Routledge Reviving Ancient Chinese Mathematics - Wu Wen-Tsun History

This scholarly work explores how twentieth-century China navigated the tension between modernisation and cultural preservation through the lens of mathematics and science. Focusing on Wu Wen-Tsun's contributions, the book examines how Chinese philosophers, writers, artists and politicians sought to reconcile advancing technological progress with maintaining China's historical identity and independence. Rather than simply adopting Western scientific practices, the study reveals how mathematicians and scholars developed distinctly Chinese approaches to mathematics that honoured traditional knowledge whilst engaging with contemporary developments. Part of the Needham Research Institute Series, this volume offers a nuanced perspective on how one of humanity's most fundamental disciplines became a site where ancient wisdom and modern ambition intersected during a pivotal period of Chinese history.