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Zhen Luan

535 – 566

Chinese mathematician

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About Zhen Luan

Lived 535 – 566 (aged 30–31). Zhen Luan was a mathematician, astronomer and politician.

Zhen Luan (甄鸾) (535 – 566) was a Chinese mathematician, astronomer, daoist and buddhist who was active during the Northern Zhou (557-581) of the Southern and Northern Dynasties period.

Born in the Wuji County of the present day Hubei Province, he is primarily known for the comments on the ancient mathematical treatises. Proceeding from them, he paid special attention to the "Nine Palaces" calculation technique; his description of the Luo shu represents an early example of textual comment on this scheme.

Zhen Luan developed the Tianhe calendar which was implemented in 566 and was current for the next 18 years.

Zhen trained in a Daoist congregation, but converted to Buddhism out of disgust with Daoist sexual practices. He wrote the anti-Daoist text Xiaodao Lun in 570 for Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou.

His solid scholarship was commended by Yan Yuan (1635 - 1704).

Literature Schuyler Cammann, "The Magic Square of Three in Old Chinese Philosophy and Religion" in History of Religions, Vol. 1, No. 1 (Summer, 1961), pp. 37–80.

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Important facts

Born
535
Birth century
Died
566
Nationality
Northern Zhou

People in Zhen Luan's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Zhen Luan's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Zhen Luan?

Chinese mathematician (535-566)

When was Zhen Luan born?

Zhen Luan was born in 535.

When did Zhen Luan die?

Zhen Luan died in 566.

What was Zhen Luan's occupation?

Zhen Luan was a mathematician, astronomer and politician.

What nationality was Zhen Luan?

Zhen Luan's recorded nationality: Northern Zhou.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Zhen Luan

· Wikidata: Q557248

· DBpedia: Zhen Luan

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Zhen Luan. https://biography.guide/zhen-luan/

MLA: "Zhen Luan." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/zhen-luan/.

Chicago: "Zhen Luan." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/zhen-luan/.

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