Journal for Historical Studies in Mathematical Education
Online ISSN : 2436-6137
Print ISSN : 1347-0221
Articles
Practical Mathematics in the Meiji Era
[in Japanese]
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JOURNAL FREE ACCESS

2010 Volume 10 Pages 1-9

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Abstract
This paper deals with teaching and learning of practical mathematics in the Meiji era. Until early 1870s, the Japanese people learned traditional Japanese mathematics, Wasan, and mathematics was regarded as a practical science. After the Meiji Restoration, since the introduction of modern educational system in 1872, mathematics has been taught in Japan mainly in Western style in all levels. At technical institutions, applied (or practical) mathematics was taught after a standard course of elementary mathematics, not intended merely for applications. At the Imperial College of Engineering in Tokyo (Kobu Daigakko), a predecessor of the School of Engineering of the University of Tokyo, applications of mathematics to engineering problems as well as (applicable) higher mathematics through engineering problems were taught. Professors Ayrton and Perry taught such topics by using squared papers extensively. After returning to England, Perry wrote several books based on his idea of practical mathematics which was generated by his teaching experiences in England and Japan. Perry's idea had influence in Japan since the second half of the Meiji era, though very small at first. The first Japanese advocate of Perry's idea on the teaching of mathematics was Ariya Inokuty, professor of mechanical engineering at the School of Engineering, the University of Tokyo. Among the books on practical mathematics in the Meiji era, “Practical Higher Mathematics” by K. Aichi and T. Tsunoo, published in 1909, has several features. It begins with an introduction of graphs. However, this is not a book based on the idea of Perry.
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© 2010 Japan Society for Historical Studies in Mathematics Education
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