Magic Square/Examples/Order 3
Example of Order $3$ Magic Square
- $\begin{array}{|c|c|c|}
\hline 2 & 7 & 6 \\ \hline 9 & 5 & 1 \\ \hline 4 & 3 & 8 \\ \hline \end{array}$
Also known as
This $3 \times 3$ magic square is also known as the Luo-shu or Lo-shu, as it was referred to in ancient Chinese writings.
Also see
Historical Note
The order 3 magic square was known to the ancient Chinese, where it features in that cultural mythology.
It is connected with the mystical traditions of the Far East, and, with its obvious $4$ corner elements and $4$ side elements, evokes correspondences with various $4$-nesses in nature: the $4$ cardinal compass points, the $4$ seasons, and so on.
In Chinese legend going back to at least the $5$th century BCE, it was a gift of a turtle from the River Lo to the Emperor Yu the Great, who supposedly first controlled the Lo and the Yellow rivers.
Sources
- 1986: David Wells: Curious and Interesting Numbers ... (previous) ... (next): $9$
- 1997: David Wells: Curious and Interesting Numbers (2nd ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): $9$
- 1998: David Nelson: The Penguin Dictionary of Mathematics (2nd ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): magic square
- 2008: David Nelson: The Penguin Dictionary of Mathematics (4th ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): magic square
- 2014: Christopher Clapham and James Nicholson: The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Mathematics (5th ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): magic square