Jiegenfang, tianyuan, and daishu: Algebra in Qing China (Q2713759)

This article is about the early history (from the 13th to the 19th centuries) of algebra in China but with a strong emphasis on 19th century Chinese mathematics. First, the author explains briefly the meaning of various Chinese mathematical terms used in China in order to convey various sorts of algebra. However, the explanations given in this respect fall short of a serious philological and historical analysis. In particular, the author confines itself to the apparent meaning of the terms in question with no concern at all for European mathematical sources, for example, those from which the notion of \textit{jiegenfang} was adapted in Chinese. In the same way, he also fails to explain the origin of the term \textit{daishu,} a term coined by the protestant missionary Alexander Wylie by translating word for word Newton's term ``substitutionary arithmetic'' (\textit{dai} = to substitute, \textit{shu} = number, to reckon or even arithmetic).NEWLINENEWLINENEWLINEDespite these shortcomings, the study is well-documented and Chinese sources, especially those from the 19th century, are liberally quoted.