1713: A Year of SignificanceHAN Qi(Institute for the History of Natural Sciences, CAS)

Significant for What?

1)A Year of celebration: 60th birthday, 18th day of the 3rd month of 52th year of the Kangxi emperor

2)Establishment of the Academy of Mathematics (Suanxue guan)

What happened during the celebration?Who attended the celebration?What happened afterwards?

Reconstruction of the Academy

Mathmaticiens du Roy Jean de Fontaney (1643-1710), Joachim Bouvet (1656-1730), Claude de Visdelou (1656-1737), J.-F. Gerbillon (1654-1707)Louis le Comte (1655-1728). Feb. 1688, arrival in Beijing1. To glorify the French King. Padroado2. For the propagation of Gospel in China3. For the perfection of the arts and sciences

Astronomical instruments: Gifts for the emperor

The Emperors Tutors in Mathematicsca.1689-1691, teaching of mathematics at court

Tom Pereira (1645-1708) PortugueseAntoine Thomas (1644-1709) BelgianJ. Bouvet (1656-1730) French J.-F. Gerbillon (1654-1707) French

Mathematical translationsGaston Ignace Pardies (1636-1673), Elemens de Geometrie, ou par une methode courte & aisee l'on peut apprendre ce qu'il faut scavoir d'Euclide, d'Archimede, d'Apollonius, & les plus belles inventions des anciens & des nouveaux Geometres. (1671) Suanfa yuanben (book VII of Euclid's Elements)Antoine Thomas, Synopsis mathematica complectens varios tractatus quos hujus scientiae tyronibus et missionariis Sinicae candidatis breviter et clare concinnavit P. Antonius Thomas e Societate Iesu (1685)algebra

Pardies Elemens de Geometrie (in Manchu)

A preparation period?

ca. 1691-1713. Preparation of young mathematiciansKangxi emperor (1654-1722)Li Guangdi (1642-1718)Mei Wending (1633-1721)

Drawings: VS

Grand tour of the South: visit of Observatory in Nanjing (1689)

1audiences with the missionaries2exchanges of gifts

What happened before the celebrationSuggestions for the constructions of pavilions ()

Gathering of old people in Beijing

What happened during the celebration?Drawings: From Changchunyuan to the Forbidden CityProcedure of the celebration

Who attended the celebration?

K. Stumpf (1655-1720), J. Suarez (1656-1736), J. Bouvet, D. Parrenin (1665-1741)Officials of Qintianjian, About twenty Mathematicians from Mengyangzhai

What used as gifts for the Emperor?

1paintings, porcelains, silks, books of the Song to Ming editions, vassels.

2Western scientific instruments

Gifts from the Jesuits and the Imperial Observatory1)K. Stumpf, Suarez, Bouvet, Parrenin: ()() instruments, drugs, red wines 2)Gifts from the Imperial Observatory

Red wine as gifts

Gifts from a minister

What happened afterwards?Why was the Academy of Mathematics established? Composition? Comparison with ARdS?

1(Imperial Bureau of Astronomy) vs Observatoire de Paris2() (School, College or Academy of Mathematics, 1713-1722) vs Acadmie Royale des Sciences, ARdS

Scientific Activities before 1713Observation of summer solstice (1711)

J. -F. Foucquet (1665-1741) , Franz Thilisch (1667-1716), Pierre Jartoux (1669-1720)compilation of the mathematical tables, algebra, and geometry 1712-

The Establishment of the Academy of Mathematics In 1713, Kangxi emperor issued an imperial decree to create the Academy of Mathematics at Mengyangzhai in Changchunyuan, one of the imperial villas, for the compilation of mathematical books. ()

Who proposed the plan?Wang Lansheng proposed the compilation of the mathematical work.

Reconstruction of the Academy of MathematicsDifficulties for reconstructing the Academy: no records except those of the Emperors daily activities, no preface, no list of compilers, etc. as compared with Chongzhen lishu (the struggle for the throne between the third prince and Yongzhen)Chinese and Western sources used:1) wenji (, collected writings of Chinese scholars) & mathematical works2) Jesuits descriptionscomparison of Chinese texts with European sources;network of scholars in the Kangxi reign

Who was in charge of the Academy of Mathematics?

The third prince Yinzhi (,1677-1732): A student of the Jesuits (Antoine Thomas)

Officials from the Imperial Household

Selection of Mathematicians Dongqi studied the Zhoubi (suanjing), the Nine Chapters and the geometry of the Far West and had a good command of them. When the scholars were summoned (to the capital) to take an examination by the Son of Heaven, he was selected and stayed in the capital for more than one year. At the time when His Excellency cheng-wang was ordered to open the Academy (guan), some scholars were eliminated through selection because of redundant personnel. Dongqi and Mr. Gu from Suzhou were unexpectedly among them. They tried to recommend themselves, but failed. Therefore he and Mr. Gu visited me together. Chen Menglei's preface to Shuxue juyao (A Brief Introduction to Mathematics) by Chen Dongqi (zi Dongqi)

The Number of Mathematicians at the Academy of Mathematics He () passed the provincial examination, and was recommended to the Zhanning studio to compile the Luli yuanyuan and various other books on musical theory. So he was promoted to the rank of and so he compiled half the books at the studio, and once they were submitted to the Emperor, the Emperor praised him, and the princes and the ministers paid him greater respect than the other scholars at his studio. During each examination period the literati at the court paid great attention to him, and they said We cannot do anything other than put him first. On the eve of the publication of the results, on the main road, shimmering with lights, everybody was talking about Gu Chenxu getting the first place in the provincial examination, their mouths gaggling like ducks and geese. Then, some time later, it became quiet again, and this happened several times.While he was in the Zhanning studio, every province sent for and summoned three hundred people who worked in mathematics, and the person who was in charge of the examination asked them to take the examination. The Emperor himself took charge of the exam to get 72 people, and Chenxu was in the first place. And the Emperor specifically praised him and the imperial court called him the Number One of Mathematics.

J.-F. Foucquets depiction of the creation of this academy Mais cette cole ne dura pas et ne fut que le commencement d'une esprit d'acadmie que l'empereur forma pour lors. Il avoit fait chercher Pking et dans les Provinces ce quil y avoit parmy les Chinois et les Tartares de gens habiles dans les diverses parties des mathmatiques. Les Vicerois et autres grands mandarins, pour luy faire leur cour, luy prsentirent l'lite des meilleurs esprits, et les plus propres pour les sciences.

Koeglers description

Ignaz Koeglers letter: Transfero jam narrationem ad Academiam, quae olim tempore Camhi sub Regulo ejus filio 3 tio pro reformandis tum astronomicis tum astrologicis,

Information about the Academy of Mathematics When I arrived in the capital, the Son of Heaven was interested in musical and calendrical sciences. He had established a mathematical school and a bureau to compile mathematical books. Many erudite scholars from various parts of the country came together in crowds to the capital. ----preface to the new edition of Suanfa tongzong, by Chen Shisui

Composition of the Academy How many mathematicians worked on the compilation of mathematical works?

1. Missionaries at the Imperial Court2. Chinese and Manchu Mathematicians

1. Missionaries who served for the Academy of Mathematics ()1. Jesuits: J. Bouvet (1656-1730), P. Jartoux (1669-1720) J.-F. Foucquet (1665-1741) F. Thilisch (1670-1716), Luigi Gonzaga (1673-1718) K. Slavicek (1678-1735)K. Stumpf (1655-1720) D. Parrenin (1665-1741)2. Other missionaries: Matteo Ripa (1682-1745), Teodorico Pedrini (1671-1746)

2. Chinese, Manchu & Mongolian MathematiciansMei Juecheng (1681-1763) He Guozong (?-1766)general editor-in-chiefChen Houyao (1660-1722) from Hanlin AcademyMing Antu (?-1763?)Wan Lansheng (1679-1737) etc. Fang BaoGu Chenxu, He Guodong, Zhao Hai, Chen Shiming etc.

Official Titles of Mathematicians at Mengyangzhai 1)official titles of mathematicians2origins of mathematicians

Chen Houyao and Chen Shimingas Imperial Mathematicians

1Chen Houyao Mathematical Works and Works on the calendar other mathematical manuscripts2)Chen Shiming and his Shuxue juyao

For What Purpose?

compilation of Lli yuanyuan (): 1)Lli zhengyi (), music 2)Qinruo lishu (), astronomy, later entitled Lixiang kaocheng (), with a preface of Yongzhen emperor. list of compilers. ca.1722-1725 3)Shuli jingyun (, Essential principles of mathematics), mathematics, 1722, without preface

Kangxis Knowledge about ARdS Bouvets Portrait Historique de LEmpereur de la Chine, 1697: Ce qui luy a fait prendre cette resolution, sont les differens Ouvrages dEurope, & sur tout ceux de France, quil a vus, joint ce que nous avons eu lhoneur de luy dire de lrection de ces florissantes Academies tablies Paris sous le Regne present, pour les Sciences & les beaux Arts; & du haut point de perfection, ou les uns & les autres sont arrivez sous les auspices de Louis Le Grand, par sa magnificence Royale recompenser les personnes qui excellent en quelque genre que ce soit. Cest sur ce modle que lEmpereur de la Chine commena, il y a environ cinq ans, driger dans son propre Palais une espece dAcademie de Peintres, de Graveurs, de Sculpteurs & dOuvriers en acier & cuivre pour les Horloges & autres Instrumens de Mathmatiques.

What made him take this resolution were the different works of Europe, and especially of France, which he saw, as well as that which we had had the honour of telling him concerning the establishment of these flourishing Academies established in Paris under the present King for the Sciences and Arts, and to a high degree of perfection, where both the former and the latter have arrived under the auspices of Louis the Great, through the Royal generosity in rewarding those who excel in whatever field it is. It is on this model that the Emperor of China has begun, about five years ago, to establish in his own Palace a kind of Academy of Painters, Engravers, Sculptors and Artisans in steel and cooper for clocks and other mathematical instruments.

Acadmie de la Chine On November 8, 1687, Fontaneys letter to Cassini C'est donc vous, Messrs, prendre vos mesures l dessus pour achever l'ouvrage que vous avez commenc, nous procurer des aides qui continuent ce que nous allons entreprendre et qui suivent les mmes ides- nous communiquer vos lumires, nous expliquer en dtail ce que vous desirez particulirement, nous envoyer des modles c'est dire ce que vous aurez fait sur les mmes sujets, c'est dire enfin donner chacun de nous un correspondant particulier dans l'Acadmie qui nous instruise de votre part sur nos matires et que nous puissions consulter aussy sur nos difficults et nos doutes. De cette manire j'espre que vous verrez l'Acadmie de la Chine se perfectionner peu peu et devenir capable de vous donner bien de la satisfaction.

From Acadmie de la Chine to Suanxue guan

Acadmie de la Chine: Kings Mathematicians, ca.1688-1691Suanxue guan (, Academy of Mathematics, 1713-1722): Chinese and Manchu mathematicians

Bouvets report to the Kangxi emperor [Our King told us that] various academies of Tianwen [Astronomy] and Gewu [Investigation of Things] in our country have been extensively collecting knowledge from every country. The Middle Kingdom (China) has a long history with a large measure of principles [daoli]. We have also heard that the mighty Emperor of the Middle Kingdom is wise by nature and supersedes all former emperors. After you arrive in the Middle Kingdom and get the very finest [products of Chinese arts and sciences], send them directly to our country and put them in (our) academies so we can retain them in perpetuity.

J.-F. Foucquets description In former days, the astronomers at the Gewu qiongli yuan in the country of Fu-lang-ji-ya (France) all worked on it [i.e., the obliquity of the ecliptic], because the theories about it differed from each other. It is hard to decide among various opinions. However, this is a key point of astronomy and it is impossible not to make a decision about it. Therefore in the tenth year of the Kangxi reign, the astronomers petitioned to the King. As a result several astronomers were sent separately to the old places where ancient astronomers made observations in order to test if there were any changes between the ancient and contemporary celestial movements. Also a famous astronomer at the Academy named Ri-shi-er (Richer) was sent to an island named Ga-ye-na (Cayenne) below the equator by a distance of more than ten thousand li. ---Lifa wenda

ARdS and the Jesuits in China

Acadmie Royale des Sciences, founded in 1666Acadmie de la Chine, 1688-1690s, Tutors at the imperial court, Peking.Academy of Mathematics (), 1713-1722

Scientific Activities in China & FranceARdS 1) Academicians, pensionnaires, 2) works, journals 3) astronomical observations & map surveyingSuanxue guan: 1) scholars, mathematicians, others on the pay roll 2) compilation of mathematical and astronomical works Lli yuanyuan (), including Shulijingyun (1722) and Qinruo lishu (1722-1725) 3) astronomical observations & map surveying

Compilation of Western Mathematics (1)Gaston Ignace Pardies (1636-1673), Elemens de Geometrie. (1671) Suanfa yuanben (book VII of Euclid's Elements)Antoine Thomas, Synopsis mathematica (1685)

Compilation of Western Mathematics (2)

(algebra)English mathematician Henry Briggs Arithmetica Logarithmetica (1624)Dutch mathematician A. Vlacq's logarithm tablePierre Jartoux: I. Newton, J. Gregorys three formulae, Mei Juecheng translated these formulae in his Chishui yizhen J.-F. Foucquet, (New Method of Algebra)

Concluding RemarksA Social History of the Celebration A Gift for the Kangxi emperor? Social History of the Reconstruction of the Academy of Mathematics

Comparative Study? Louis XIV VS Kangxi

Visit of Paris Observatory

Qianlong emperor. Fiftith birthday (1760), world map, astronomical discoveries of French astronomers