To celebrate World Maths Day, NUDT teachers and students created a Chinese-style song, Roots of Numbers , reinterpreting the epic of Chinese mathematics through melody and condensing the ancient wisdom of “numbers” into the contemporary language of strengthening military through science and technology. This song won the Third Prize at the 17th Chinese Collegiate Computing Competition in 2024. With “numbers” as a blade to cleave through the river of time, and by tracing the roots of mathematics, it resonates as a powerful anthem spanning millennia with a fusion of technology and culture.
Roots of Numbers
In search of ancient pots of yore, where numbers etched their ancient lore.
With measured lines, the heavens drawn, the square, the circle—bound and sworn.
Engraving bones from Shang’s old reign, counting stars beneath the vast domain.
Casting hexagrams, fate’s command, solving life’s vast, intricate strand.
In the clash of schools, the truth resounds, a full foot’s length, not half the bounds.
Two millennia turn, yet legacy survives, through Qin and Han, the wisdom thrives.
Nine Chapters, Zhou Bi, Pythagorean and square, seek the truth, with wisdom rare they dare.
Within every inch, the circle’s precise, from ancient to date, its fame shall rise.
Truth marches on, a journey vast and long, through nine realms, where math's bright sails belong.
In the ink of math, new worlds unfold, a bright era begins, as the stories are told.
Through Ten Canons read, in wisdom's light, math blooms once more, in Xianqing's sight.
Through Dayan's art, the one is found, stars charted clear, with numbers bound.
Crafting a magic square's design, Ocean Mirror's circles find Tianyuan's sign.
Cracking problems with skill so fine, The Four - Element Mirror in hand to shine.
Stacking jars and chess in void's embrace, tiers of wonder in the subtle space.
Circles akin to fields surveyed, arcs and chords in the land's math parade.
Steered by the starry river’s light, through heavens' arcs, they chart the night.
Founded in unyielding sincerity's core, they trace the unknown's arcane lore.
Cycles split, with secrets true, Ninefold arts, where east-west wisdom grew.
Through endless scrolls, where knowledge gleams, a boundless light of wisdom dreams.
Through endless time, as stars do glide, a dance of light, where truths abide.
From seas to lands, the world remade, in skies observed, their dreams are laid.
Bright talents blaze through time's long stream, their fiery deeds in history's gleam.
Math, a gift from sages past, throughout time, its light will ever last.
Fu Xi's dragon-horse, through earth and sky did soar,
The River Chart unveiled, open of the wisdom door.
From Tao comes one, and one flows two,
See all things weave, in changes they renew.
Through scholars, farmers, craftsmen's hand,
Its grace flows wide to every land.
Five millennia majestic span,
Grand scroll unfold where ancient math began.
Trail stretches long and far,
Yet radiant shall Cathay spark.
Vocal: Wu Shengyaxuan, Li Rui
Lyrics: Zhu Zhenjin, Wu Shengyaxuan
Composer: Li Rui, Zhu Zhenjin, Wu Shengyaxuan, Ba Keyao
Instrument: Peng Bofei, Wang Yuze, Li Rui
Lyrics Translation: Bao Yunwan, Zeng Weiyi, Wang Junjie, Zhao Jiale, Ouyang Jiahong
Author: Li Rui