The World Encounter with traditional Chinese Mathematics in Tianyuan
From June 22 to 27, 2025, the "Workshop on Traditional Chinese Mathematics in Global Contexts" was held at the Tianyuan Mathematics Research Center in Yiliang County, Kunming City, Yunnan Province. This workshop aimed to bring together senior experts and emerging scholars from both China and abroad to explore traditional Chinese mathematical thought and its influence from a global civilizational perspective. The conveners of the workshop were Academician Zhou Xiangyu from the Chinese Academy of Science, Professor Konstantinos Nikolantonakis from the University of Western Macedonia in Greece, and Professor Sarina from Shanghai Jiao Tong University.
Researchers from history of mathematics around the world convened here, including Professor Karine Chemla from the school of mathematics in the University of Edinburgh & SPHERE,CNRS-UPC, Researcher Li Wenlin from the Academy of Mathematics and Systems Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Professor Ogawa Tsukane and Professor Soga Syohei from Yokkaichi University in Japan, Professor Tamura Makoto from Osaka Sangyo University in Japan, Professor Tanaka Noriko from Nara Gakuin University in Japan, Professor Jeff Chen from St. Cloud State University in Minnesota in the USA, Professor Ji Lizhen from the University of Michigan in the USA, Professor Guo Shirong and Professor Dai Qin from Inner Mongolia Normal University, Professor Feng Lisheng from Tsinghua University, Professor Deng Mingli from Hebei Normal University, Researcher Zou Dahai from the Institute for the History of Natural Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Professor Ji Zhigang from Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Professor Xu Zelin from Donghua University, Professor Wang Xiaoqin from East China Normal University, Professor Wang Youjun from Shanghai Normal University, Professor Gao Hongcheng and Professor Yang Jing from Tianjin Normal University, Professor Zhu Yiwen from Sun Yat-sen University, Researcher Wang Rongbin from the Central Committee of the Chinese Democratic League, and many other Chinese and foreign young and middle-aged scholars. They gathered by the Chai Shitan Reservoir, sharing the charm of the history of Chinese mathematics in the mist-enshrouded mountains, and deeply exploring Chinese traditional mathematics from the perspectives of world civilization and cross-cultural interaction.
On the morning of June 23, Professor Sarina and Associate Professor Wang Ying presided over the opening ceremony and delivered opening speeches in Chinese and English respectively. In the midsummer season, all things thrive. In Kunming, known as the "Spring City," the Tianyuan Mathematics Research Center, a sanctuary for mathematical researchers, welcomes the grand opening of the workshop on "Traditional Chinese Mathematics in Global Contexts"! Academician Zhou Xiangyu, the chief convener, delivered a speech, welcoming experts and scholars to participate in the workshop. He mentioned that experts from domestic research institutions and universities, together with scholars from France, Japan, and the United States, gathered at the Tianyuan International Mathematics Research center to conduct study on the history of Chinese mathematics, and wished the workshop a complete success. As one of the conveners, Professor Konstantinos Nikolantonakis thanked experts and scholars from various regions for taking time out of their busy schedules to attend, hoping that this workshop would be inspiring and yield profound insights.
In the lecture hall of the Tianyuan Mathematics Research Center, from June 23 to 26, a total of 40 wonderful presentations were delivered, covering themes such as ancient Chinese mathematical classics, Sino-foreign exchange and comparative studies, mathematical education and mathematical astronomy, as well as mathematicians and historians of mathematics. For three consecutive evenings from the 23rd to the 25th, roundtable forums were held.
The first roundtable forum, "Traditional Chinese Mathematics in Global Contexts and Celebration of Professor Karine Chemla's Election as an Academician of the French Academy of Sciences," was successfully held on the evening of the 23rd, presided over by Professor Sarina and Associate Professor Wang Ying. Professor Karine Chemla has long been dedicated to the study of the history of Chinese mathematics and science, maintaining close cooperation with the Chinese history of science community. Academician Zhou Xiangyu, Chairman of the History of Mathematics Branch of the Chinese Mathematical Society, read a congratulatory letter and presented a gift, while Vice Chairman Professor Dai Qin presented flowers. Researcher Li Wenlin recounted his academic exchanges with Professor Chemla through five photos, and Professor Ji Zhigang reviewed thirty-five years of academic friendship with her. Professors Guo Shirong, Zou Dahai, and Feng Lisheng spoke on behalf of their respective universities, Professor Ogawa Tsukane congratulated on behalf of Japanese scholars, Professor Zhu Yiwen introduced Professor Chemla's academic achievements and research characteristics, and Assistant Researcher Pan Shuyuan thanked her for encouraging and supporting younger scholars, emphasizing that young scholars should read Professor Chemla's works on the history of Chinese mathematics.
In the evening of the 24th, Professor Zhu Yiwen presided over the roundtable forum focusing on " The Reasoning and Understanding in Traditional Chinese Mathematics", extending discussions from proof issues in the history of mathematics to mathematical definitions and problem exploration, triggering intellectual collisions.On the evening of the 25th, Associate Researcher Cao Jingbo presided over the final evening's roundtable forum on the theme of "Traditional Chinese Mathematics from the Perspective of Sino-Foreign Exchanges", exploring exchanges within the Chinese character cultural circle including China, Japan, and South Korea, as well as the dissemination of mathematics between China and regions such as India and Arabia.
At the closing ceremony in the afternoon of June 26, Vice Chairman Professor Dai Qin delivered a speech, expressing gratitude to the Tianyuan Mathematics Research Center for its strong support, the organizing committee for its hard work, and the participating scholars for their active participation. He finally looked forward to gathering again at Tianyuan next year for a conference on the history of mathematics and mathematics education.The achievements of Chinese mathematics have continuously developed through exchanges and mutual learning with world civilizations, promoting the progress of both Chinese civilization and world civilization. This pearl city located on the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau, not only a magnificent treasure trove of biodiversity, has become a hotbed for the integration of mathematical ideas and mathematical culture. Scholars and young talents from China, France, Japan, the United States, Greece, Brazil, and other countries gathered at the Tianyuan International Mathematics Research Center to explore cutting-edge issues, share academic feasts, and collaborate for the future of the history of mathematics.