Zhang Qiujian suanjing (The mathematical classic of Zhang Qiujian): An overview (Q1363715)

This paper contains the first English translation of the whole text of the Zhang Qiujian suanjing, one of the so-called `Ten mathematical classics' Suanjing shi shu, hence its importance for the study of Chinese mathematics before the 10th century A.D. (However, the reader interested in Zhang's manual should also consult the very valuable article, not mentioned here, by \textit{Yamazaki Yoemon}, ``History of Instrumental Multiplication and Division in China: from the Reckoning Blocks to the Abacus'', Memoirs of the Research Department of the Toyo Bunko, Tokyo, No. 21, pp. 125-148 (1962).) Unfortunately, apart from the translation itself, the author repeats almost verbatim her old thesis about the Chinese origin of the Hindu-Arabic system of decimal and positional numeration without ever mentioning the `counter-productive' arguments which undermine the conclusion of a Chinese priority in such a matter. In the same spirit, proud developments about the rapidity of computations by means of the Chinese abacus by comparison with other techniques also glorify the superiority of the intelligence of the Chinese by comparison with other peoples.