Xiahou Yang
Much of the life story of Xiahou Yang remains unknown, and so is the date of Xiahou Yang Suanjing (Xiahou Yang’s Mathematical Classic), a text purported to have been written by him. When Zhang Qiujian wrote his mathematical text some time between AD 468 and 486, he criticized the inaccuracy of the solution of a “rectangular granary” problem from Xiahou Yang’s work. This shows that Xiahou Yang was either Zhang’s contemporary or his predecessor. The text also mentioned a change of volume standard which took place in AD 425, thus affirming that both Xiahou Yang and Zhang Qiujian were mathematicians of the Northern Wei dynasty (AD 386–535) and that the text of Xiahou Yang was written between AD 425 and 468.
The Xiahou Yang Suanjing appeared to be an important text as it was selected by Yu Zhining in AD 656 for use in the National Academy during the Tang dynasty (AD 618–906). In AD 662, the text was annotated by Li Chunfengalong with nine others for use in the imperial examinations....
References
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