Methods and Logic of Mathematics in Pre-modern Japan

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 22540155
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: General mathematics (including Probability theory/Statistical mathematics)
• Research Institution: Yokkaichi University
• Principal Investigator: OGAWA Tsukane 四日市大学, 環境情報学部, 教授 (90204081)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): MORIMOTO Mitsuo 四日市大学, 関孝和数学研究所, 副所長 (80053677)
• Project Period (FY): 2010-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 関孝和 / 建部賢弘 / 建部賢明 / 大成算経 / 至誠賛化流

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Analyzing the annual reports of the Shisei Sanka school, the "Kiou Shu," which include a lot of problems proposed by the pupils, I confirmed that they had tried to maintain their prestige by collecting difficult problems but there had been no remarkable development in their mathematical skill. It means that they enjoyed mathematics as a stereotypical hobby only.
The representative mathematicians in pre-modern Japan, Seki Takakazu, Takebe Katahiro, and Takebe Kataakira, revealed their view of mathematics and a lot of mathematical arts in their 20 volumes of the "Taisei Sankei". But it is very difficult to understand their work because they lacked the mathematical language or means to describe their mathematics. I analyzed several volumes of this work in detail to determine this clearly.
As for the "Collected Works of Seki Takakazu", which will be published by Iwanami Shoten, I read some of his Chinese writings in Japanese and translated them into modern Japanese.

Free Research Field

数学史