I watched Er Chuang’s short video, and everything went numb!

[Time has come to the pre-Qin and Han dynasties. ]

[The compass and papermaking, two of the four great inventions of ancient China, have already appeared, and the development of Chinese civilization has entered an accelerated stage. ]

[At this time, other civilizations in the world can only look up to Chinese civilization. ]

[The greatest achievement of this era is the development of mathematics in ancient China, which has gradually expanded from "serving daily agricultural production" to all aspects of social life. ]

[In addition, a new discipline has been formed to serve a subject called "mathematics". ]

[Mathematics and the methods of applying mathematics, that is, the subject of arithmetic, was officially born. ]

……

Northern and Southern Dynasties.

Zu Chongzhi looked at the giant screen in the sky, his eyes full of thought.

As a well-known mathematician in ancient China, he also knew a little about the development history of arithmetic.

But to be honest, he had never thought that arithmetic, which is what later generations call mathematics, could play such an important role.

After all, it is well known that since the Han Dynasty "abolished all schools of thought and respected Confucianism alone", Confucianism has been the orthodoxy.

Arithmetic, in the general social concept of ancient times, can only be regarded as a minor path.

But at this time, the opinions of later generations made Zu Chongzhi realize that perhaps mathematics is the major path.

……

[Please pay attention here. ]

[The number in "arithmetic" is not the number of mathematics, but the number of technology. ]

[This indicates that in the eyes of the ancients, mathematical calculation has been regarded as a tool. ]

[Mathematics itself has gradually entered the era of mathematical operations from the simple expression of numbers. ]

[However, no matter how we calculate, our nation still maintains a strong traditional art. 】

[Whether it is "Nine Chapters on the Mathematics" or "Zhou Bi Suan Jing", the description of mathematics still does not go beyond the ancestral skill of "farming". 】

……

Many mathematicians in the past dynasties nodded, and it is indeed true.

The original purpose of the discipline of arithmetic was to serve agricultural production.

Even if it was later expanded to more aspects of society, it would not forget this basic function.

……

[For example, the Pythagorean theorem appeared in the pre-Qin era and was included in the "Nine Chapters on the Mathematics" in the Han Dynasty. 】

[Today, when you use the Pythagorean theorem, have you ever thought about why our ancient ancestors studied this theorem? 】

[Because, in ancient times, the Pythagorean theorem had practical value. 】

[Its first function is to measure land. 】

【With the development of productivity, in the pre-Qin era, land gradually turned into a kind of private property. 】

【The sale and purchase of land also appeared, and the ancient people naturally had the need to measure the land. 】

【On the other hand, with the repeated changes in the climate during the Han Dynasty,, the ancients needed to master the farming time more accurately. 】

[Therefore, it is necessary to master a more advanced calendar, and the Pythagorean theorem can be used to observe the angle between the sun and the ground. 】

The barrage flew out:

"So that's it. This is the first time I've heard of this information. I've really learned a lot."

"In fact, the roof structure of rural houses can also be calculated using the Pythagorean theorem."

"The Pythagorean theorem is the first theorem that links geometry with algebra, which is of great significance."

"The Pythagorean theorem also led to the discovery of irrational numbers, which greatly deepened people's understanding of numbers."

"Reply - If you don't understand, just ask, what is an irrational number?"

"Reply - Simply put, it is an infinite non-repeating decimal in the decimal system, or a number that cannot be expressed as a ratio of two integers within the range of real numbers."

"..."

Southern Song plane.

Qin Jiushao looked at the contents on the giant screen and was shocked:

"Geometry? Algebra? Irrational numbers?"

"What do these mean?"

"Are there so many directions for the Pythagorean theorem to be studied?"

Qin Jiushao, known as one of the four great mathematicians of the Song and Yuan dynasties, had excitement in his eyes and kept thinking.

As a famous mathematician in ancient China, he was completely attracted by these contents.

He felt that there was a vast world of mathematics waiting for him to explore.

……

[From this era, these concepts based on mathematics were gradually integrated and formed a theoretical system. ]

[It officially became the expression of ancient Chinese natural sciences, and from then on began to affect all aspects of ancient Chinese production and life. ]

[This, of course, also includes science and technology. 】

……

“Is that so?”

Many ancient elites in all dynasties began to think seriously.

After watching the previous video content, they felt it necessary to re-examine the value of mathematics.

……

[Because of the use of this system, Chinese medicine began to separate from witchcraft, and Chinese philosophy began to have dialectical thinking. 】

[The ancients' thinking about time and space has reached a new height, and the compass among the four great inventions has an important relationship with this. 】

[This also has to start with mathematics. 】

[In addition to the Pythagorean theorem, pi is also a mathematical concept that we are all familiar with. 】

[The junior high school history textbook tells us that Zu Chongzhi of the Northern and Southern Dynasties had already calculated pi to between 3.1415926 and 3.1415927. 】

[But do you know what Chongzhi's purpose was in calculating pi? 】

【We all know that Zu Chongzhi is a mathematician, but most people may not know that he has another identity: a master of metaphysics. 】

The barrage flew out:

"Good guy, this is reallyI don't know. "

"No problem, it is well known that the end of science is metaphysics."

"Not surprisingly, most of the mathematicians in ancient Western countries were also theologians."

"..."

Northern and Southern Dynasties.

Zu Chongzhi's eyes flashed with an unnatural color.

From many previous videos, he has learned that the master of metaphysics is not a good name in the future.

...

[In fact, almost all ancient Chinese mathematicians have this identity. In addition to studying mathematics, they are also responsible for observing the stars at night and fortune-telling.]

[When ancient mathematicians were doing geomancy, they needed to use a special compass called "compass".]

[The compass has corresponding time, solar terms, and geographical directions. And so on, and these data are divided into digits according to the layout of the circle. 】

[The purpose of Zu Chongzhi's calculation of pi is to divide these digits more accurately, and the method he used is "circumcision method". 】

[The so-called circle-cutting method is to increase the number of sides of the inscribed polygon of the circle, so that the circumference of the inscribed polygon is infinitely close to the circumference of the circle, and finally find the approximate ratio of the circumference and diameter of the circle. 】

[This ratio is pi. 】

Bullet screen flew out:

"So that's how it is. This is the first time I know this."

"Why does this circle-cutting method feel a bit like calculus?"

"Reply-Yes, the circle-cutting method can be regarded as the forerunner of ancient Chinese calculus."

"Reply-Yes, the circle-cutting method approximates the circumference of the circle by increasing the number of sides of the polygon. This method is actually a specific manifestation of approximating limits in modern calculus. ”

“Reply - Calculus analyzes the trend of change and cumulative effect by studying the limit of a function at a certain point, and the method of squaring a circle implies the idea of ​​approaching the limit. ”

“Reply - Hey, after the emergence of calculus, it has been widely used in various fields such as astronomy, mechanics, optics, thermodynamics, etc., pushing human technology to a new height. It would be great if our ancient mathematicians could come up with calculus first.”

“Reply - Yes, to some extent, calculus is the foundation of modern science and an efficient mathematical tool to promote the development of science and technology.”

“Reply - After the emergence of calculus, mathematics in Western countries entered the fast lane of rapid development.”

“…”

Wei and Jin plane.

The ancient Chinese mathematician Liu Hui looked at the various discussions on the giant screen in the sky and was shocked:

“Is this so-called calculus so important?”

“But what does this calculus mean? "

Liu Hui pondered in his heart.

According to people in later generations, this calculus is not only extremely important for the development of mathematics, but also has an important impact on the development of science and technology.

Therefore, Liu Hui had a very strong idea in his mind at this time.

That is, he must create what later generations call "calculus" in advance.

Since people in later generations say that the circle-slicing method he invented is the forerunner of ancient Chinese calculus, if he continues to study it, he will definitely be able to create calculus.

A firm look flashed in Liu Hui's eyes. (To read the novel, go to Fulu Novel Network!)

...

The plane of Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty.

Li Shimin said to Changsun Wuji in a deep voice:

"Assistant, pass on my order to summon all the arithmetic masters in the country to Chang'an to jointly study what later generations call calculus!"

"Tang Dynasty must create calculus!"

"Whoever succeeds first, I will guarantee his family prosperity for generations."

Li Shimin's tone was extremely firm.

Hearing this, Changsun Wuji was stunned for a moment.

He felt that this matter was difficult to handle.

Let’s not talk about anything else.

Let’s just say that the Tang Dynasty doesn’t even know what the “calculus” that people in later generations are talking about is.

Then, even if someone says that he has successfully created “calculus” in the future, there is no way to distinguish the truth from the false.

However.

Although he had these thoughts in his mind, on the surface, Changsun Wuji replied respectfully:

“I obey your order.”

…

[Speaking of this, some people may not understand it. What about Feng Shui? Aren’t these all feudal superstitions? ]

[Feudal superstitions are unscientific, backward, and hinder social development and progress. ]

[However. ]

[It was precisely in the Sui and Tang dynasties after Zu Chongzhi that the development of ancient Chinese mathematics and ancient Chinese science and technology entered a period of prosperity and reached its peak in the Song Dynasty. 】[]

[The Song Dynasty, especially the Southern Song Dynasty, was the peak of the development of ancient Chinese mathematics and science and technology. 】

[Mathematicians in the Song Dynasty not only summarized the mathematical principles of concepts such as the River Chart and Luoshu, Yin and Yang, the Five Elements, and the Eight Diagrams, but also developed ancient Chinese mathematics to a new height. 】

[Among them, the most famous is the Yang Hui Triangle. 】

[There are many popular science contents about the Yang Hui Triangle on the Internet now, so I will not go into details here. 】

[It can be said that the mathematics of the Song Dynasty, represented by the Yang Hui Triangle, was "outstanding" in the civilization of the whole world at that time. 】

The bullet screen flew out:

"Actually, it is Jia Xian's triangle, which was first proposed by Jia Xian in his book "Shisuo Suanshu". Yang Hui himself said that it was quoted from Jia Xian's book."

"This is really amazing, including binomial coefficients, Fibonacci series, Sierpinski triangle, perfect square numbers and other contents."

"Yang Hui's triangle is not only useful in mathematics, but also in computers, physics and other fields."

"..."

Many ancient people in the past dynasties looked at Yang Hui's triangle on the giant screen in the sky and were extremely shocked.

They never expected that such a seeminglyThe inconspicuous arithmetic graphs actually received such high evaluations from later generations.

Not to mention the other ancients, even Jia Xian and Yang Hui, two people directly related to Jia Xian Triangle (Yang Hui Triangle), were also very surprised.

They never thought that Jia Xian Triangle (Yang Hui Triangle) had such an important significance.

……

[Behind the mathematics of the Song Dynasty, the science and technology of the Song Dynasty also developed to the extreme. ]

[The large-scale application of gunpowder, one of the four great inventions, began in the Song Dynasty. ]

[The movable type printing technology was also born in the Southern Song Dynasty. ]

[The shipbuilding technology invented by the Southern Song Dynasty indirectly opened up the later European Age of Exploration. ]

[At the same time, the handicraft industry of the Southern Song Dynasty had begun to use machinery in large quantities to improve efficiency, and the commodity economy ushered in unprecedented prosperity. ]

[If the Southern Song Dynasty was given a steam engine, it would really be possible for the Southern Song Dynasty to create an industrial revolution. 】

The barrage flew out:

"..You don't even need to give the Song Dynasty a steam engine blueprint, and even this idea is enough for the Song Dynasty to make a steam engine and start the industrial revolution."

"Given the situation in the Song Dynasty, it is difficult to make a steam engine by itself, but it is possible."

"It is possible in the Song Dynasty, but it is unlikely in the Southern Song Dynasty, because the production areas of coal and steel in ancient China are mainly concentrated in the north."

"The Song Dynasty actually had many elements of the Industrial Revolution, such as steel production. In 1788, on the eve of the Industrial Revolution in the British Empire, the annual steel production was 76,000 tons, and in the first year of Yuanfeng in the reign of Emperor Shenzong of Song (1078), the steel production had reached 150,000 tons, which was the first time in the Industrial Revolution in the British Empire. twice as much as before."

"Reply--There is also coal. In 1080, China's coal production had reached the total coal production of Europe in 1700, and the textile machine of the Song Dynasty and the Jenny textile machine during the Industrial Revolution are actually very similar in principle."

"Reply--It's a pity that it was interrupted by foreign invasions, otherwise the Song Dynasty might have started the Industrial Revolution."

"Reply--If we Chinese had started the Industrial Revolution in the Song Dynasty, it would have been the best in the world."

"Reply--It's still a bit difficult. The mechanical properties of steel at that time might not meet the needs of steam engines."

"Reply--This is not a difficult task and can be solved."

"..."

The Great Song Taizu plane.

Zhao Kuangyin looked at the many discussions in the barrage and couldn't help fantasizing in his heart.

If his Great Song really started the Industrial Revolution, wouldn't it be invincible? (Qian Haohao)

Let alone the small matter of recovering the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun, even sweeping across the northern tribes and even conquering the whole world are very possible.

……

[However, if is only if after all. ]

[After the heyday of the Song Dynasty, the progress of ancient Chinese mathematics came to an abrupt end in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. ]

[And ancient Chinese science and technologyDevelopment also stagnated on almost the same timeline. 】

[At the same time, Europe was experiencing the last pains before the change, and was about to usher in the Renaissance and the Industrial Revolution, and gave birth to modern science. 】

[Until 1840, the British used sharp ships and powerful guns to bring the shock of modern science to the Qing government at that time. 】

……

"Ah!"

Seeing this, many ancient people from all dynasties sighed in their hearts.

For China, that period of modern history when it was wantonly oppressed by Western powers was too humiliating.

"Damn Manchu Tartars!"

Many ancient people couldn't help but curse in their hearts.

……

[Now let's look at the question at the beginning. 】

[Why did ancient Chinese science and technology, which had long been ahead of the world, stagnate in development in modern times and eventually be surpassed by Western modern science? 】

[This question seems grand, but its essence is very simple. 】

[The fundamental reason is: China's mathematical development first stagnated. 】

[So, why did the development of ancient Chinese mathematics stagnate in the Ming and Qing Dynasties? 】

[This is the content of another video. Bitter]

……

Daming Hongwu plane.

After watching the entire video, Zhu Yuanzhang was extremely curious about the last question.

Because he felt that this question was very important.

Since the development and progress of mathematics is so important to the development of the country, he must find the reason why the development of mathematics stagnated in the Ming Dynasty.

Then, correct it!

But unfortunately, the answer to this question cannot be obtained at this moment.

Zhu Yuanzhang felt quite regretful about this.

But in any case, he learned the importance of mathematics today, and he will definitely promote this subject in the Ming Dynasty in the future. .