The Early Transmission of Calculus in China and Japan: A Comparative Study

Drawing upon a wealth of primary documents and research materials, this paper presents a systematic and comprehensive examination of the introduction and transmission of calculus in China and Japan from the mid-nineteenth century to the early twentieth century. It also brings to light newly identified historical documents. Building on this foundation, the paper offers a comparative analysis of the transmission and development of calculus and other forms of Western mathematical knowledge in the two countries and proposes new perspectives on why modern mathematics advanced rapidly in Japan but developed more slowly in China.