A ‘Iyo-education’ class in the theme of “Mathematics as culture ~wasan (Japanese mathematics)•sangaku~
○date Monday, July 6, 2015 14:25 ~ 16:05
○location Ehime University High-school, Multipurpose study room
○participants 10th graders
○lecturer Faculty of Education, Ehime University Professor Koichi Hirata
Prof. Koichi Hirata explained to us about the details of Japan’s Mathematics history, and Edo period’s and Ehime’s wasan. He also taught us calculating skills and formulas of Japan and the west, making it easy to understand by comparing them. We tried out wasan using iPod.
Comments from students: M
I learned that the history of Mathematics is deep. I was surprised to know that Mathematics was there from the Asuka period because I thought it was created recently. When I heard that book on Mathematics used to be best sellers I thought to myself, “Does everybody like Mathematics?”. Mathematics is not merely a calculation but benefits us a lot in our daily life. It was also interesting to know about the unexpected history of Mathematics.
Comments from students: F
I didn’t like either elementary school Mathematics or junior high-school Mathematics, and I’m not good at it even now, but I thought wasan might be interesting. I thought that it is exactly like Mathematics that even though the way of thinking greatly differs, the same answer comes out. Wasan had a strong entertaining aspect and I want to try it someday and become good at Mathematics.
Comments from students: I
Listening to today’s lecture, I learned that Mathematics has a long history and that it is pervasive in our daily lives in many types of forms. Japan wasn’t a leading country in the past, therefore I thought that other countries were more advanced in Mathematics, too. I think it is amazing that Japan was clarifying more ways to calculate than other countries. I learned for the first time that many sangaku were devoted to shrines.