Jihe tongjie

work by Mei Wending

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 16, 2026

Quick Summary

Jihe tongjie (Complete Explanation of Geometry) is a work by Mei Wending, a Chinese writer on astronomy and mathematics who lived from 1633 to 1721. This text reinterprets Euclid's Elements by referencing the chapter on right-angled triangles from the ancient Chinese mathematical classic, Nine Chapters on the Mathematical Procedures. Mei Wending's work aimed to synthesize Chinese and Western knowledge, situating European mathematical and astronomical discoveries within the historical context of Chinese scholarship. He believed progress was a universal pattern, justifying the integration of different knowledge systems. His efforts helped to revive interest in traditional Chinese mathematics, particularly during the Qing dynasty.1

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

2 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

Mei Wending
300 bc) in his Jihe tongjie (“Complete Explanation of Geometry”), by reference to the chapter devoted to right-angled triangles in Jiuzhang suanshu (Nine Chapters on the Mathematical Procedures), a mathematical classic completed during the Han dynasty (206 bc–ad 220). Mei helped rehabilitate traditional Chinese mathematics, and he was most…
Read More
300 bc) in his Jihe tongjie (“Complete Explanation of Geometry”), by reference to the chapter devoted to right-angled triangles in Jiuzhang suanshu (Nine Chapters on the Mathematical Procedures), a mathematical classic completed during the Han dynasty (206 bc–ad 220). Mei helped rehabilitate traditional Chinese mathematics, and he was most…
Read More