The Chinese

Unlike Greek and Arab mathematicians who absorbed knowledge from other cultures, the Chinese invented a numerical system almost entirely on their own. This program delves into the number symbols, sequences, and arithmetic methods developed during China's early dynastic periods, as well as subsequent innovations. Focusing on the Chinese counting board, the film shows how bamboo or ivory rods—and, later, the markings derived from them—were arranged in place value order and used in large-scale calculations. Students will also encounter the seminal book known as Jiuzhang Suanshu and the historical, mathematical, and archaeological significance of inscribed oracle shells and bones. A Discovery Channel Production. (26 minutes