Scholars' recreation of two traditions of mathematical commentaries in late eighteenth-century China

This paper aims to shed light on two different mathematical practices in late eighteenth-century China. For this purpose, we analyze two solutions to the “three problems of the eastward motion of fixed stars” (恒星東行三題) that were given separately by Jiang Sheng (江聲) and Li Rui (李銳), who were both Qian-Jia scholars in the same region of eastern China. By comparing their modes of problem-solving, of reasoning and of computation, we suggest that the mathematical practices they employed represent the recreation of two traditions of mathematical commentaries by Qian-Jia scholars.

摘要本文分析了乾嘉學者江聲和李銳對 “恒星東行三題” 的解答, 揭示其兩種不同的數學實作。 通过比較其解題, 推理和計算模式, 本文認他們的數學實作代表了乾嘉學者對古代兩種不同的數學注疏傳統的再創造。