Zhou Bi Suan Jing

Geometric proof of the Pythagorean theorem from the Zhou Bi Suan Jing

The Zhou Bi Suan Jing, or Chou Pei Suan Ching, (周髀算經) is one of the oldest Chinese mathematical texts. "Zhou" refers to the ancient dynasty Zhou (周) c. 1046-771 BCE; "Bi" means thigh and according to the book, it refers to the gnomon of the sundial. The book is dedicated to astronomical observation and calculation. "Suan Jing" or "classic of arithmetic" were appended in later time to honor the achievement of the book in mathematics.^[1]

This book dates from the period of the Zhou Dynasty (1046 BCE—256 BCE), yet its compilation and addition of materials continued into the Han Dynasty (202 BCE – 220 CE). It is an anonymous collection of 246 problems encountered by the Duke of Zhou and his astronomer and mathematician, Shang Gao. Each question has stated their numerical answer and corresponding arithmetic algorithm. This book contains one of the first recorded proofs of the Pythagorean Theorem.

Commentators such as Liu Hui (263 CE), Zu Geng (early sixth century), Li Chunfeng (602–670 CE) and Yang Hui (1270 CE) have expanded on this text.

See also

• Tsinghua Bamboo Slips

References

• Boyer, Carl B., A History of Mathematics, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2nd edition, (1991). ISBN 0-471-54397-7.

External links

• Full text of the Zhou Bi Suan Jing, including diagrams - Chinese Text Project.
• Full text of the Zhou Bi Suan Jing, at Project Gutenberg
• Christopher Cullen. Astronomy and Mathematics in Ancient China: The 'Zhou Bi Suan Jing', Cambridge University Press, 2007. ISBN 0521035376

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