Yang Hui was one of the most important authors of mathematical works during the thirteenth century.Mathematical Methods Explaining in Detail The Nine Chapters(Xiangjie jiuzhang suanfa詳解九章算法,1261 CE)is the earlie...Yang Hui was one of the most important authors of mathematical works during the thirteenth century.Mathematical Methods Explaining in Detail The Nine Chapters(Xiangjie jiuzhang suanfa詳解九章算法,1261 CE)is the earliest extant work attributed to Yang Hui.From the thirteenth to the fifteenth century,this work played a crucial role in the circulation and popularization of The Nine Chapters on Mathematical Procedures(Jiuzhang suanshu九章算术).However,the only surviving printed edition of Mathematical Methods is incomplete and contains many mistakes obstructing contemporary researchers'understanding of this work.The "Fangcheng" chapter of The Nine Chapters deals with problems related to solving what today are known as simultaneous sets of linear equations.However,interpreting the text in this chapter of Mathematical Methods and recovering the mathematical practices relating to fangcheng are difficult.Through detailed textual and mathematical analyses,the author of this paper explains Yang Hufs understanding and practice relating to〃the fangcheng method"and"the method of the positive and the negative".This paper includes an appendix that provides a detailed translation of the ambiguous text relating to"the method of the positive and the negative"and gives reasons supporting the interpretation provided here.Yang Hufs understanding of the concepts of"positive"and"negative"and his practice relating to these two concepts may easily be confused with their apparent counterparts in modem mathematics.Also,careful analysis of the mathematical methods in this work reveal that the order of problems in Yang Hufs Reclassifications of Mathematical Methods Explaining in Detail The Nine Chapters([Xiangjie jiuzhang suanfa zuanlei詳解九章算法纂類],namely,the last section of Mathematical Methods)were rearranged according to commentaries to specific methods that appear in Mathematical Methods.Some textual clues referring to the zzprevious question"(qianwen前問)in certain commentaries of Mathematical Methods indeed r展开更多
While it is known that the problem of death is a central topic animating the author/s of the Inner Chapters of the Zhuangzi, leading Chinese and Western interpretations of this Chinese classic have usually focused muc...While it is known that the problem of death is a central topic animating the author/s of the Inner Chapters of the Zhuangzi, leading Chinese and Western interpretations of this Chinese classic have usually focused much more on other themes and aspects. Even more problematic in the author＇s view is the fact that the Zhuangzi has been closely associated with one death philosophy, the set of concepts, arguments and figures present in chapter 6. This study puts death back at the very center of the Zhuangzian philosophical project yet insisting at the same time on the difficulties of defending one philosophy of death since different passages introduce new concepts, imagery, nuances and perspectives. The Zhuangzi＇s focus on death is being situated within a discussion of the ＂immortality＂ ideal--accepting a total death （＂to die＂） or find refuge in immortality ideals （＂not to die＂）. Different passages from the Inner Chapters are being presented as proposing three distinct immortality projects or strategies--personal, social and cosmic--to address the problem of death. E. Becker＇s reflections on the challenge of mortality and the psychological need of a ＂beyond＂ in order to cope with the consciousness of death provide the basic theoretical framework underlying the discussion of the Zhuangzi in this essay.展开更多
Air exploratory discussion of an ancient Chinese algorithm, the Ying Buzu Shu, in about 2nd century BC, known as the rule of double false position in the West is given. In addition to pointing out that the rule of dou...Air exploratory discussion of an ancient Chinese algorithm, the Ying Buzu Shu, in about 2nd century BC, known as the rule of double false position in the West is given. In addition to pointing out that the rule of double false position is actually a translation version of the ancient Chinese algorithm, a comparison with well-known Newton iteration method is also made. If derivative is introduced, the ancient Chinese algorithm reduces to the Newton method. A modification of the ancient Chinese algorithm is also proposed, and some of applications to nonlinear oscillators are illustrated.展开更多
Six Chapters of a Floating Life is an elegant autobiographical prose. The English version of Lin Yutang is honored as one of the classic translations. As the first translator to embrace"aestheticism"from the...Six Chapters of a Floating Life is an elegant autobiographical prose. The English version of Lin Yutang is honored as one of the classic translations. As the first translator to embrace"aestheticism"from the perspective of translation in Chinese history,Lin Yutang put for ward three standards for translation, namely,"fidelity, coherence and beauty", and proposed translation aesthetics in his article On Translation. By interpreting Lin's translation work of Six Chapters of a Floating Life from the aesthetic aspect,this paper analyzes Lin Yutang's standards for"aesthetic"translation, which refers to the beauty of sound, sense, conception, form and spirit, and also reveals his enlightening contribution to translation theory construction.展开更多
Fu Sheng Liu Ji is a collection of autobiographical essays written by Shen Fu and it occupies a rather important place in the notebook literature of the Qing Dynasty,which has also been widely translated and spread ab...Fu Sheng Liu Ji is a collection of autobiographical essays written by Shen Fu and it occupies a rather important place in the notebook literature of the Qing Dynasty,which has also been widely translated and spread abroad.So far,there have been four English translation versions.Based on the theory of creative treason,this paper analyzed Black’s English translation from the aspects of the choice of content and the restructure,culture and language.It has been found that,as a result of the translator’s conscious or unconscious creative treason,translations may have the effect of engaging readers of the target language,transmitting the culture of the source language and facilitating literary exchange,but they may also have caused misinterpretation by readers and the loss of Chinese cultural imagery.展开更多
The transcription of the Suanshu Shu算數書(a bamboo book of mathematics)in simplified Chinese characters offers a new opportunity to explore the history of Chinese mathematics in ancient times.This paper analyzes the ...The transcription of the Suanshu Shu算數書(a bamboo book of mathematics)in simplified Chinese characters offers a new opportunity to explore the history of Chinese mathematics in ancient times.This paper analyzes the style and structure of the Suanshu Shu and makes comparisons with the Nine Chapters on Mathematical Procedures and a number of other texts in various social contexts.It will be shown that the Suanshu Shu was compiled from at least two sources,and that no direct textual interplay exists between the Suanshu Shu and the Nine Chapters,although both share the same origins in the Pre-Qin period when the major mathematical methods in the Nine Chapters came into being.It will also be shown that the Suanshu Shu was accomplished with the methods used in certain mathematical books in the Pre-Qin period or their results,which later led to the Nine Chapters,and by accommodating the actual conditions of the lower government administration.The Suanshu Shu is significant for establishing the evolution of algorithmic mathematics from the Warring States period to the Han dynasty.展开更多
基金research projects“Elements of Continuity between Mathematical Writings from the Thirteenth to the Fifteenth Century in China(十三至十五世纪中国数学著作连续性Y950051)”“Transmission of the Knowledge of Science and Technology along the Silk Road(丝绸之路科技知识传播Y921011012,Director:Guo Yuanyuan郭园园)”of the Institute for the History of Natural Sciences,Chinese Academy of Sciences.The paper has been copyedited by John Moffett。
文摘Yang Hui was one of the most important authors of mathematical works during the thirteenth century.Mathematical Methods Explaining in Detail The Nine Chapters(Xiangjie jiuzhang suanfa詳解九章算法,1261 CE)is the earliest extant work attributed to Yang Hui.From the thirteenth to the fifteenth century,this work played a crucial role in the circulation and popularization of The Nine Chapters on Mathematical Procedures(Jiuzhang suanshu九章算术).However,the only surviving printed edition of Mathematical Methods is incomplete and contains many mistakes obstructing contemporary researchers'understanding of this work.The "Fangcheng" chapter of The Nine Chapters deals with problems related to solving what today are known as simultaneous sets of linear equations.However,interpreting the text in this chapter of Mathematical Methods and recovering the mathematical practices relating to fangcheng are difficult.Through detailed textual and mathematical analyses,the author of this paper explains Yang Hufs understanding and practice relating to〃the fangcheng method"and"the method of the positive and the negative".This paper includes an appendix that provides a detailed translation of the ambiguous text relating to"the method of the positive and the negative"and gives reasons supporting the interpretation provided here.Yang Hufs understanding of the concepts of"positive"and"negative"and his practice relating to these two concepts may easily be confused with their apparent counterparts in modem mathematics.Also,careful analysis of the mathematical methods in this work reveal that the order of problems in Yang Hufs Reclassifications of Mathematical Methods Explaining in Detail The Nine Chapters([Xiangjie jiuzhang suanfa zuanlei詳解九章算法纂類],namely,the last section of Mathematical Methods)were rearranged according to commentaries to specific methods that appear in Mathematical Methods.Some textual clues referring to the zzprevious question"(qianwen前問)in certain commentaries of Mathematical Methods indeed r
文摘While it is known that the problem of death is a central topic animating the author/s of the Inner Chapters of the Zhuangzi, leading Chinese and Western interpretations of this Chinese classic have usually focused much more on other themes and aspects. Even more problematic in the author＇s view is the fact that the Zhuangzi has been closely associated with one death philosophy, the set of concepts, arguments and figures present in chapter 6. This study puts death back at the very center of the Zhuangzian philosophical project yet insisting at the same time on the difficulties of defending one philosophy of death since different passages introduce new concepts, imagery, nuances and perspectives. The Zhuangzi＇s focus on death is being situated within a discussion of the ＂immortality＂ ideal--accepting a total death （＂to die＂） or find refuge in immortality ideals （＂not to die＂）. Different passages from the Inner Chapters are being presented as proposing three distinct immortality projects or strategies--personal, social and cosmic--to address the problem of death. E. Becker＇s reflections on the challenge of mortality and the psychological need of a ＂beyond＂ in order to cope with the consciousness of death provide the basic theoretical framework underlying the discussion of the Zhuangzi in this essay.
文摘Air exploratory discussion of an ancient Chinese algorithm, the Ying Buzu Shu, in about 2nd century BC, known as the rule of double false position in the West is given. In addition to pointing out that the rule of double false position is actually a translation version of the ancient Chinese algorithm, a comparison with well-known Newton iteration method is also made. If derivative is introduced, the ancient Chinese algorithm reduces to the Newton method. A modification of the ancient Chinese algorithm is also proposed, and some of applications to nonlinear oscillators are illustrated.
文摘Six Chapters of a Floating Life is an elegant autobiographical prose. The English version of Lin Yutang is honored as one of the classic translations. As the first translator to embrace"aestheticism"from the perspective of translation in Chinese history,Lin Yutang put for ward three standards for translation, namely,"fidelity, coherence and beauty", and proposed translation aesthetics in his article On Translation. By interpreting Lin's translation work of Six Chapters of a Floating Life from the aesthetic aspect,this paper analyzes Lin Yutang's standards for"aesthetic"translation, which refers to the beauty of sound, sense, conception, form and spirit, and also reveals his enlightening contribution to translation theory construction.
文摘Fu Sheng Liu Ji is a collection of autobiographical essays written by Shen Fu and it occupies a rather important place in the notebook literature of the Qing Dynasty,which has also been widely translated and spread abroad.So far,there have been four English translation versions.Based on the theory of creative treason,this paper analyzed Black’s English translation from the aspects of the choice of content and the restructure,culture and language.It has been found that,as a result of the translator’s conscious or unconscious creative treason,translations may have the effect of engaging readers of the target language,transmitting the culture of the source language and facilitating literary exchange,but they may also have caused misinterpretation by readers and the loss of Chinese cultural imagery.
基金Prof.Guo Shuchun and Prof.Chen Meidong陈美东assisted with the completion of the Chinese version of this paper.In addition,Prof.Joseph W.Dauben has guided its revision in English.John Moffett copyedited the English translation.The author would like to express his heartfelt appreciation to all of them.
文摘The transcription of the Suanshu Shu算數書(a bamboo book of mathematics)in simplified Chinese characters offers a new opportunity to explore the history of Chinese mathematics in ancient times.This paper analyzes the style and structure of the Suanshu Shu and makes comparisons with the Nine Chapters on Mathematical Procedures and a number of other texts in various social contexts.It will be shown that the Suanshu Shu was compiled from at least two sources,and that no direct textual interplay exists between the Suanshu Shu and the Nine Chapters,although both share the same origins in the Pre-Qin period when the major mathematical methods in the Nine Chapters came into being.It will also be shown that the Suanshu Shu was accomplished with the methods used in certain mathematical books in the Pre-Qin period or their results,which later led to the Nine Chapters,and by accommodating the actual conditions of the lower government administration.The Suanshu Shu is significant for establishing the evolution of algorithmic mathematics from the Warring States period to the Han dynasty.
