The Ten Computational Canons

The Suànjīng shí Shuu (Chinese算 经 十 书/算 经 十 书, computing canon in ten books ', also: Ten Mathematical Classics ') are a collection of mathematics books at the beginning of the Tang Dynasty on the orders of the emperor Li Yuan ( reigned 618-626 ) by the mathematician Li Chunfeng and colleagues were provided with remarks reissued. They later formed the basis for state examinations of officials in China. Previously, an imperial astronomer (Wang Sibian ) had complained about the shortcomings of existing spending. A first printing ( woodcut ) appeared on imperial order in 1084, a second 1213. Pressure from the first issue of 1084 is no specimen obtained because the palace archives were scattered at the siege of Kaifeng in 1126. The emphasis in 1213 managed under the scholar Bao Huanzhi only with great difficulty. The collection came in the course of the following centuries into oblivion until the end of the 18th century, scholars such as the mathematician Dai Zhen ( 1724-1777 ) and Jihan Kong ( 1739-1784 ) again an issue concerned ( Weiboxie edition 1773 Wuying dian 1775 edition to 1794 ).

The "Ten Classics " (in reality it is 12 ) include:

• Zhoubi suanjing ( "Arithmetic Classic of the Zhou gnomon " ), an astronomical primarily text and mathematical problems, among which occurs the theorem of Pythagoras. It contains cosmological speculation about the size of the universe. It is often 100 BC to 100 AD dated to the period (Han Dynasty ).

• Jiu Zhang SuanShu ( "Nine Books arithmetic technique " ), the most important mathematical text of the collection. He is considered the mathematical classics of Chinese and is a problem collection ( without proofs in the strict sense, but with an indication of the solution and demonstrating the solution path ). It is often dated to the period around 200 BC.

• Haidao suanjing ( " Mathematical Handbook of Sea Isle " ) by Liu Hui written (263 AD) as part of a commentary on the "Nine books ". It is about land surveying.

• Sunzi suanjing ( " Mathematical Handbook of Sunzi ," he lived in the 5th century, about him but nothing else is known). A collection of exercises such as the " Nine books" in general but the tasks are easier. A task includes the Chinese remainder theorem.

• Wucao suanjing ( " Mathematical Handbook for the five administrative departments " ) is a textbook for aspiring public servants, possibly dating from the 5th century.

• Xiahou Yang suanjing ( " Mathematical Handbook of Xiahou Yang ," a mathematician of the 5th century, on the nothing else is known). The book is a collection of problems, but over its predecessors bringing nothing new.

• Zhang Qiujian suanjing ( "Mathematical Handbook of Zhang Qiujian "), a collection of exercises similar to the nine books from the period 468 to 486

• Wujing SuanShu ( " Mathematical Methods in five classics'). One Response to mathematical problems ( such as calendar issues ) in five non-mathematical classic books.

• Jigu suanjing ( " continuation of the old math "). A collection of 20 problems ( for example, from the dike and canal construction ) of Wang Xiaotong, a mathematician of the 7th century.

• Shushu Jiyi ( "Remarks on traditions arithmetic methods "). In the book argues, the increased ( 160 to 227 ) was the author of the mathematician Xu Yue, a student of the calendar expert Liu Hong at the Imperial Observatory, is said to have also written a commentary on the Nine books. The authorship but was doubted in the literature. In the text older computational methods are described, among other versions of the abacus, and introduced orders of magnitude for the representation of large numbers. The text is mixed with religious ( Buddhist and Taoist ) remarks.

• Zhui shu ( "Method of Interpolation" ) of Zu Chongzhi from the 5th century. The book is not preserved, probably because his math was too advanced for the official candidates. To Chongzhi the first Chinese mathematician to have been that stated the correct volume of a sphere, and similar problems were probably in the book.

• Sandeng shu ( " art of the three degrees "). From Dong Quan from the 6th -7th century, on notation for large numbers.