• Journal for History of Mathematics
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.73-83
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• 2015

In this paper, we give answers to some interesting questions about a Confucian scholar and mathematician in the late Joseon Dynasty, CHOI Seok-Jeong(崔錫鼎, 1646-1715), who was inducted into the Science and Technology Hall of Fame (http://kast.or.kr/HALL) for his mathematical achievements in October, 2013. In particular, we discover that CHOI Seok-Jeong was able to devote his natural abilities and time to do research on mathematics, and that he frequently communicated with his friend and fellow scholar, LEE Se-Gu(李世龜, 1646-1700), who was an expert on the astronomical calendar and mathematics, based on at least 24 letters between the two.

• Communications of Mathematical Education
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.195-220
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• 2010

The magic square is one of the number arrangements and the sums of each row, column, and diagonal are all equal. The meaning of "方" is "Square". If we don't consider the condition of 'square' then is it possible any number arrangement? There are many special number arrangements such as "magic five number circle(緊五圖)", "magic six number circle(聚六圖)", "magic eight number circle(聚八圖)", "magic nine number circle(攢九圖)", "magic eight camp circle(八陣圖)", "magic nine camp circle(連環圖)" in the ancient Chinese mathematics books such as "楊輝算法", "算法統宗". Also, there is a very special and beautiful number arrangement Jisuguimoondo(地數龜文圖) in the mathematics book "Goosuryak(九數略)" written by Choi suk jung(崔錫鼎) in the Joseon Dynasty. In this study, we introduce a various number arrangements and their properties.