Nine Chapters on Mathematical Modernity Essays on the Global Histori
The book addresses for the first time the dynamics associated with the modernization of mathematics in China from the nineteenth to the mid-twentieth century from a transcultural global historical perspective. Rather than depict the transformations of mat
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Transcultural Research – Heidelberg Studies on Asia and Europe in a Global Context
Series editors Madeleine Herren Thomas Maissen Joseph Maran Axel Michaels Barbara Mittler
More information about this series at http://www.springer.com/series/8753
Andrea Bréard
Nine Chapters on Mathematical Modernity Essays on the Global Historical Entanglements of the Science of Numbers in China
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Andrea Bréard Faculté des Sciences d’Orsay Université Paris-Sud Orsay, France
ISSN 2191-656X ISSN 2191-6578 (electronic) Transcultural Research – Heidelberg Studies on Asia and Europe in a Global Context ISBN 978-3-319-93694-9 ISBN 978-3-319-93695-6 (eBook) https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-93695-6 © Springer International Publishing AG, part of Springer Nature 2019 This work is subject to copyright. All rights are reserved by the Publisher, whether the whole or part of the material is concerned, specifically the rights of translation, reprinting, reuse of illustrations, recitation, broadcasting, reproduction on microfilms or in any other physical way, and transmission or information storage and retrieval, electronic adaptation, computer software, or by similar or dissimilar methodology now known or hereafter developed. The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, service marks, etc. in this publication does not imply, even in the absence of a specific statement, that such names are exempt from the relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use. The publisher, the authors and the editors are safe to assume that the advice and information in this book are believed to be true and accurate at the date of publication. Neither the publisher nor the authors or the editors give a warranty, express or implied, with respect to the material contained herein or for any errors or omissions that may have been made. The publisher remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. Cover illustration: Cover image designed by Britta Eriskat www.eriskat.de. Formula from (Fu and Hua 1896), seal showing the character shu (number) carved by Anne Adam. This Springer imprint is published by the registered company Springer Nature Switzerland AG The registered company address is: Gewerbestrasse 11, 6330 Cham, Switzerland
Dedicated to Shirley, Clee and Madeley, the spring flowers on green meadows
Preface
The title of the book and its number of chapters is a pun on the canonical Nine Chapters on Mathematical Procedures (Jiu zhang suan shu 九章算術), compiled during the first century CE. The classic and its commentaries played an important scientific and political role in the mathematical endeavours of nineteenth- and twentieth-century mathematicians working in China, not in isolation but connected to the outside world. The Nine Chapters served as a model for writing mathematics algorithmically; they were the epitome of China’s tradition, comparable to the Euclidean canon, and even became a source of inspiration for alternative proof techniques in the
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