ABSTRACT
The origins of mathematical activity in early China are clouded by mysticism and legend. Mythological Emperor Yu is credited with receiving a divine gift from a Lo river tortoise. The gift in the form of a diagram called the Lo shu is believed to contain the principles of Chinese mathematics, and pictures of Yu’s reception of the Lo shu have adorned Chinese mathematics books for centuries. Language barriers may limit this quest for information; however, a search of English language sources will reveal that there are many “marvels” in Chinese mathematics to be considered. While the Lo shu provides some intriguing insights into early mathematical thinking, its significance in terms of potential scientific or technological achievement is negligible. Historically, the first true evidence of mathematical activity can be found in numeration symbols on oracle bones dated from the Shang dynasty.
