Truong Nguyen Luong The Vinh: Mathematical prodigy or "lucky" saint?

Luong The Vinh is one of the prominent figures in the history of Vietnamese table science. He is known as Trang Luong - a rare state in the history of our country with outstanding talent in mathematics in Dai Viet.

Luong The Vinh was born in Cao Huong village, Thien Ban district, Son Nam town (now in Vu Ban district, Nam Dinh province). Although he came from a family with no educational tradition, from an early age, he showed outstanding talent, especially in mathematics. The stories about Luong The Vinh seem to be associated with miraculous math problems, which can be said to be an indispensable part of his reputation.

One of the most famous stories about his intelligence is when he was a child. During a time when he and his friends challenged each other how to measure the height of an ancient tree, while everyone thought they had to climb the tree and use a rope to measure, Luong The Vinh simply used a stick to measure the ball and through calculations accurately determined the height of the tree. This story shows his sharp calculation and creativity from a very young age.

In 1463, Luong The Vinh participated in the Quy Mui exam under the reign of King Le Thanh Tong and passed the Dang Nguyen, becoming the leader in the exam with more than 4,400 candidates. His career began to reap success from there. King Le Thanh Tong respected him very much and constantly entrusted him with important tasks in the court, especially diplomatic affairs with China, where he proved his talent and cleverness in matters related to the country.

Not only excellent in solving administrative problems, Luong The Vinh is also a great teacher. He taught at Quoc Tu Giam, which trained many talents for the country. His contributions to imparting knowledge have made him one of the most respected professors in Vietnamese history.

With excellent mathematical ability, Luong The Vinh left unforgettable stories in the hearts of people about his math solving skills. One of the famous stories is the problem of "weighing elephants" that he solved when welcoming the Ming Dynasty envoys. When the envoy challenged him to measure the weight of the elephant, Luong The Vinh used an extremely creative calculation: he put the elephant into the boat, marked the water level of the sunken boat, then put the elephant up and replaced it with a stone until the water rose to the same level. From there, he calculated the weight of the elephant by weighing the number of stones. This is a clear demonstration of his excellent mathematical ability and outstanding intelligence.

Another equally famous story is when the Ming envoy challenged him to measure the thickness of a piece of paper. While people thought it was an insurmountable challenge, Luong The Vinh calmly solved the problem by borrowing a book, measuring the thickness of the book and dividing it by the number of pages to calculate the thickness of a sheet of paper. This simple but extremely delicate way of solving the problem made the Ming envoy have to bow to the ground.

In addition to his mathematical talent, Luong The Vinh is also a scientist, educator and a highly influential figure in the history of Vietnamese culture. He is the founder of the book Dai Thanh Mathematics, the first mathematics book of our country, which has been used for more than 400 years in exams and in teaching mathematics. This book not only reflects Luong The Vinh's extensive understanding of mathematics but also shows the importance of scientific research during that period.

Luong The Vinh was also the inventor of the first Vietnamese abacus, making calculations easier and more efficient. This abacus was later widely used in folklore and is an indispensable part of the lives of Vietnamese people.

Luong The Vinh is not only an excellent intellectual, but also a person with a passionate patriotic heart. Despite achieving many successes in his career, he has always maintained his integrity and integrity. He is famous for his steadfastness in defending justice and always standing on the side of the people, advising King Le Thanh Tong to deal with wrongful officials.

In 1496, Luong The Vinh died at the age of 55, leaving behind an illustrious career and many contributions to the country. King Le Thanh Tong deeply mourned him, and in a poem Nom, the king expressed his heart: "Who will be the state of our Southern country?". His passing made both the court and the people regret.

With his great contributions in the fields of mathematics, education and culture, Luong The Vinh has become a symbol of Vietnamese wisdom. His name is not only associated with exams, but also lives on in the hearts of the people through legendary stories of talent and insight. Many provinces and cities in Vietnam have named his roads, schools, and temples in honor of his great contributions to the country.

Luong The Vinh is not only a prominent stature in the history of Vietnamese table science, but also a shining example of wisdom, virtue and patriotism. The lessons from his life and career will continue to be an inspiration for generations to come, affirming a truth: wisdom and virtue are always the most important factors to build a strong country.

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