Building on Traditions: Science Society of China and the Early Historiography of Chinese Mathematics
Abstract
Science Society of China (SSC) and its journal Science (Kexue) provided from its early years space for historical studies on Chinese mathematics. Some key early members, such as Zhu Kezhen and Mao Yisheng, were interested in the history of Chinese science, and attracted outsiders including Li Yan and Qian Baocong to publish in Kexue and present their research at SSC's meetings.
Although SSC was not particularly oriented towards mathematics, history of Chinese mathematics was doubly relevant for its main goal to spread scientific thinking in China. On one hand, it was a proof that aspects of modernity such as logical rationality, objectivity and pursuit of quantitative precision had traditional foundations in China.
On the other hand, it connected modern scientific pursuits with textual research of still significant cultural prestige. In this paper, I review the publications on traditional Chinese mathematics in Science and the different forms of involvement of SSC members shown in the public record.
Through statistics and evidence from particular articles, I will show the value accorded to the history of Chinese mathematics by the SSC and the importance of this early interest for the establishment of history of mathematics in China.