Early Chinese mathematics Chinese mathematics

visual proof (3, 4, 5) triangle in zhoubi suanjing 500–200 bc.



oracle bone script numeral system



counting rod place value decimal

simple mathematics on oracle bone script date shang dynasty (1600–1050 bc). 1 of oldest surviving mathematical works yi jing, influenced written literature during zhou dynasty (1050–256 bc). mathematics, book included sophisticated use of hexagrams. leibniz pointed out, ching contained elements of binary numbers.

since shang period, chinese had developed decimal system. since times, chinese understood basic arithmetic (which dominated far eastern history), algebra, equations, , negative numbers counting rods. although chinese more focused on arithmetic , advanced algebra astronomical uses, first develop negative numbers, algebraic geometry (only chinese geometry) , usage of decimals.

math 1 of liù yì (六艺) or 6 arts, students required master during zhou dynasty (1122–256 bc). learning them required perfect gentleman, or in chinese sense, renaissance man . 6 arts have roots in confucian philosophy.

the oldest existent work on geometry in china comes philosophical mohist canon of c. 330 bc, compiled followers of mozi (470–390 bc). mo jing described various aspects of many fields associated physical science, , provided small wealth of information on mathematics well. provided atomic definition of geometric point, stating line separated parts, , part has no remaining parts (i.e. cannot divided smaller parts) , forms extreme end of line point. euclid s first , third definitions , plato s beginning of line , mo jing stated point may stand @ end (of line) or @ beginning head-presentation in childbirth. (as invisibility) there nothing similar it. similar atomists of democritus, mo jing stated point smallest unit, , cannot cut in half, since nothing cannot halved. stated 2 lines of equal length finish @ same place, while providing definitions comparison of lengths , parallels, along principles of space , bounded space. described fact planes without quality of thickness cannot piled since cannot mutually touch. book provided word recognition circumference, diameter, , radius, along definition of volume.

the history of mathematical development lacks evidence. there still debates mathematical classics. example, zhoubi suanjing dates around 1200–1000 bc, yet many scholars believed written between 300–250 bc. zhoubi suanjing contains in-depth proof of gougu theorem (a special case of pythagorean theorem) focuses more on astronomical calculations. however, recent archaeological discovery of tsinghua bamboo slips, dated c. 305 bc, has revealed aspects of pre-qin mathematics, such first known decimal multiplication table.

the abacus first mentioned in second century bc, alongside calculation rods (suan zi) in small bamboo sticks placed in successive squares of checkerboard.