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Japanese mathematics or wasan (和算) denotes a genuine kind of mathematics developed in Japan during the Edo Period (1603-1867) when the country was isolated from western influences. At the beginning of the Meiji era (1868-1912) the country opened up to the west and adopted western mathematics which led to a decline of the ideas used in the wasan.

Its achievements included some very refined results in integral calculus.

[edit] Important wasan mathematicians

• Kambei Mori - developed arithmetical methods for the soroban (Japanese abacus)
• Yoshida Koyu
• Seki Kowa - enri (circle principle), which represents a crude form of integral calculus
• Takebe Kenko
• Matsunaga Ryohitsu
• Kurushima Yoshita
• Arima Raido
• Ajima Chokuyen
• Aida Ammei
• Sakabe Kohan
• Hasegawa Ken
• Wada Nei
• Shiraishi Chochu
• Koide Shuki
• Omura Isshu

[edit] See also

• Idai, the custom of adding very hard problems at the end of wasan books
• Sangaku, the custom of presenting mathematical problems, carved in wood tablets, to the public in shinto shrines
• Soroban (算盤), a japanese abacus

[edit] References

• David E. Smith, Yoshio Mikami. A History of Japanese Mathematics. Dover. ISBN 0-486-43482-6.ja:和算

zh:和算