The Khmer Invention of Number Zero Published in the Smithsonian Magazine

[Kenneth So]

Dear All,

I wish to bring to your attention the publication of the Origin of the Number Zero in the Smithsonian Magazine in the December 2015 issue. Attached is the link to read the article:

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/origin-number-zero-180953392/?no-ist

The publication of the Origin of the Number Zero in this first-rated magazine is very important for us, Khmer, and for our nation. Until there is another finding predating the number zero inscribed in the K-127 stele, we can claim that the number Zero was invented by Khmer. We should be very proud of our ingenuity and I propose to our government to set a specific date to celebrate the invention of the number Zero every year to remind our people and the world of this great Khmer invention.

Besides George Coedes who was the first person who discovered the K-127 stele and deciphered the date and the number Zero, Mr. Amir Aczel who had read about Coedes' discovery should also be hailed as a hero. If it were not for his dedication and pursuit of the truth, the world would have forgotten about this extremely important invention and the number Zero would still have been attributed to the work done by either the Arab or the Indian. As of now, we can claim without a shadow of a doubt that Khmer was the first who invented the number Zero. Another person that should be given credit and also hailed as a hero is Mr. HabTouch, the Director General of the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts. If it were not for Mr. Touch directing Mr. Aczel to look at the Angkor Conservation site and also giving him permission to enter the site, the K-127 stele may have been sitting among the piles of steles scattered in the area and still undiscovered to this date.

It seems that fate has favored our nation to be recognized as the inventor of the number Zero, which could be argued as the most important invention in human history. Without the number Zero, the world would not have been able to progress as it is. The modern world cannot function without using the number Zero.

The K-127 could have disappeared and/or changed hands many times. If it were not for the French to reclaim Siem Reap for us from Thailand, the Thais would have claimed that they were the inventors of the number Zero. The Khmer Rouge, with their stupidity and ignorance of anything of importance, could have destroyed the K-127 stele. Yet, this stele had beat all the odds as if it awaits to be rediscovered and to be reclaimed by its true owner, the Khmer.

Thank You,

Kenneth So

Kenneth So
Aryasatya (Sanskrit)
Chattari Ariyasachchani (Pali)
Chatuk Arei Sachak (Khmer)
The Four Noble Truths (English)
In Steps with Khmer Soul & Khmer Conscience

[Mealy Chhim]

Thanks for sharing great news!

Mealy

Sent from my iPhone

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[Serey Kiman]

100% credit goes to my dear friend Kenneth So.

Sent from my iPad

[Mealy Chhim]

I concur!

Sent from my iPhone

On Nov 22, 2014, at 10:39 PM, Serey Kiman <skim...@gmail.com> wrote:

100% credit goes to my dear friend Kenneth So.

Sent from my iPad

On Nov 22, 2014, at 7:49 PM, Mealy Chhim <mea...@cox.net> wrote:

[Kenneth So]

Dear Serey & Mealy,

Please do not give me any credits because I am only a messenger. I am only happy to share good news with our Khmer people.

Thanks,

Ken

Kenneth So
Aryasatya (Sanskrit)
Chattari Ariyasachchani (Pali)
Chatuk Arei Sachak (Khmer)
The Four Noble Truths (English)
In Steps with Khmer Soul & Khmer Conscience

[Kenneth So]

Since I sent the link of the Smithsonian Magazine article about the number Zero (http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/origin-number-zero-180953392/?no-ist), I received comments from a couple of Khmers and a Vietnamese doubting that Khmers were the inventor of the number Zero.

 

Prior to 1930, most people such as the British scholar G. R. Kaye believed that Zero was invented by either the Arabs or the Europeans. In his Euro-centric’s bias, Kaye refuted the claim that Indian was the first inventor of Zero. During that time, the oldest Zero was discovered at the temple of Chatur-bujha in Gwalior, a major historical city in Madhya Pradesh in India, dating to the mid-9^th century. Because that period of time coincided with the Islamic leadership centered around the Caliph, Kaye with his bias and without proof theorized that Zero was invented by the European and then reached India through trades from Arab merchants.

 

Now, with the rediscovery of the K.127 stele (the numeration was given by George Coedes after he discovered the stele in 1931) by Amir Aczel showing clearly the date 605 Sakarach etched on the stone, which corresponded to 683 AD or 684 AD depending on the month that the inscription was etched, some Khmer people (and just recently also a Vietnamese) refused to believe that our ancestors could create such an important invention.  

 

Why people can accept that Europeans, Indians, or Arabs invented Zero but they cannot accept that Khmers could achieve such a feat also? Have they forgotten that ancient Khmers had built temples and monuments as grandiose and complicated as the European, Arab, and Indian? Building such monuments required engineering knowledge. The proof is in the pudding, but people still doubt us. It seems some of us have forgotten our roots.

 

Until archaeologists and/or scholars can come up with a new and indisputable proof of Zero invented by other people, for the moment Khmers can bathe in reflected glory of our ancestors’ achievement.

 

Kenneth So

Kenneth So
Aryasatya (Sanskrit)
Chattari Ariyasachchani (Pali)
Chatuk Arei Sachak (Khmer)
The Four Noble Truths (English)
In Steps with Khmer Soul & Khmer Conscience

[Mealy Chhim]

Understood and thanks for sharing!

Sent from my iPhone

On Nov 23, 2014, at 1:08 AM, Kenneth So <kenneth....@gmail.com> wrote:

Dear Serey & Mealy,

Please do not give me any credits because I am only a messenger. I am only happy to share good news with our Khmer people.

Thanks,

Ken

Kenneth So
Aryasatya (Sanskrit)
Chattari Ariyasachchani (Pali)
Chatuk Arei Sachak (Khmer)
The Four Noble Truths (English)
In Steps with Khmer Soul & Khmer Conscience

On Sat, Nov 22, 2014 at 7:39 PM, Serey Kiman <skim...@gmail.com> wrote:

[Mealy Chhim]

In that case those group should do their own research to prove otherwise.

Sent from my iPhone

On Nov 23, 2014, at 1:56 PM, Kenneth So <kenneth....@gmail.com> wrote:

Since I sent the link of the Smithsonian Magazine article about the number Zero (http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/origin-number-zero-180953392/?no-ist), I received comments from a couple of Khmers and a Vietnamese doubting that Khmers were the inventor of the number Zero.

 

Prior to 1930, most people such as the British scholar G. R. Kaye believed that Zero was invented by either the Arabs or the Europeans. In his Euro-centric’s bias, Kaye refuted the claim that Indian was the first inventor of Zero. During that time, the oldest Zero was discovered at the temple of Chatur-bujha in Gwalior, a major historical city in Madhya Pradesh in India, dating to the mid-9^th century. Because that period of time coincided with the Islamic leadership centered around the Caliph, Kaye with his bias and without proof theorized that Zero was invented by the European and then reached India through trades from Arab merchants.

 

Now, with the rediscovery of the K.127 stele (the numeration was given by George Coedes after he discovered the stele in 1931) by Amir Aczel showing clearly the date 605 Sakarach etched on the stone, which corresponded to 683 AD or 684 AD depending on the month that the inscription was etched, some Khmer people (and just recently also a Vietnamese) refused to believe that our ancestors could create such an important invention.  

 

Why people can accept that Europeans, Indians, or Arabs invented Zero but they cannot accept that Khmers could achieve such a feat also? Have they forgotten that ancient Khmers had built temples and monuments as grandiose and complicated as the European, Arab, and Indian? Building such monuments required engineering knowledge. The proof is in the pudding, but people still doubt us. It seems some of us have forgotten our roots.

 

Until archaeologists and/or scholars can come up with a new and indisputable proof of Zero invented by other people, for the moment Khmers can bathe in reflected glory of our ancestors’ achievement.

 

Kenneth So

Kenneth So
Aryasatya (Sanskrit)
Chattari Ariyasachchani (Pali)
Chatuk Arei Sachak (Khmer)
The Four Noble Truths (English)
In Steps with Khmer Soul & Khmer Conscience

[Mealy TRUONG]

Dear Lok Kenneth SO,

I have re-read your former letter and the one in this message with a well-documented proof, I wholeheartedly CONCUR with you that "THE TRUTH IS ALWAYS THE TRUTH" and time will prove THIS KHMER TRUTH !

We complex free Khmers, we are patient !

Those from the East and those from the West have their ample of time to prove the contrary !

Yours in pheatarapheap,

Mealy TRUONG

-------------------------------------------------

--

Mealy TRUONG
P.O. Box 2503 PHNOM PENH
PHNON PENH
CAMBODIA

[Kenneth So]

Dear Lok Mealy,

I cannot understand the mentality of some Khmer people. I believe our country had been trampled by foreigners as well as by our neighbors so many times that we forget that Cambodia was once a mighty country and Khmers were once one of the most ingenious people in the world.

When Mouhot rediscovered Angkor, he asked Khmers in the area who built the monument and the people said it was built by god. We had lost our way that even the local people did not realize that it was their ancestors who built Angkor. The monument was so beautiful and enormous that they could not believe that Khmers were the builders. Now, we are coming full circle again. Some Khmers, even well educated ones, could not fathom that we were that ingenious. How can we, a poor country and people with education well behind the rest of the world, be so intelligent? Even they can accept that Khmers built Angkor and all the great monuments, but they still cannot accept that Khmers could come up with such a clever numerical number that even escaped the greatest western minds in ancient Greece and Rome.

Memory is fleeting, and people need to be reminded more often of our glorious past so that we try harder to be better and be worthy to be the torch carrier of our ancestors.

Thank You,

Ken

Kenneth So
Aryasatya (Sanskrit)
Chattari Ariyasachchani (Pali)
Chatuk Arei Sachak (Khmer)
The Four Noble Truths (English)
In Steps with Khmer Soul & Khmer Conscience

[Mengly Chean]

But you deserve it. I meant it.  Sincerely!

Here's what I posted on Khmer Navy ...
"

Folks,

This is too good to pass.  Forgive me if I break any Khmer Navy Rules ....

Thanks,

--Mengly

Per Kennneth SO:

"I wish to bring to your attention the publication of the Origin of the Number Zero in the Smithsonian Magazine in the December 2015 issue. Attached is the link to read the article:

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/origin-number-zero-180953392/?no-ist

..."

[soph...@gmail.com]

Dear uncle Kenneth,
Greeting from Phnom Penh!
i was one of khmer that u described. After read your comment i again cant stop agreeing with you that khmer used to be on top and we still can do like our ancestors. Be proud of ourselves!

Best regards,
Sophorn

[Kenneth So]

I believe Cambodia had been trampled by foreigners as well as by their neighbors so many times that Khmers forget Cambodia was once a mighty country and they were once one of the most ingenious people in the world.

When Mouhot rediscovered Angkor, he asked Khmers in the area who built the monument and the people said it was built by god. Khmers have lost their way that even the local people did not realize that it was their ancestors who built Angkor. The monument was so beautiful and enormous that they could not believe Khmers were the builders. It disheartening to know that some Khmers, even well educated ones, could not fathom that Khmer people were that ingenious. How can a poor country and people with education well behind the rest of the world, be that intelligent? Even though Khmers can accept they built Angkor and all the great monuments, but for some Khmers they still cannot accept they could come up with such a clever numerical number that even escaped the greatest western minds of ancient Greece and Rome.

The number Zero was introduced to Europe only in the 13th century by the great Italian mathematician Fibonacci through his interactions with the Arab merchants. Prior to the 13th century, the Europeans used the cumbersome Roman numbers that contained no Zero.

Amir Eczel explained how the number Zero works as retainer to facilitate the writing. he said the following:

"The zero thus turns the numerals 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 into what algebraists call the ring Z(10). When you stack such rings one on top of the other, and you let them represent, in turn, the units, tens, hundreds, thousands, ten thousands, and so on, based on each ring’s location, you get the highly efficient number system we have today. Think of each ring as a dial—when it goes around full circle, you get 0 and you add a 1 to the ring above it. As an example, start with the number 5—this means only the lowest ring, that of the units, is nonempty, and has the number 5. Now add to this the number 7. Five units from the 7 will bring the units ring to 0 and make the tens ring jump up to 1. The remaining 2 from the 7 will make the lowest ring (the lowest dial) now show 2. Thus we have that the sum of 5 and 7 is 12. Without the place-holding zero, which makes each “dial” start repeating itself after going through zero, we couldn’t do this."

As indicated by Amir, with Zero as a retainer we can write three thousand three hundred and three elegantly as 3333, but in Roman numerical numbers, which do not have Zero as a retainer, we have awkwardly write it as MMMCCCXXXIII.

Some people have argued that the Babylonians have used Zero in their number system, but Amir has argued that they used "a base-60 number system without a zero". They do however, recognized the beauty of the circular numbers as described above. Their number 60 is equivalent to our number 10 and 60x60 = 3600 is equivalent to our number 10x10 =100. Because the Babylonians did not use Zero as a place holder, therefore ambiguities crept up in their counting system.

Some other people have argued that the Sumerians used a dot as a place holder to indicate Zero. According to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexagesimal, there is no Zero in their counting system like in our system. Sometimes they leave a space, which became unclear and created more confusion.

Memory is fleeting, and people need to be reminded more often of Khmer glorious past so that they may try harder to better themselves and be worthy as the torch carrier of their ancestors.

Thank You,

Kenneth So

Kenneth So
Aryasatya (Sanskrit)
Chattari Ariyasachchani (Pali)
Chatuk Arei Sachak (Khmer)
The Four Noble Truths (English)
In Steps with Khmer Soul & Khmer Conscience

[Kenneth So]

Dear Lok Mengly,

Thank you for sharing the good news to everybody. We all appreciate it.

Thanks,

Kenneth

Kenneth So
Aryasatya (Sanskrit)
Chattari Ariyasachchani (Pali)
Chatuk Arei Sachak (Khmer)
The Four Noble Truths (English)
In Steps with Khmer Soul & Khmer Conscience

[Kenneth So]

Dear Lok Mengly,

In case you did not get it, here is my personal opinion on the Zero number.

I believe Cambodia had been trampled by foreigners as well as by their neighbors so many times that Khmers forget Cambodia was once a mighty country and they were once one of the most ingenious people in the world.

When Mouhot rediscovered Angkor, he asked Khmers in the area who built the monument and the people said it was built by god. Khmers have lost their way that even the local people did not realize that it was their ancestors who built Angkor. The monument was so beautiful and enormous that they could not believe Khmers were the builders. It disheartening to know that some Khmers, even well educated ones, could not fathom that Khmer people were that ingenious. How can a poor country and people with education well behind the rest of the world, be that intelligent? Even though Khmers can accept they built Angkor and all the great monuments, but for some Khmers they still cannot accept they could come up with such a clever numerical number that even escaped the greatest western minds of ancient Greece and Rome.

The number Zero was introduced to Europe only in the 13th century by the great Italian mathematician Fibonacci through his interactions with the Arab merchants. Prior to the 13th century, the Europeans used the cumbersome Roman numbers that contained no Zero.

Amir Eczel explained how the number Zero works as retainer to facilitate the writing. he said the following:

"The zero thus turns the numerals 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 into what algebraists call the ring Z(10). When you stack such rings one on top of the other, and you let them represent, in turn, the units, tens, hundreds, thousands, ten thousands, and so on, based on each ring’s location, you get the highly efficient number system we have today. Think of each ring as a dial—when it goes around full circle, you get 0 and you add a 1 to the ring above it. As an example, start with the number 5—this means only the lowest ring, that of the units, is nonempty, and has the number 5. Now add to this the number 7. Five units from the 7 will bring the units ring to 0 and make the tens ring jump up to 1. The remaining 2 from the 7 will make the lowest ring (the lowest dial) now show 2. Thus we have that the sum of 5 and 7 is 12. Without the place-holding zero, which makes each “dial” start repeating itself after going through zero, we couldn’t do this."

As indicated by Amir, with Zero as a retainer we can write three thousand three hundred and three elegantly as 3333, but in Roman numerical numbers, which do not have Zero as a retainer, we have awkwardly write it as MMMCCCXXXIII.

Some people have argued that the Babylonians have used Zero in their number system, but Amir has argued that they used "a base-60 number system without a zero". They do however, recognized the beauty of the circular numbers as described above. Their number 60 is equivalent to our number 10 and 60x60 = 3600 is equivalent to our number 10x10 =100. Because the Babylonians did not use Zero as a place holder, therefore ambiguities crept up in their counting system.

Some other people have argued that the Sumerians used a dot as a place holder to indicate Zero. According to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexagesimal, there is no Zero in their counting system like in our system. Sometimes they leave a space, which became unclear and created more confusion.

Memory is fleeting, and people need to be reminded more often of Khmer glorious past so that they may try harder to better themselves and be worthy as the torch carrier of their ancestors.

Thank You,

Kenneth So

Kenneth So
Aryasatya (Sanskrit)
Chattari Ariyasachchani (Pali)
Chatuk Arei Sachak (Khmer)
The Four Noble Truths (English)
In Steps with Khmer Soul & Khmer Conscience

On Sun, Nov 23, 2014 at 6:22 PM, Mengly Chean <men...@gmail.com> wrote: