Jean-Claude Martzloff - Astronomy and Calendars - the Other Chinese Mathematics : 104 BC - Ad 1644 download book DJV, MOBI, FB2
9783662497180 English 3662497182 Presented from the viewpoint of the history of mathematics, this book explores both epistemological aspects of Chinese traditional mathematical astronomy, namely its connections with ideas from non-Chinese cultural areas and luni-solar calendrical calculations. The following issues are addressed: (1) the possibility or impossibility of using mathematics to predict astronomical phenomena, a question that was constantly raised by the Chinese from antiquity through medieval × (2) the modes of representation of numbers, and in particular the zero, found in the context of Chinese calendrical calculations; and (3) a detailed analysis of luni-solar calendrical calculations. Comparisons between the results of calculations and the content of Chinese historical calendars from various periods are provided, together with many specific fully worked-out examples. Traditional Chinese calendrical and astronomical mathematics consists of a changing sequence of mutually inconsistent mathematical procedures designed to predict, but not explain, phenomena pertaining to astronomy and related areas. Yet, despite appearances, models of the mathematical techniques hidden behind this voluminous corpus reveal that they depend on a limited number of clear-cut mathematical structures. Although only a small fraction of these techniques are known, many of them surprisingly broaden our knowledge of the history of Chinese mathematics. Sinologists interested in the history of Chinese science, and anyone interested in the history of Chinese mathematics, the Chinese calendar, and the history of Chinese mathematical astronomy from its origin (104 BC) to its European reform (AD 1644) will find this book very useful. The present English language edition is a fully revised and updated version of the French original. Even though this is a research monograph in sinology, no particular sinological background is required, although a basic understanding of what Donald Knuth calls 'concrete mathematics' is needed., The traditionalmathematics of the calendar and Chinese astronomy consist of temporary andunstable collections of mathematical procedures, constantly under fire ofreforms and designed to predict and not to explain, astronomical phenomena andthose pertaining to related areas. Yet, beyondappearances, the present modelling of the mathematical techniques hidden behindthe scenes of their voluminous corpus reveals instead that they depend on alimited number of clear-cut mathematical structures. If a smallfraction of these techniques are not unheard of, on the contrary many of themare essentially unexpected to the extant that they significantly broaden ourknowledge of the history of Chinese mathematics. But also, the issues addressedin the corresponding Chinese historical sources focus not only on technicalquestions but also on the problem of the applicability of mathematics to theprediction of astronomical phenomena. Hence their interest for the comparativehistory of mathematics ad astronomy.
9783662497180 English 3662497182 Presented from the viewpoint of the history of mathematics, this book explores both epistemological aspects of Chinese traditional mathematical astronomy, namely its connections with ideas from non-Chinese cultural areas and luni-solar calendrical calculations. The following issues are addressed: (1) the possibility or impossibility of using mathematics to predict astronomical phenomena, a question that was constantly raised by the Chinese from antiquity through medieval × (2) the modes of representation of numbers, and in particular the zero, found in the context of Chinese calendrical calculations; and (3) a detailed analysis of luni-solar calendrical calculations. Comparisons between the results of calculations and the content of Chinese historical calendars from various periods are provided, together with many specific fully worked-out examples. Traditional Chinese calendrical and astronomical mathematics consists of a changing sequence of mutually inconsistent mathematical procedures designed to predict, but not explain, phenomena pertaining to astronomy and related areas. Yet, despite appearances, models of the mathematical techniques hidden behind this voluminous corpus reveal that they depend on a limited number of clear-cut mathematical structures. Although only a small fraction of these techniques are known, many of them surprisingly broaden our knowledge of the history of Chinese mathematics. Sinologists interested in the history of Chinese science, and anyone interested in the history of Chinese mathematics, the Chinese calendar, and the history of Chinese mathematical astronomy from its origin (104 BC) to its European reform (AD 1644) will find this book very useful. The present English language edition is a fully revised and updated version of the French original. Even though this is a research monograph in sinology, no particular sinological background is required, although a basic understanding of what Donald Knuth calls 'concrete mathematics' is needed., The traditionalmathematics of the calendar and Chinese astronomy consist of temporary andunstable collections of mathematical procedures, constantly under fire ofreforms and designed to predict and not to explain, astronomical phenomena andthose pertaining to related areas. Yet, beyondappearances, the present modelling of the mathematical techniques hidden behindthe scenes of their voluminous corpus reveals instead that they depend on alimited number of clear-cut mathematical structures. If a smallfraction of these techniques are not unheard of, on the contrary many of themare essentially unexpected to the extant that they significantly broaden ourknowledge of the history of Chinese mathematics. But also, the issues addressedin the corresponding Chinese historical sources focus not only on technicalquestions but also on the problem of the applicability of mathematics to theprediction of astronomical phenomena. Hence their interest for the comparativehistory of mathematics ad astronomy.