Considered by the historian of science George Sarton as essentially an algebraist, Li Zhi (1192–1279) was one of the greatest mathematicians of his time. He is known by some as Li Ye, a name that he was supposed to have taken at the later stage of his life to avoid the word zhi which was adopted by a member of the royalty. He used an algebraic process known as tianyuanshu (method of the celestial element) to set up equations of any degree. He was not the originator of this method, but it was through his writings that the tianyuanshu was handed down to later generations. It was introduced to Japan and had a profound influence on Japanese mathematics. Known as tengenjitsu to Japanese mathematicians, it enabled Seki Takakazu (also known as Seki Kowa, ca. 1642–1708) to develop a formula for infinite expansion, which is now arrived at using infinitesimal calculus. (See the article on Seki Kowa for a more complete description of the method.)
Li Zhi was born in Luancheng in modern Hebei...
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Biography of Li Zhi. Ke Shaomin, Xin Yuanshi (New Official History of the Yuan Dynasty). Ch. 171, Biographical Chapter 68, 1922 (First Published); Rpt. Taipei: Yiwen Press.
Chemla, Karíne. Étude de livre “Reflets des mesures du cercle sur la mur” de Li Ye. Doctoral Dissertation, University of Paris, 1982.
Ho Peng Yoke. Li Chih, Thirteenth‐Century Chinese Mathematician. Dictionary of Scientific Biography. Ed. Charles C. Gillispie. Vol. 8. New York: Scribner, 1973. 313–20.
Ho Peng Yoke and Chan Hock‐lam. Li Chih. The Service of the Khan. Eminent Personalities of the Early Mongolian (1200–1300). Ed. I. de Rachewiltz, et al. Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz, 1993. 316–35.
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2008 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg New York
About this entry
Cite this entry
Yoke, H.P. (2008). Li Zhi (Li Ye). In: Selin, H. (eds) Encyclopaedia of the History of Science, Technology, and Medicine in Non-Western Cultures. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-4425-0_9151
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-4425-0_9151
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-1-4020-4559-2
Online ISBN: 978-1-4020-4425-0
eBook Packages: Humanities, Social Sciences and Law