Japanese mathematics
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Japanese mathematics or wasan (和算) denotes a genuine kind of mathematics developed in Japan during the Edo Period (1603-1867) when the country was isolated from western influences. At the beginning of the Meiji era (1868-1912) the country opened up to the west and adopted western mathematics which led to a decline of the ideas used in the wasan.
Its achievements included some very refined results in integral calculus.
[edit] Important wasan mathematicians
- Kambei Mori - developed arithmetical methods for the soroban (Japanese abacus)
- Yoshida Koyu
- Seki Kowa - enri (circle principle), which represents a crude form of integral calculus
- Takebe Kenko
- Matsunaga Ryohitsu
- Kurushima Yoshita
- Arima Raido
- Ajima Chokuyen
- Aida Ammei
- Sakabe Kohan
- Hasegawa Ken
- Wada Nei
- Shiraishi Chochu
- Koide Shuki
- Omura Isshu
[edit] See also
- Idai, the custom of adding very hard problems at the end of wasan books
- Sangaku, the custom of presenting mathematical problems, carved in wood tablets, to the public in shinto shrines
- Soroban (算盤), a Japanese abacus
[edit] References
- David E. Smith, Yoshio Mikami. A History of Japanese Mathematics. Dover. ISBN 0-486-43482-6.
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