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Bridging a river, and time
By Xu Wenwen and Yu Ning |
May 7, 2012, Monday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
A bridge built by a renowned mathematician spanned the Xixi River in Hangzhou for 770 years until it was demolished a decade ago. When a new bridge was built nearby, a maths professor saw an opportunity to honor his fellow numbers man. Xu Wenwen and Yu Ning report.
There is a famous bridge spanning the River Cam at Cambridge University in England called the "Mathematical Bridge," originally built in 1749 and frequently - though incorrectly - attributed to great scientist Isaac Newton.
Hangzhou has its own version - the Daogu Bridge - named after a famous mathematician and boasting an even longer history, although the current structure is only a few years old.
Built some 770 years ago, the original stone Daogu Bridge crossed the Xixi River near the Xixi campus of Zhejiang University on Xixi Road. Its history was little-known by modern residents until Cai Tianxin, a mathematics professor at the university, as well as a poet, writer, unearthed the story.
According to historical sources, the bridge was built between 1237 and 1241. I
t was demolished a decade ago during a reconstruction project. However, a new stone bridge was built near the site in 2005 and is named Daogu Bridge, following a proposal by Cai.
"Although the original bridge is no longer there, the history and story remain," says Cai, who attended the renaming ceremony on the bridge last month.
Cai says that the old Daogu Bridge was named after a mathematician of the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279), Qin Jiushao, - Daogu being Qin's courtesy name.
Qin, regarded as one of the greatest mathematicians of the 13th century, created the world-renowned "Chinese Remainder Theorem" and wrote the "Mathematical Treatise in Nine Sections" ("Shu Xue Jiu Zhang"), issued in 1247, covering subjects ranging from complicated mathematical equations to military matters and surveying.
Qin was born around 1202 in Sichuan Province, though his ancestors came from Shandong Province. He settled near the Xixi River in Hangzhou - at the time known as Lin'an and the capital of the dynasty since 1138 - when his father was assigned as an official there.
Name inscribed
He was recognized as a genius from boyhood and not only excelled in mathematics but also other fields, such as astronomy, engineering and music. Qin also held a series of bureaucratic positions in several Chinese provinces.
In 1238, when Qin returned to Hangzhou for his father's funeral, he decided to build a much-needed bridge across the Xixi River. It was constructed according to his design and financed by the local government.
In the beginning, the bridge was called Xixi Bridge, on account of its location. Its name was changed to Daogu Bridge when Zhu Shijie, another famous mathematician, traveled to Hangzhou during the early Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) and proposed a name change to honor Qin.
Zhu wrote the bridge's name, and it was inscribed on the bridge.
One reason that the bridge was not named "Qin" is that the mathematician became a controversial figure when he moved into politics.
He was accused of bribery and of poisoning enemies, though in later dynasties doubts were cast on these claims and attempts made to rehabilitate him.
As the original Daogu Bridge was badly eroded and the Xixi River clogged up, a decade ago the bridge was demolished as part of a project to broaden Xixi Road.
In 2005, a new stone bridge was built 100 meters away from the original over a creek named the Yanshan River. Learning that it had no name, Cai suggested it be named after its historic predecessor.
Following Cai's endeavors and support from the local government, a naming ceremony for the new Daogu Bridge was held last month.
Next to the bridge there is a tablet with the inscription "Daogu Bridge" that was written by 82-year-old Wang Yuan, a renowned Chinese mathematician, educator and popular science writer. At the back of the tablet there is text telling the story.
While the site of the bridge is not the most picturesque location, it provides a fascinating addition to the famous tourist city that boasts the West Lake World Heritage Site and, not far from Daogu Bridge, the scenic Xixi Wetland.
There is a famous bridge spanning the River Cam at Cambridge University in England called the "Mathematical Bridge," originally built in 1749 and frequently - though incorrectly - attributed to great scientist Isaac Newton.
Hangzhou has its own version - the Daogu Bridge - named after a famous mathematician and boasting an even longer history, although the current structure is only a few years old.
Built some 770 years ago, the original stone Daogu Bridge crossed the Xixi River near the Xixi campus of Zhejiang University on Xixi Road. Its history was little-known by modern residents until Cai Tianxin, a mathematics professor at the university, as well as a poet, writer, unearthed the story.
According to historical sources, the bridge was built between 1237 and 1241. I
t was demolished a decade ago during a reconstruction project. However, a new stone bridge was built near the site in 2005 and is named Daogu Bridge, following a proposal by Cai.
"Although the original bridge is no longer there, the history and story remain," says Cai, who attended the renaming ceremony on the bridge last month.
Cai says that the old Daogu Bridge was named after a mathematician of the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279), Qin Jiushao, - Daogu being Qin's courtesy name.
Qin, regarded as one of the greatest mathematicians of the 13th century, created the world-renowned "Chinese Remainder Theorem" and wrote the "Mathematical Treatise in Nine Sections" ("Shu Xue Jiu Zhang"), issued in 1247, covering subjects ranging from complicated mathematical equations to military matters and surveying.
Qin was born around 1202 in Sichuan Province, though his ancestors came from Shandong Province. He settled near the Xixi River in Hangzhou - at the time known as Lin'an and the capital of the dynasty since 1138 - when his father was assigned as an official there.
Name inscribed
He was recognized as a genius from boyhood and not only excelled in mathematics but also other fields, such as astronomy, engineering and music. Qin also held a series of bureaucratic positions in several Chinese provinces.
In 1238, when Qin returned to Hangzhou for his father's funeral, he decided to build a much-needed bridge across the Xixi River. It was constructed according to his design and financed by the local government.
In the beginning, the bridge was called Xixi Bridge, on account of its location. Its name was changed to Daogu Bridge when Zhu Shijie, another famous mathematician, traveled to Hangzhou during the early Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) and proposed a name change to honor Qin.
Zhu wrote the bridge's name, and it was inscribed on the bridge.
One reason that the bridge was not named "Qin" is that the mathematician became a controversial figure when he moved into politics.
He was accused of bribery and of poisoning enemies, though in later dynasties doubts were cast on these claims and attempts made to rehabilitate him.
As the original Daogu Bridge was badly eroded and the Xixi River clogged up, a decade ago the bridge was demolished as part of a project to broaden Xixi Road.
In 2005, a new stone bridge was built 100 meters away from the original over a creek named the Yanshan River. Learning that it had no name, Cai suggested it be named after its historic predecessor.
Following Cai's endeavors and support from the local government, a naming ceremony for the new Daogu Bridge was held last month.
Next to the bridge there is a tablet with the inscription "Daogu Bridge" that was written by 82-year-old Wang Yuan, a renowned Chinese mathematician, educator and popular science writer. At the back of the tablet there is text telling the story.
While the site of the bridge is not the most picturesque location, it provides a fascinating addition to the famous tourist city that boasts the West Lake World Heritage Site and, not far from Daogu Bridge, the scenic Xixi Wetland.
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