese coinage Sino-Roman relations

Science and technology	Zhang Heng Hua Tuo Zhou Bi Suan Jing Book on Numbers and Computation The Nine Chapters on the Mathematical Art Huangdi Neijing Jin Gui Yao Lue Shanghan Lun

Xia → Shang → Zhou → Qin → Han → 3 Kingdoms → Jìn / 16 Kingdoms → N. & S. Dynasties → Sui → Tang → 5 Dynasties & 10 Kingdoms → Liao / Song / W. Xia / Jīn → Yuan → Ming → Qing → Modern China

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Sunday, April 24, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.