Sacred Mathematics: Japanese Temple Geometry [Hardcover]

Fukagawa Hidetoshi (Author), Tony Rothman (Author), Freeman Dyson (Foreword)

Editorial Reviews

Review

Now Fukagawa Hidetoshi, a mathematics teacher, and writer Tony Rothman present a collection of Sangaku problems in their book, Sacred Mathematics. The puzzles range from simple algebra within the grasp of any intermediate-school student, to challenging problems that require graduate-school mathematics to solve. Copious illustrations and many detailed solutions show the scope, complexity, and beauty of what was tackled in Japan during the Tokugawa shogunate.
(Peter J. Lu Nature )

Fascinating and beautiful book.
(Physics World )

This book is the most thorough (and beautiful) account of Japanese temple geometry (sangaku) available.
(Paul J. Campbell Mathematics Magazine )

The difficult problems with complete solutions and rich commentary that comprise the heart of this book will interest every mathematics student.
(Choice )

This is a marvelous book. Good books are not just written or compiled, they are crafted. Sacred Mathematics is a well crafted work that combines mathematics, history and cultural considerations into an intriguing narrative. . . . The writing style is appealing and the organization of material excellent. Princeton University Press must be congratulated on producing this quality publication and offering it at an agreeable price. This book is highly recommended for personal reading and library acquisition. It should be especially appealing to problem solvers.
(Frank J. Swetz Convergence )

A unique book in every respect. Sacred Mathematics demonstrates how mathematical thinking can vary by culture yet transcend cultural and geographic boundaries.
(International Institute for Asian Studies Newsletter )

Review

An enchanting history of Japanese geometry--of a time and place where 'geometers did not cede place to poets.' This intersection of science and culture, of the mathematical, the artistic, and the spiritual, is packed, like circles within circles, with rewarding Aha! epiphanies that drive a mathematician's curiosity.
(Siobhan Roberts, author of "King of Infinite Space" )

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 392 pages
• Publisher: Princeton University Press; First Edition edition (July 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 069112745X
• ISBN-13: 978-0691127453
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 8.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #154,660 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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  Books > Arts & Photography > History & Criticism > Regional > Asian

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful Mathematics, August 4, 2008

By	Mead C. Whorton Jr. (Bastrop, LA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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This review is from: Sacred Mathematics: Japanese Temple Geometry (Hardcover)

For anyone who truly loves mathematics, this book is a must have.
Simply put, the book tells the story of sangaku, geometry problems which were painted in color on wooden tablets and displayed at Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines throughout Japan. Most of the sangaku were composed by people from all walks of life-priests, farmers, children women, samurai, etc.-between 1600 and 1900. Approximately 900 of the old tablets have survived and even today one is occasionally found at an abandoned temple/shrine. Tony Rothman has assisted Mr. Fukagawa Hidetoshi, a retired Japanese high school teacher, who is one of the world's foremost experts in sangaku, in producing a beautiful book. Various chapters discuss Japan and temple geometry, the Chinese foundation of mathematics, Japanese mathematics and mathematicians of the Edo period. In addition, the book contains over 200 sangaku problems ranging from very elementary to extremely difficult. The book also contains extensive excerpts from the diary of Yamaguchi Kanzan, a Japanese mathematician, who treked through Japan during the 1800s collecting sangaku problems. Finally, there are chapters on East and West, Japanese attempts to handle differentiation and integration, and inversion. The book contains numerous diagrams which accompany the problems and there are 16 color plates. In summary, this book captures a beautiful form of vanished mathematics which was artistic/religious in nature. Mr. Fukagawa Hidetoshi and Mr. Rothman are to be congratulated for producing a superb book which tells the story of this vanished mathematical/religious art form. Buy your copy today. This book contains enough history, mathematics, art, and religion to keep one's intellect perplexed for years.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Like pirahnas on a hapless animal, December 12, 2008

By	Jeff Holcomb (Santa Cruz, CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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This review is from: Sacred Mathematics: Japanese Temple Geometry (Hardcover)

I have been using a number of the Sangakus from Sacred Geometry in my High School Pre-Calculus classes to get things rolling at the start of the class. The kids are loving them! Watching the kids last class get the problem and go to work on it reminded me of watching piranha's go after a hapless animal-- maybe a bit less graphic. The problems are just great-- they really hook the kids, really get them trying stuff, and they do a fantastic job of building up and connecting their skills. Of course I am having a great time with them too!

Further, the book is just a pleasure to read. Everything about it-- prose, graphics, mathematics, quality of production-- is just top notch.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book, October 9, 2008

By	Francisco Bellot (Valladolid, Spain) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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This review is from: Sacred Mathematics: Japanese Temple Geometry (Hardcover)

The last (for the moment) title of Fukagawa&Rothman is really excellent. Not only the printing is superb, but the mathematical content is also outstanding. Strongly recomended to every lover of geometry...