The Nine Chapters on the Mathematical Art, Vols. 1-3

Consequently, when comparing the chapters, they differ from the ancient versions, and the discussions are often in more contemporary language. In my youth, I studied the Nine Chapters, and as I grew older, I examined them repeatedly. I scrutinized the divisions of Yin and Yang and summarized the roots of mathematical arts. During my moments of exploring the profound, I realized their true meaning. Therefore, I dared to exhaust my humble abilities to compile this commentary. Since the subjects and categories reinforce one another and each has its proper place, even though the branches are divided, they share the same trunk. If one can grasp the starting point, one will understand the rest. Furthermore, I have elucidated the reasoning through text and clarified the methods through diagrams, hoping to be concise yet comprehensive, and clear without being tedious. Those who examine this will find more than half of the work already clear. Moreover, mathematics was once among the Six Arts the six fundamental skills required of a Zhou gentleman. In ancient times, guests and talented men were taught this in the national schools. Although it is called the Nine Numbers, if one can explore the minute and enter the subtle to measure the unfathomable, the way it is transmitted through methods is much like using a compass or a square to measure; it is not merely difficult. Even today, those who love it...