赫师慎关于中国不定分析研究之探析

On L.van Hée′s Study of Chinese Indeterminate Analysis

20世纪初期西方传教士赫师慎对中国不定分析进行了系统探讨,其论文《中国百鸡问题或不定分析》向西方世界展示了不定分析在中国发展历史的全貌,对于帮助西方了解中国数学及古代文明起到了重要作用。本文对此进行系统的分析,重新评价了赫氏在西方汉学研究中的历史地位,并对赫氏的若干论断提出质疑,辨明了其中若干不明文献的出处。

Western missionary L. van Hée made a systematic study on Chinese indeterminate analysis in the early 20th cen tury. His article Les Cent Volailles ou l＇Analyse Indéterminée en Chine reviewed the history of indeterminate analysis in China, which played an important part in helping the West understand Chinese mathematics and Chinese ancient civilization. This arti cle aims to review van Hée＇s article, identifying some unclear quotations from Chinese mathematical works, reevaluating his position in Sinology and questioning some of his statements as well.