Colloquium
History of Traditional Mathematics Knowledge in Tibet
Guru Kyi (Geriji)
Northwest Minority University, Lanzhou, China

Tibetan counting numbers were used before and after the creation of the United Tibetan Writing System. Mathematics, and especially geometry, has had a great impact on the unique Tibetan architecture (stupas) and craft (thangkas). Mathematics has played an important role in the creation of the Tibetan astronomy calendar, involving calculation of celestial phenomena. The Tibetan Astronomical Science - elementary (Byung-rTsis), and advanced (Skar-rTsis) - has drawn from the knowledge of neighboring countries, such as India and China, and also from Buddhists teachings to establish a unique Tibetan system.

Thursday, 28 April 2005
4:10 p.m. in Skaggs 117
Spring 2005 Colloquium Schedule        
Mathematical Sciences | The University of Montana