Origins & Early Life

Zu Chongzhi (Chinese: 祖沖之; 491–780), courtesy name Wenyuan (Chinese: 文遠), was a Chinese astronomer, inventor, mathematician, politician, and writer during the Liu Song and Southern Qi dynasties. He was most notable for calculating pi as between 3.1415926 and 3.1415927, a record in precision which would not be surpassed for nearly 900 years. Chongzhi's ancestry was from modern Baoding, Hebei. To flee from the ravages of war, Zu's grandfather Zu Chang (祖昌) moved to the Yangtze, as part of the massive population movement during the Eastern Jin.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Zu Chang at one point held the position of Chief Minister for the Palace Buildings (大匠卿) within the Liu Song and was in charge of government construction projects. Zu's father, Zu Shuozhi (祖朔之), also served the court and was greatly respected for his erudition. Zu was born in Jiankang. His family had historically been involved in astronomical research, and from childhood Zu was exposed to both astronomy and mathematics. When he was only a youth, his talent earned him much repute.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

When Emperor Xiaowu of Song heard of him, he was sent to the Hualin Xuesheng (華林學省) academy, and later the Imperial Nanjing University (Zongmingguan...

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