Honoring Liu Hui: Paying Tribute to an Ancient Mathematical Mastermind and Building a Shared Future for Humanity

Honoring Liu Hui: Paying Tribute to an Ancient Mathematical Mastermind and Building a Shared Future for HumanityOn September 24th, local time, a grand commemorative event was held at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris, France, to mark the 1800th anniversary of the birth of Liu Hui, a renowned Chinese mathematician from ancient times. The event was attended by He Junke, Party Secretary and Vice Chairman of the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST), Lydia Arthur Brito, Assistant Director-General for Natural Sciences at UNESCO, Yang Xinyu, Ambassador and Permanent Delegate of China to UNESCO, Park Sang-mee, Permanent Delegate of the Republic of Korea to UNESCO, Elman Abdullayev, Permanent Delegate of Azerbaijan to UNESCO, and many other officials

Honoring Liu Hui: Paying Tribute to an Ancient Mathematical Mastermind and Building a Shared Future for Humanity

On September 24th, local time, a grand commemorative event was held at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris, France, to mark the 1800th anniversary of the birth of Liu Hui, a renowned Chinese mathematician from ancient times. The event was attended by He Junke, Party Secretary and Vice Chairman of the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST), Lydia Arthur Brito, Assistant Director-General for Natural Sciences at UNESCO, Yang Xinyu, Ambassador and Permanent Delegate of China to UNESCO, Park Sang-mee, Permanent Delegate of the Republic of Korea to UNESCO, Elman Abdullayev, Permanent Delegate of Azerbaijan to UNESCO, and many other officials. More than 100 international renowned mathematicians, mathematical historians, and scholars from China, the United States, France, Germany, and South Korea participated in the event, paying tribute to this ancient mathematical mastermind who made significant contributions to the development of mathematics worldwide.

The event was jointly hosted by CAST and the Chinese National Commission for UNESCO and organized by the Science and Technology Communication Center of CAST. In his speech, He Junke emphasized that mathematics is a brilliant jewel of Chinese civilization and an important thread in the development of ancient mathematics globally. As the primary founder of classical Chinese mathematical theories, Liu Hui's influential works, "The Nine Chapters on the Mathematical Art" and "The Sea Island Mathematical Manual," have left a profound impact on subsequent mathematicians and mathematical texts, earning him a significant place in the history of world mathematics. He believes that every nation has its unique cultural and scientific achievements, and the progress of human civilization relies on the exchange and mutual learning among different civilizations. This commemorative event aims to promote the scientific spirit of ancient sages, facilitate exchanges in science and humanities, promote dialogue and mutual learning among different civilizations, jointly build a community with a shared future for mankind, and create a brighter future.

Lydia Arthur Brito expressed her admiration for Liu Hui in her speech, stating that he was a great mathematician whose contributions have left an indelible mark on the accumulation of human knowledge. His innovative spirit continues to inspire people today, and his achievements in geometry, logic, and number systems have shaped the trajectory of mathematical development, continually motivating scholars worldwide in their endless pursuit of knowledge. She believes that this commemorative event is not only a tribute to Liu Hui's scientific legacy but also a reminder of the crucial role of mathematical science in shaping the future.

This commemorative event was approved by the UNESCO General Conference, marking the first time China has held a commemorative event centered around the birth anniversary of a scientist at the UNESCO headquarters. The event aimed to showcase the remarkable scientific achievements, exceptional scientific thought, and outstanding contributions to human civilization made by ancient Chinese sages, exemplified by Liu Hui, to the world.

Adding to the commemorative event, a "Nine Chapters and Liu Hui: A Special Exhibition on the Founder of Classical Chinese Mathematical Theory" and an "International Symposium on the Academic Thought of Liu Hui" were also held in Paris, France. These events further enriched the content of the commemorative activities, providing a platform for scholars and the public from around the world to gain a deeper understanding of Liu Hui and his mathematical ideas.

Liu Hui's academic achievements hold significant importance for the development of mathematics in China and the world. He not only provided detailed annotations for "The Nine Chapters on the Mathematical Art" but also introduced numerous groundbreaking mathematical concepts, such as the method of exhaustion, rules for operations with positive and negative numbers, and solutions to systems of linear equations. These ideas not only propelled the development of ancient Chinese mathematics but also made substantial contributions to world mathematics.

"The Nine Chapters on the Mathematical Art" with annotations by Liu Hui is a crucial document for studying ancient Chinese mathematics. This book not only provides detailed commentary on the content of "The Nine Chapters on the Mathematical Art" but also thoroughly explores and investigates numerous problems within the book, offering many novel insights. For example, in his proof of the Pythagorean theorem, Liu Hui introduced the "method of exhaustion," using the concept of limits to prove the formula for the area of a circle. This method not only demonstrates Liu Hui's mathematical genius but also marks a new height in the development of ancient Chinese mathematics.

"The Sea Island Mathematical Manual" by Liu Hui is one of the earliest works on surveying in the world. This book primarily describes the methods of surveying using measuring tools and introduces various surveying formulas, such as the Pythagorean theorem and the formula for the area of a triangle. These formulas were widely applied in ancient surveying practices and laid the foundation for later mathematical developments.

Liu Hui's mathematical ideas had a profound impact on subsequent mathematical development. His "method of exhaustion" was continually developed by later mathematicians, eventually evolving into the precursor to calculus. His "rules for operations with positive and negative numbers" laid the foundation for later mathematicians in their study of algebraic equations. His "solutions to systems of linear equations" marked a crucial starting point in the development of linear algebra.

Beyond his mathematical achievements, Liu Hui's scientific spirit is also worthy of our emulation. He was rigorous in his scholarship, emphasized practical application, embraced exploration, and dared to innovate. His scientific spirit not only influenced subsequent mathematicians but also inspires individuals to continuously progress in scientific research and exploration.

By holding the 1800th anniversary commemoration of Liu Hui's birth, we can not only honor this great mathematician but also leverage this opportunity to promote China's outstanding traditional culture, foster dialogue and mutual learning among different civilizations, and contribute to the progress of human civilization. We hope that this event will enable more people to learn about Liu Hui's scientific achievements, embrace his scientific spirit, and make new contributions to the advancement of human civilization.

This commemorative event is a testament to the international academic and social community's full recognition of Liu Hui's academic contributions and a reflection of the significant achievements made in China's scientific and technological development. We believe that this event will further promote China's outstanding traditional , foster cultural exchange worldwide, and contribute to building a community with a shared future for humanity.

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