| Description |
1 online resource (xv, 496 pages) : illustrations |
| Contents |
Pt. I Western learning and the Ming-Qing transition -- ch. 1 The Jesuits and mathematics in China, 1582-1644 -- 1.1.Mathematics and literati culture in China c. 1600 -- 1.2.Mathematics in the Society of Jesus -- 1.3.Teaching and translating -- 1.4.Jesuit science, ̀practical learning' and astronomical reform -- ch. 2 Western learning under the new dynasty (1644-1666) -- 2.1.Dynastic transition in Beijing: a new calendar for new rulers -- 2.2.Adam Schall, imperial astronomer -- 2.3.Jiangnan scholars and the Jesuits -- 2.4.Number and magnitude expanded: a scholar's mathematics -- 2.5.Schall's defeat: the 1664 impeachment -- pt. II The first two decades of Kangxi's rule -- ch. 3 The emperor and his astronomer (1668-1688) -- 3.1.Kangxi's takeover and the rehabilitation of Jesuit astronomy -- 3.2.Ferdinand Verbiest, imperial astronomer and tutor -- 3.3.Kangxi, student of Chinese and Western learning -- 3.4.Philosophy, ̀fathoming the principles' and orthodoxy -- ch. 4 A mathematical scholar in Jiangnan: the first half-life of Mei Wending -- 4.1.Mei Wending's early career -- 4.2.Integrating Chinese and Western mathematics -- 4.3.The Discussion of rectangular arrays: restoring one of the ̀nine reckonings' -- 4.4.Writing mathematics: purpose, structure and style of the Discussion of rectangular arrays -- ch. 5 The ̀King's Mathematicians': a French Jesuit mission in China -- 5.1.Setting up a scientific expedition to China -- 5.2.From Brest to Beijing -- 5.3.In the capital -- 5.4.Travels and observations in China -- ch. 6 Inspecting the southern sky: Kangxi at the Nanjing observatory -- 6.1.The Imperial Diary -- 6.2.Li Guangdi's recollection -- 6.3.The Jesuits' role -- 6.4.Imperial investigation of the Old Man Star -- pt. III Mathematics for the emperor -- ch. 7 Teaching ̀French science' at the court: Gerbillon and Bouvet's tutoring -- 7.1.Chronology of the lessons -- 7.2.The Academie, the Moderns and the way to God -- 7.3.A typical lesson: 10 April 1690 -- 7.4.The imperial workshop and instruments -- 7.5.Chinese, Manchu and the control of Western science -- ch. 8 The imperial road to geometry: new Elements of geometry -- 8.1.Changing the textbook -- 8.2.Pardies' Elemens de geometrie: the pedagogy of geometry in seventeenth-century France -- 8.3.The double translation -- 8.4.Diamonds and pearls: ratios in the new Elements -- 8.5.Practical geometry -- 8.6.The emperor's role in the composition of the new Elements -- ch. 9 Calculation for the emperor: the writings of a discreet mathematician -- 9.1.Antoine Thomas (1644-1709) and his Synopsis mathematica -- 9.2.The Outline of the essentials of calculation -- 9.3.Practical geometry and tables -- 9.4.The foundations of calculation: back to Euclid -- 9.5.Cossic algebra: the Calculation by borrowed root and powers and its summary -- 9.6.Symbolic linear algebra: a treatise within the treatise -- ch. 10 Astronomy in the capital (1689-1693): scholars, officials and ruler -- 10.1.Mei Wending in Beijing -- 10.2.A patron's commission: the Doubts concerning the study of astronomy -- 10.3.Three solar eclipses -- 10.4.An imperial pronouncement on mathematics and classical scholarship -- 10.5.The officials' responses -- pt. IV Turning to Chinese scholars and Bannermen -- ch. 11 The 1700s: reversal of alliance? -- 11.1.Locating the Beijing Jesuits c. 1700 -- 11.2.The mathematical sciences in history -- 11.3.From favour to distrust: the papal legation -- 11.4.The Jesuits as imperial cartographers -- 11.5.Assessing mathematical talent: Chen Houyao's interview -- ch. 12 The Office of Mathematics: foundation and staff -- 12.1.The Summer solstice of 1711 -- 12.2.Selecting talented men -- 12.3.The mathematical staff at the emperor's sixtieth birthday -- 12.4.An editorial project in the mathematical sciences -- 12.5.The imperial princes -- 12.6.Mathematicians, astronomy and cartography -- 12.7.The mathematical sciences in examinations -- ch. 13 The Jesuits and innovation in imperial science: Jean-Francois Foucquet's treatises -- 13.1.Foucquet in Beijing: from the Book of Change to astronomy -- 13.2.The Dialogue on astronomical methods: a reform proposal? -- 13.3.Foucquet's writings on mathematics -- 13.4.Symbols in the New method of algebra -- 13.5.The Jesuits and the Office of Mathematics -- 13.6.Tables and the standardisation of mathematical sciences -- pt. V Mathematics for the Empire -- ch. 14 The construction of the Essence of numbers and their principles -- 14.1.Outline -- 14.2.Sources -- 14.3.The historical narrative of mathematics -- 14.4.The structure of imperial mathematics -- 14.5.Rephrasing the Jesuits' textbooks -- 14.6.Vocabulary and classification -- ch. 15 Methods and material culture in the Essence of numbers and their principles -- 15.1.Problems and their genealogy: Master Sun and Hieron -- 15.2.Inkstones and brushes -- 15.3.Weighing up the difficulty of problems -- 15.4.Algebra and the problems of the ̀Line Section' -- 15.5.The remainder problem -- 15.6.The construction and use of instruments -- 15.7.Time-keeping -- ch. 16 A new mathematical classic? -- 16.1.Yongzheng's preface -- 16.2.Harmonics and astronomy -- 16.3.The contributors -- 16.4.Supplements to the Origins of pitchpipes and the calendar -- 16.5.The study of mathematics in mid-Qing China -- Conclusion -- Main Units -- Bibliography -- 1.Mathematical and astronomical manuscripts from the Kangxi court -- 2.Editions used for main other Chinese works on mathematics, astronomy and harmonics -- 3.Other sources -- 4.Secondary literature |
| Summary |
Jami explores how the emperor Kangxi solidified the Qing dynasty in 17th-century China through the appropriation of the 'Western learning', and especially the mathematics, of Jesuit missionaries. This text details not only the history of mathematical ideas, but also their political and cultural impact |
| Notes |
Coloured maps on lining papers |
| Bibliography |
Includes bibliographical references (pages 395-420) and index |
| Notes |
Print version record |
| Subject |
Science -- China -- History -- 17th century
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Science -- China -- History -- 18th century
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Mathematics -- China -- History -- 17th century
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Mathematics -- China -- History -- 18th century
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Civilization -- Western influences
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Mathematics
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Science
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| SUBJECT |
China -- History -- Kangxi, 1662-1722.
http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85024080
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China -- Civilization -- Western influences.
http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85024005
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| Subject |
China
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| Genre/Form |
History
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| Form |
Electronic book
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| ISBN |
9780191729218 |
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0191729213 |
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