China as Chow-pi, said to mean the “Thigh bone of Chow”.[1] The thigh bone possibly signifies, from its shape, the base and altitude of a triangle. Chow is thought to be the name of a certain scholar who died in 1105 B. C., but it may have been simply the name of the dynasty. This scholar is sometimes spoken of as Chow Kung,[2] and is said to have had a discussion with a nobleman named Kaou, or Shang Kao,[3] which is set forth in this book in the form of a dialogue. The topic is our so-called Pythagorean theorem, and the time is over five hundred years before Pythagoras gave what was probably the first scientific proof of the proposition. The work relates to geometric measures and to astronomy.[4]
2. Sun-tsu Suan-ching. This treatise consists of three books, and is commonly known in China as the Swan-king (Arithmetical classic) of Sun-tsu (Sun-tsze, or Swen-tse), a writer who lived probably in the 3d century A. D., but possibly much earlier. The work attracted much attention and is referred to by most of the later writers, and several commentaries have appeared before it. Sun-tsu treats of algebraic quantities, and gives an example in indeterminate equations. This problem is to “find a number which, when divided by 3 leaves a remainder of 2, when divided by 5 leaves 3, and when divided by 7 leaves 2.”[5] This work is sometimes, but without any good reason, assigned to Sun Wu, one of the most illustrious men of the 6th century B. C.
3. Liu-Chang. This is unknown. There was a writer named
- ↑ Pi means leg, thigh, thigh-bone.
- ↑ Chi Tan, known as Chow Kung (that is, the Duke of Chow), was brother and advisor to the Emperor Wu Wang of the Chow dynasty. It is possible that he wrote to Chow Li, “Institutions of the Chow Dynasty”, although it is more probable it was written for him. The establishment and prosperity of the Chow dynasty is largely due to him. There is no little as to the antiquity of this work, and the critical study of scholars may eventually place it much later than the traditional date here given.
- ↑ Also written Shang Kaou.
- ↑ For a translation of the dialogue see Wylie, A., Chinese Researches. Shanghai 1897, Part III p. 163.
- ↑ His result is 23. For a method of solving see Wylie, loc. cit., p. 175.
