Takebe Katahiro

Takebe Katahiro

(born 1664, Edo, Japan—died Aug. 24, 1739, Edo) Japanese mathematician of the wasan (“Japanese calculation”) tradition who extended and disseminated the mathematical research of his teacher Seki Takakazu. He served successively two shoguns, Tokugawa Ienobu and Tokugawa Yoshimune (see Tokugawa period). Takebe became a pupil of Seki at the age of 13 and, together with his brother Kataaki, remained with him until his death in 1708. The brothers were the main craftsmen of Seki's project (launched 1683) to record mathematical knowledge in an encyclopaedia. The Taisei sankei (“Comprehensive Classic of Mathematics”), in 20 volumes, was finally completed by Takebe Kataaki in 1710. It gives a good picture of Seki's skill at reformulating problems, as well as Takebe Katahiro's ability to correct, perfect, and extend his master's intuitions.