The third approach to the history of mathematics in China

TL;DR

This paper discusses the evolution of approaches in studying the history of Chinese mathematics, emphasizing a new 'why' perspective to deepen understanding of historical mathematical practices.

Contribution

It introduces the third approach focusing on why mathematics was developed in China, complementing previous methods that examined what and how mathematics was done.

Findings

Historical perspectives on Chinese mathematics have evolved through three approaches.

The third approach aims to understand the motivations behind mathematical developments.

Integrating all three approaches enhances the study of the history of mathematics.

Abstract

The first approach to the history of mathematics in China led by Li Yan (1892--1963) and Qian Baocong (1892--1974) featured discovering {\it what} mathematics had been done in China's past. From the 1970s on, Wu Wen-tsun and others shifted this research paradigm to one of recovering {\it how} mathematics was done in ancient China. Both approaches, however, focus on the same problem, that is mathematics in history. The theme of the third approach is supposed to be {\it why} mathematics was done. Combining this approach with the former two, the research paradigm will be improved from one of mathematics in history to that of the history of mathematics.