On the acceptance of trigonometry in wasan: Evidence from a text of Aida Yasuaki

摘要

The Dutch introduced trigonometry to Japan in the middle of the 17th century, but the use of trigonometry was rarely seen until the 18th century, and its use was limited to practical purposes such as surveying and astronomy. It was rarely used to solve geometry problems currently called wasan, the reason for which is not yet fully explained. In this paper, I summarize a book by Aida Yasuaki (1747-1817) in which he strongly criticizes the use of trigonometry for wasan, and try to find the origins of his antipathy. (C) 2020 The Author. Published by Elsevier Inc.