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Zu Chongzhi

Type Figure Region Qiu County, Fanyang Time 429–500 Also known as Wenyuan

Zu Chongzhi (429–500), courtesy name Wenyuan, was an outstanding mathematician, astronomer, and mechanical inventor of the Liu Song dynasty in the So…

Timeline

  1. 429–450Qiu County, Fanyang · HebeiBorn into the Zu clan of Fanyang, he studied astronomy and calendrical mathematics from childhood under his grandfather Zu Chang and father Zu Shuo, building a solid foundation in mathematics, later moving south to Jiangnan.
  2. 450–480Jiankang · JiangsuIn Liu Xie's Techniques of Interpolation (Zhuishu), he systematically expounded the method of polygon approximation, calculating pi to seven decimal places and proposing the accurate ratio 355/113 and the approximate ratio 22/7, achievements ranking among the world's best.
  3. 462–500Jiankang · JiangsuHe created the Daming Calendar to reform the calendar, introducing the concept of precession; he also developed a water-powered armillary sphere, a south-pointing chariot, and a thousand-li boat, mastering both mathematics and mechanical engineering.

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