Science, Medicine & Engineering
Distinguished
Zu Chongzhi
429 β 501
Mathematician who calculated pi to seven decimal places
Distinguished is level 3 of 4 in the China Hall of Fame: sustained excellence over a career, widely honoured at home. See how the levels work.
Why they are here
A fifth-century mathematician and astronomer whose calculation of pi to seven decimal places was not surpassed anywhere for about a thousand years.
Zu Chongzhi showed that pi lies between 3.1415926 and 3.1415927 and gave 355/113 as a close approximation. He also created a new calendar, the Daming calendar, that took account of the precession of the equinoxes.
His mathematical work was carried on by his son Zu Gengzhi.
His mathematical work was carried on by his son Zu Gengzhi.
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