Japanese mathematics

Japanese mathematics (和算 wasan?) denotes a distinct kind of mathematics which was developed in Japan during the Edo Period (1603–1867). The term wasan, from wa ("Japan") and san ("calculation"), was coined in the 1870s[1] and employed to distinguish native Japanese mathematics theory from Western mathematics (洋算 yōsan).[2]

In the history of mathematics, the development of wasan falls outside the Western realms of people, propositions and alternate solutions. At the beginning of the Meiji era (1868–1912), Japan and its people opened themselves to the West. Japanese scholars adopted Western mathematics, and this led to a decline of interest in the ideas used in wasan.

Contents

History

This mathematical schema evolved during a period when Japan's people were isolated from European influences. Kambei Mori is the first Japanese mathematician noted in history.[3] Kambei is known as a teacher of Japanese mathematics; and among his most prominent students were Yoshida Shichibei Kōyū, Imamura Chishō, and Takahara Kisshu. These students came to be known to their contemporaries as "the Three Arithmeticians."[4]

Yoshida was the author of the oldest extant Japanese mathematical text. The 1627 work was named Jinkōki. The work dealt with the subject of soroban arithmetic, including square and cube root operations.[5]

Seki Kōwa‎ found calculus at a similar time to his European counterparts; but Seki's investigations did not proceed from conventionally shared foundations.[6]

Select mathematicians

The following list encompasses mathematicians whose work was derived from wasan.

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Selin, Helaine. (1997). Encyclopaedia of the History of Science, Technology, and Medicine in Non-Western Cultures, p. 641. at Google Books
  2. ^ Smith, David et al. (1914). A History of Japanese Mathematics, p. 1 n2. at Google Books
  3. ^ Campbell, Douglas et al. (1984). Mathematics: People, Problems, Results, p. 48.
  4. ^ Smith, p. 35. at Google Books
  5. ^ Restivo, Sal P. (1984). Mathematics in Society and History, p. 56. at Google Books
  6. ^ Smith, pp. 91-127. at Google Books
  7. ^ Smith, pp. 104, 158, 180. at Google Books
  8. ^ a b c d List of Japanese mathematicians -- Clark University, Dept. of Mathematics and Computer Science
  9. ^ a b Fukagawa, Hidetoshi et al. (2008). Sacred Mathematics: Japanese Temple Geometry, p. 24. at Google Books
  10. ^ Smith, p. 233. at Google Books

References

External links