Have you ever noticed how large of an impact “numbers” have on our daily lives? We rely on numbers for the simplest of activities such as reading the time on the clock, to vast, complex mathematical algorithms which have played a fundamental role in the basis of modern science and technology. In fact, if we think about it closely, without this concept, we, as human beings, would never have evolved to what we are now, and we would never have had the opportunities to invent and discover the things that have shaped present civilisations…
你有没有注意到“数字”对我们的日常生活有多大的影响？ 我们依靠数字来进行最简单的活动，如在时钟上读取时间，以及庞大而复杂的数学算法，这些算法在现代科学技术的基础中发挥了根本作用。 事实上，如果我们仔细想想，如果没有这个概念，我们作为人类永远不会进化到现在的我们，我们永远不会有机会发明和发现塑造当前文明的东西……
The history of ancient numerical systems dates as far back as around 4,000 years ago. This is when the Egyptians invented the first ciphered numerical system. Not long after, the Greeks followed by mapping their numbers onto Ionian and Doric alphabets.
古代数值系统的历史可以追溯到大约4000年前。 这是埃及人发明了第一个密码数字系统的时候。 不久之后，希腊人将他们的数字映射到愛奧尼亞字母和多立克字母上。
It is clear, that once we created the concept of “numbers”, they allowed us access to visualise patterns in the natural world that we, perhaps wouldn’t have been able to see otherwise.
很明顯，一旦我們創造了「數字」的概念，它們就允許我們看到自然界中的模式，否則我們可能看不到這些模式。
Nevertheless, apart from how numbers help us differentiate quantities they play a much larger role in the development of cultures and society across the globe.
尽管如此，除了数字如何帮助我们区分数量外，它们在全球文化和社会的发展中发挥着更大的作用。
Moving east by about 7,000 kilometres, we find ourselves in mainland China. A country known for its staggering variety of delicious delicacies, its martial arts, a long history of invention and its mathematical progress.
向东行驶约7000公里，我们发现自己在中国大陆。 这个国家以其种类繁多的美味佳肴、武术、悠久的发明历史和数学进步而闻名。
The ancient Chinese numbering system, which was created at least 3,500 years ago, used small bamboo rods arranged to represent the numbers 1 to 9, which were then placed in columns representing units; tens, hundreds, thousands, etc.
中国古代的编号系统至少在3500年前创造，使用小竹竿排列来表示数字1到9，然后将其放置在代表单位的列中；十、百、千等。
It was, therefore, a decimal place value system, very similar to the one we use today; indeed it was the first such numerical method, adopted by the Chinese over a thousand years before it was adopted in the West.
因此，这是一个十进制位制值系统，与我们今天使用的非常相似；事实上，它是第一个这样的数字方法，在西方采用之前，中国人采用了一千多年。
There was a fascination with numbers and mathematical patterns in ancient China, and different numbers were believed to have otherworldly significance.
在中国古代，人们对数字和数学模式着迷，不同的数字被认为具有超凡脱俗的意义。
In particular, “magic squares”; matrices of numbers where each row, column and diagonal added up to the same total, were regarded as having great spiritual and religious significance to the Chinese population.
特别是，“魔方”；数字矩阵，每行、列和对角线加起来为相同的总数，被认为对中国人口具有巨大的精神和宗教意义。
Later, the main push of Chinese mathematics was generated in response to the empire’s growing need for mathematically competent administrators.
后来，中国数学的主要推动力是为了应对帝国对数学能力管理者的日益增长的需求。
A textbook called “Jiuzhang Suanshu”, or “Nine Chapters on the Mathematical Art” became an important instrument in the education of philanthropy and covering various problems in constructive areas such as trade, taxation, engineering, and the payment of wages.
一本名为《九章书》或《数学艺术九章》的教科书成为慈善教育的重要工具，涵盖了贸易、税收、工程和工资支付等建设性领域的各种问题。
By the 13th Century, there were over 30 prestigious mathematics schools scattered across China. One of the most brilliant Chinese mathematicians of this time was Qin Jiushao, an imperial administrator and warrior, who, according to the website, storyofmathematics.com, “explored solutions to quadratic and even cubic equations using a method of repeated approximations very similar to that later devised in the West by Sir Isaac Newton in the 17th Century”.
到13世纪，中国各地有30多所著名的数学学校。 当时最杰出的中国数学家之一是秦九少，一位帝国行政人员和战士，根据storyofmathematics.com网站，他“使用与艾萨克·牛顿爵士后来在17世纪西方发明的非常相似的重复近似方法探索二次甚至三次方程的解”。
Qin even extended his technique to solve equations involving numbers up to the power of ten, extraordinarily complex mathematics for its time.
秦甚至扩展了他的技术来求解涉及十的数的方程，这在当时是极其复杂的数学。
These mathematical concepts have led to countless scientific innovations and discoveries that have been the foundation of modern intelligence. Some of the most popular examples include the creation of gunpowder (created in 1000 CE), Chinese herbal medicine and acupuncture (created 2,300 years ago), the first rocket (228 CE), and the earliest device used to detect earthquakes (132 CE).
这些数学概念导致了无数的科学创新和发现，这些是现代智慧的基础。 一些最受欢迎的例子包括火药的创造（创造于公元1000年）、中草药和针灸（创造于2300年前）、第一枚火箭（公元228年）和最早的用于探测地震的设备（公元132年）。
Similarly, today, mathematics is a significant part of Chinese culture. In fact, “being good at math” has become a commonly known stereotype for Chinese society, as well as, South-East Asia, as whole. But is this just an unfounded misconception from the West or does it actually hold some truth?
同样，今天，数学是中国文化的重要组成部分。 事实上，“擅长数学”已经成为中国社会以及整个东南亚的一个众所周知的刻板印象。 但这只是西方毫无根据的误解，还是它真的有一些事实？
According to Professor Fredrick Leung, a math educator and researcher, who studies how cultures affect students learning math, China’s “Confucian culture” is responsible for the nation’s excellence in number-related fields.
据数学教育家兼研究员Fredrick Leung教授称，他研究文化如何影响学习数学的学生，中国的“儒家文化”负责国家在数字相关领域的卓越表现。
According to the Professor, “Western parents attribute more the success and failure of their children, especially in mathematics, to innate ability. However, Chinese culture believes that even if one does not possess natural talent, in mathematics, if one puts in enough effort, they will succeed”.
据这位教授说，“西方父母更将孩子的成败，特别是在数学方面，归因于先天能力。 然而，中国文化认为，即使一个人没有天赋，在数学方面，如果付出足够的努力，他们就会成功。”
Moreover, there is a famous Chinese proverb, which roughly translates to “diligence cures lack of talent”. This exposes the idea that math is not a skill that is genetically inherited by the Chinese, as the West makes it sound, but rather the product of their hard-working culture and a unique education system, now which allows the Chinese to develop numerical mastery at a young age.
此外，有一句著名的中国谚语，大致翻译为“勤奋治愈人才不足”。 这暴露了这样的想法，即数学不是西方人所说的中国人遗传的技能，而是他们勤奋的文化和独特的教育体系的产物，现在这让中国人在年轻时就掌握了数字。
Numerical concepts are not wired into the human condition. But instead, they are learned and acquired through cultural and linguistic communication.
数字概念没有与人类条件联系起来。 但相反，它们是通过文化和语言交流来学习和获得的。
As anthropologist, Caleb Everett, says, “Given they are learned rather than inherited genetically, then it follows that they are not a component of the human mental hardware but are very much part of our mental software; the feature of an app we ourselves have developed”.
正如人类学家Caleb Everett所说：“鉴于它们是学习的，而不是遗传的，那么它们不是人类心理硬件的组成部分，而是我们心理软件的一部分；我们自己开发的应用程序的功能。”
Although we sometimes dismiss the importance of numbers, they have been the foundation on which humanity has structured and brought order to society, with distinct sets of rules.
虽然我们有时会忽视数字的重要性，但它们是人类构建和为社会带来秩序的基础，有一套不同的规则。
Just imagine a world without numbers. We wouldn’t be able to call our friends and family over large distances, we wouldn’t be able to read the page numbers on our books, we wouldn’t know what year it was, in a boundless ocean of days.
想象一下一个没有数字的世界。 我们将无法在很远的距离内给我们的朋友和家人打电话，我们将无法阅读我们书上的页码，我们将不知道现在是哪一年，在无边无际的海洋中。
Just think. How have numbers impacted your life?
想想吧。 数字对你的生活有什么影响？
