Commemoration of ancient Chinese mathematical master Liu Hui builds a bridge connecting Eastern and Western civilizations, say global scholars

A year-long global commemoration of Liu Hui, a prominent figure in ancient Chinese mathematics, kicked off in Paris on Tuesday.

Co-hosted by the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST), and the Chinese National Commission for UNESCO (The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization), the commemoration celebrates Liu, whose works and theories not only had a profound impact on ancient Chinese mathematics, but also continue to provide a source of inspiration for scientific and technological progress and civilization exchanges in today’s world.

In November 2023, UNESCO held the 42nd session of the General Conference and approved the proposal made by the CAST to celebrate the 1,800th anniversary of Liu’s birth. It was the first time China had successfully applied for a birthday anniversary event for a scientist at UNESCO, said the CAST.

“We hope that through such events, we can showcase to a global audience the remarkable scientific achievements, exceptional ideas, and significant contributions to human civilization made by ancient Chinese scholars like Liu Hui,” said He Junke, executive president of the CAST, in a speech he delivered at the launch ceremony of the commemoration on Tuesday local time, at the headquarters of UNESCO in Paris.

Following the launch ceremony, an international symposium on Liu’s academic thought was also held at the headquarters of UNESCO on Tuesday afternoon, where global experts in the history of science and technology, and the history of mathematics, made multi-dimensional interpretations and held discussions on Liu’s academic contributions and scientific heritage, as well as their modern value.

Furthermore, they delved into the global dissemination of Liu’s mathematical ideas, and proposed suggestions to further promote China’s classical mathematical heritage.

Earlier, as another highlight of this series of commemorative events, a themed exhibition featuring Liu’s achievements in mathematics kicked off at the Réfectoire des Cordeliers in Paris on Monday, so as to showcase Liu’s mathematical achievement, and to deepen the civilization exchanges and mutual understanding between China and the world, read the exhibition’s foreword.

Zhou Xiaohan, an associate research fellow at the Institute for History of Natural Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), believes that the exhibition is an opportunity to show Liu’s important contributions, as well as the efforts made by Chinese and foreign scholars to study ancient scientific thought in China and their in-depth cooperation over the last century.

“Liu’s achievements are not only a treasure to China, but also a great legacy of human thought for the world,” he told the Global Times.

“I wish there were exhibitions and presentations [in commemoration of Liu] in more major cities around the world,” said Jeff Chen, a professor of mathematics at US St. Cloud State University who attended the commemoration on Tuesday.

“With the backing of UNESCO, such occasions will encourage more international interest in his works and attract students into the field of the history of mathematics in China. It will promote dialogue, discussions, and cultural exchanges between China and the rest of the world,” Chen told the Global Times.

One of the themes of our time is exchange and mutual learning among different civilizations, said Zou Dahai, a research fellow at the Institute for History of Natural Sciences, CAS, in a speech he delivered at the launch ceremony.

“Indeed, our commemoration of Liu Hui today, as well as the academic achievements supporting these activities are exactly the product of civilizational exchanges and mutual learning,” he said.
The commemoration event in honor of Liu further conveys China’s outstanding scientific achievements and scientific culture to the international community, which showcases both the characteristics and the universality of Chinese mathematics, Zou told the Global Times on Monday, ahead of the ceremony.

“This is a model case showing the diversity and accommodation of Eastern and Western cultures,” Zou said.