• Title/Summary/Keyword: Chinese mathematics books in Chosun

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Chinese Mathematics in Chosun (조선(朝鮮)과 중국수학(中國數學))

  • Lee, Chang Koo;Hong, Sung Sa
    • Journal for History of Mathematics
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    • v.26 no.1
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    • pp.1-9
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    • 2013
  • It is well known that the development of mathematics in eastern Asia was based on Chinese mathematics. Investigating Chinese mathematics books that were brought into Chosun, we study how Chinese mathematics influenced Chosun mathematics. Chinese mathematics books were brought into Chosun in three stages, namely basic mathematics books in the era of King SeJong(1397-1450), Chinese mathematics books influenced by western mathematics in the 17th century and finally those with commentaries on mathematics of Song-Yuan era in the 19th century. We also study the process of their importations.

Chinese Mathematicians and their works (중국 수학자와 산서)

  • Kim Chang-Il
    • Journal for History of Mathematics
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    • v.19 no.3
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    • pp.21-42
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    • 2006
  • We investigate chinese mathematicians and their works including their books. We also compare the present transcription of chinese mathematicians and their mathematics books with that in published books on history of chinese mathematics.

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Approximate Approaches in Chinese and Chosun Mathematics (중국 및 조선 수학에서의 근사적 접근)

  • Chang, Hye-Won
    • Journal for History of Mathematics
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    • v.24 no.2
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    • pp.1-15
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    • 2011
  • Approximation is a very useful approach in mathematics research. It was the same in traditional Chinese and Chosun mathematics. This study derived five characteristics from approximation approaches which were found in Chinese and Chosun mathematical books: improvement of approximate values, common and inevitable use of approximate values, recognition of approximate values and their reasons, comparison of their exactness, application of approximate principles. Through these characteristics, we can infer what Chinese and Chosun mathematicians recognized approximate values and how they manipulated them. They took approximate approaches by necessity or for the sake of convenience in mathematical study and its applications. Also, they tried to improve the degree of exactness of approximate values and use the inverse calculations to check them.

중국 및 조선시대 산학서에 나타난 원주율과 원의 넓이에 대한 고찰

  • 장혜원
    • Journal for History of Mathematics
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    • v.16 no.1
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    • pp.9-16
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    • 2003
  • This paper aims to investigate how Chinese and Korean evaluate $\pi$ and measure tile area of circle by reviewing the problems in the old mathematical books. The books are Gu-Jang-San-Sul(The nine chapters on tile mathematical art) for China and Gu-Il-Jib for Chosun Dynasty. The result shows that our ancestors used the different values of ${\pi}$ in relation to the accuracy and the various methods for measuring the area of circle.

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조선시대의 산학서에 관하여

  • 이창구
    • Journal for History of Mathematics
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    • v.11 no.1
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    • pp.1-9
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    • 1998
  • This article explores what is the genuine Koreanness in Korean arithmetic by examining what kind of influence the Chinese arithmetic had on the Korean arithmetic and how the Korean arithmetic scholars had accepted and utilized it. Because the main stream of Korean culture before the end of Chosun dynasty was located under the umbrella of the Chinese philosophy, technique, and culture, it is necessary to make researches on the historical documents and materials in order to establish the milestone in the Korean arithmetic history for the Korean arithmetic scholars. For this research, the arithmetic books published in between the sixteenth century and the end of Chosun dynasty are mainly consulted and discussed, dealing with the bibliographical introduction in the arithmetic Part in Re Outline History of the Korean Science & Technology written by Prof. Yong-Woon Kim.

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The Excess and Deficit Rule and The Rule of False Position (동양의 영부족술과 서양의 가정법)

  • Chang Hyewon
    • Journal for History of Mathematics
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    • v.18 no.1
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    • pp.33-48
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    • 2005
  • The Rule of False Position is known as an arithmetical solution of algebraical equations. On the other hand, the Excess-Deficit Rule is an algorithm for calculating about excessive or deficient quantitative relations, which is found in the ancient eastern mathematical books, including the nine chapters on the mathematical arts. It is usually said that the origin of the Rule of False Position is the Excess-Deficit Rule in ancient Chinese mathematics. In relation to these facts, we pose two questions: - As many authors explain, the excess-deficit rule is a solution of simultaneous linear equations? - Which relation is there between the two rules explicitly? To answer these Questions, we consider the Rule of Single/Double False Position and research the Excess-Deficit Rule in some ancient mathematical books of Chosun Dynasty that was heavily affected by Chinese mathematics. And we pursue their historical traces in Egypt, Arab and Europe. As a result, we can make sure of the status of the Excess-Deficit Rule differing from the Rectangular Arrays(the solution of simultaneous linear equations) and identify the relation of the two rules: the application of the Excess-Deficit Rule including supposition in ancient Chinese mathematics corresponds to the Rule of Double False Position in western mathematics. In addition, we try to appreciate didactical value of the Rule of False Position which is apt to be considered as a historical by-product.

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MATHEMATICS AND SOCIETY IN KORYO AND CHOSUN (고려.조선시대의 수학과 사회)

  • 정지호
    • Journal for History of Mathematics
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    • v.2 no.1
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    • pp.91-105
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    • 1985
  • Though the tradition of Korean mathematics since the ancient time up to the "Enlightenment Period" in the late 19th century had been under the influence of the Chinese mathematics, it strove to develop its own independent of Chinese. However, the fact that it couldn't succeed to form the independent Korean mathematics in spite of many chances under the reign of Kings Sejong, Youngjo, and Joungjo was mainly due to the use of Chinese characters by Koreans. Han-gul (Korean characters) invented by King Sejong had not been used widely as it was called and despised Un-mun and Koreans still used Chinese characters as the only "true letters" (Jin-suh). The correlation between characters and culture was such that , if Koreans used Han-gul as their official letters, we may have different picture of Korean mathematics. It is quite interesting to note that the mathematics in the "Enlightenment Period" changed rather smoothly into the Western mathematics at the time when Han-gul was used officially with Chinese characters. In Koryo, the mathematics existed only as a part of the Confucian refinement, not as the object of sincere study. The mathematics in Koryo inherited that of the Unified Shilla without any remarkable development of its own, and the mathematicians were the Inner Officials isolated from the outside world who maintained their positions as specialists amid the turbulence of political changes. They formed a kind of Guild, their posts becoming patrimony. The mathematics in Koryo is significant in that they paved the way for that of Chosun through a few books of mathematics such as "Sanhak-Kyemong, "Yanghwi - Sanpup" and "Sangmyung-Sanpup." King Sejong was quite phenomenal in his policy of promotion of mathematics. King himself was deeply interested in the study, createing an atmosphere in which all the high ranking officials and scholars highly valued mathematics. The sudden development of mathematic culture was mainly due to the personality and capacity of King who took any one with the mathematic talent onto government service regardless of his birth and against the strong opposition of the conservative officials. However, King's view of mathematics never resulted in the true development of mathematics per se and he used it only as an official technique in the tradition way. Korean mathematics in King Sejong's reign was based upon both the natural philosophy in China and the unique geo-political reality of Korean peninsula. The reason why the mathematic culture failed to develop continually against those social background was that the mathematicians were not allowed to play the vital role in that culture, they being only the instrument for the personality or politics of the King. While the learned scholar class sometimes played the important role for the development of the mathematic culture, they often as not became an adamant barrier to it. As the society in Chosun needed the function of mathematics acutely, the mathematicians formed the settled class called Jung-in (Middle-Man). Jung-in was a unique class in Chosun and we can't find its equivalent in China of Japan. These Jung-in mathematician officials lacked tendency to publish their study, since their society was strictly exclusive and their knowledge was very limited. Though they were relatively low class, these mathematicians played very important role in Chosun society. In "Sil-Hak (the Practical Learning) period" which began in the late 16th century, especially in the reigns of King Youngjo and Jungjo, which was called the Renaissance of Chosun, the ambitious policy for the development of science and technology called for the rapid increase of the number of such technocrats as mathematicians inevitably became quite ambitious and proud. They tried to explore deeply into mathematics per se beyond the narrow limit of knowledge required for their office. Thus, in this period the mathematics developed rapidly, undergoing very important changes. The characteristic features of the mathematics in this period were: Jung-in mathematicians' active study an publication, the mathematic studies by the renowned scholars of Sil-Hak, joint works by these two classes, their approach to the Western mathematics and their effort to develop Korean mathematics. Toward the "Enlightenment Period" in the late 19th century, the Western mathematics experienced great difficulty to take its roots in the Peninsula which had been under the strong influence of Confucian ideology and traditional Korean mathematic system. However, with King Kojong's ordinance in 1895, the traditonal Korean mathematics influenced by Chinese disappeared from the history of Korean mathematics, as the school system was changed into the Western style and the Western matehmatics was adopted as the only mathematics to be taught at the schools of various levels. Thus the "Enlightenment Period" is the period in which Korean mathematics sifted from Chinese into European.od" is the period in which Korean mathematics sifted from Chinese into European.pean.

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Mathematics and Society in Koryo and Chosun (고려.조선시대의 수학과 사회)

  • Joung Ji-Ho
    • The Mathematical Education
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    • v.24 no.2
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    • pp.48-73
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    • 1986
  • Though the tradition of Korean mathematics since the ancient time up to the 'Enlightenment Period' in the late 19th century had been under the influence of the Chinese mathematics, it strove to develop its own independent of Chinese. However, the fact that it couldn't succeed to form the independent Korean mathematics in spite of many chances under the reign of Kings Sejong, Youngjo, and Joungjo was mainly due to the use of Chinese characters by Koreans. Han-gul (Korean characters) invented by King Sejong had not been used widely as it was called and despised Un-mun and Koreans still used Chinese characters as the only 'true letters' (Jin-suh). The correlation between characters and culture was such that, if Koreans used Han-gul as their official letters, we may have different picture of Korean mathematics. It is quite interesting to note that the mathematics in the 'Enlightenment Period' changed rather smoothly into the Western mathematics at the time when Han-gul was used officially with Chinese characters. In Koryo, the mathematics existed only as a part of the Confucian refinement, not as the object of sincere study. The mathematics in Koryo inherited that of the Unified Shilla without any remarkable development of its own, and the mathematicians were the Inner Officials isolated from the outside world who maintained their positions as specialists amid the turbulence of political changes. They formed a kind of Guild, their posts becoming patrimony. The mathematics in Koryo significant in that they paved the way for that of Chosun through a few books of mathematics such as 'Sanhak-Kyemong', 'Yanghwi-Sanpup' and 'Sangmyung-Sanpup'. King Sejong was quite phenomenal in his policy of promotion of mathematics. King himself was deeply interested in the study, createing an atmosphere in which all the high ranking officials and scholars highly valued mathematics. The sudden development of mathematic culture was mainly due to the personality and capacity of king who took anyone with the mathematic talent into government service regardless of his birth and against the strong opposition of the conservative officials. However, King's view of mathematics never resulted in the true development of mathematics perse and he used it only as an official technique in the tradition way. Korean mathematics in King Sejong's reign was based upon both the natural philosophy in China and the unique geo-political reality of Korean peninsula. The reason why the mathematic culture failed to develop continually against those social background was that the mathematicians were not allowed to play the vital role in that culture, they being only the instrument for the personality or politics of the king. While the learned scholar class sometimes played the important role for the development of the mathematic culture, they often as not became an adamant barrier to it. As the society in Chosun needed the function of mathematics acutely, the mathematicians formed the settled class called Jung-in (Middle-Man). Jung-in was a unique class in Chosun and we can't find its equivalent in China or Japan. These Jung-in mathematician officials lacked tendency to publish their study, since their society was strictly exclusive and their knowledge was very limited. Though they were relatively low class, these mathematicians played very important role in Chosun society. In 'Sil-Hak (the Practical Learning) period' which began in the late 16th century, especially in the reigns of Kings Youngjo and Jungjo, which was called the Renaissance of Chosun, the ambitious policy for the development of science and technology called for. the rapid increase of he number of such technocrats as mathematics, astronomy and medicine. Amid these social changes, the Jung-in mathematicians inevitably became quite ambitious and proud. They tried to explore deeply into mathematics perse beyond the narrow limit of knowledge required for their office. Thus, in this period the mathematics developed rapidly, undergoing very important changes. The characteristic features of the mathematics in this period were: Jung-in mathematicians' active study an publication, the mathematic studies by the renowned scholars of Sil-Hak, joint works by these two classes, their approach to the Western mathematics and their effort to develop Korean mathematics. Toward the 'Enlightenment Period' in the late 19th century, the Western mathematics experienced great difficulty to take its roots in the Peninsula which had been under the strong influence of Confucian ideology and traditional Korean mathematic system. However, with King Kojong's ordinance in 1895, the traditional Korean mathematics influenced by Chinese disappeared from the history of Korean mathematics, as the school system was hanged into the Western style and the Western mathematics was adopted as the only mathematics to be taught at the Schools of various levels. Thus the 'Enlightenment Period' is the period in which Korean mathematics shifted from Chinese into European.

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Mathematical Structures and SuanXue QiMeng (수학적(數學的) 구조(構造)와 산학계몽(算學啓蒙))

  • Hong, Sung Sa;Hong, Young Hee;Lee, Seung On
    • Journal for History of Mathematics
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    • v.26 no.2_3
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    • pp.123-130
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    • 2013
  • It is well known that SuanXue QiMeng has given the greatest contribution to the development of Chosun mathematics and that the topics and their presentation including TianYuanShu in the book have been one of the most important backbones in the developement. The purpose of this paper is to reveal that Zhu ShiJie emphasized decidedly mathematical structures in his SuanXue QiMeng, which in turn had a great influence to Chosun mathematicians' structural approaches to mathematics. Investigating structural approaches in Chinese mathematics books before SuanXue QiMeng, we conclude that Zhu's attitude to mathematical structures is much more developed than his precedent ones and that his mathematical structures are very close to the present ones.