运筹学：一个精妙的翻译 The Chinese Name for Operations Research

从古代军事谋略到现代决策科学 From Ancient Military Strategy to Modern Decision Science

运筹学

yùnchóu xué

"运用算筹之学" — 运筹帷幄的科学 "The Science of Deploying Counting Rods"

什么是运筹学？ What is Operations Research?

Operations Research (OR) is a discipline that uses mathematical and analytical methods to help make better decisions. It emerged during World War II when military planners needed systematic approaches to allocate scarce resources and coordinate operations.

运筹学（Operations Research）是一门运用数学和分析方法帮助做出更好决策的学科。它起源于二战期间，当时军事规划者需要系统的方法来分配稀缺资源和协调作战行动。

"A scientific method of providing executive departments with a quantitative basis for decisions regarding operations under their control."

"为决策机构在对其控制下业务活动进行决策时，提供以数量化为基础的科学方法。"

— Morse & Kimball, 1946

For an excellent overview of OR history, see Christopher Ryan's talk.

关于运筹学历史的精彩介绍，可以参考 Christopher Ryan 的讲座。

典故来源 The Classical Origin

The term 运筹 comes from a famous phrase in the Records of the Grand Historian (《史记》) by Sima Qian, written around 94 BCE. It describes Zhang Liang (张良), the brilliant strategist who helped Liu Bang found the Han Dynasty:

运筹一词出自司马迁《史记·高祖本纪》（约公元前94年），是刘邦对谋士张良的评价：

运筹帷幄之中，决胜千里之外

yùnchóu wéiwò zhī zhōng, juéshèng qiānlǐ zhī wài

"Planning strategies within the tent, winning victories a thousand miles away." "在营帐之中谋划策略，却能决定千里之外的胜负。"

—《史记·高祖本纪》 (Records of the Grand Historian)

字面含义 Literal Meaning

运

yùn

to move, deploy 运用、部署

筹

chóu

counting rods 算筹

学

xué

study, science 学问、科学

筹 refers to counting rods (算筹), ancient Chinese calculation tools made of bamboo or bone, used for arithmetic and planning. The image evoked is of a strategist in a command tent, manipulating counting rods to work out battle plans and logistics—deciding outcomes on distant battlefields through careful calculation.

筹指的是算筹，是古代中国用竹子或骨头制成的计算工具，用于算术和筹划。这个词描绘的是一位谋士在帐篷中运用算筹，通过精密计算来筹划战略和后勤，从而决定远方战场的胜负。

谁翻译了这个词？ Who Created the Translation?

1956

OR introduced to China by Qian Xuesen (钱学森) and Xu Guozhi (许国志). Initially translated as 运用学 (yùnyòng xué, roughly "application science"). First OR group established at the Institute of Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences. 钱学森和许国志将运筹学引入中国，最初译为运用学。中国科学院力学研究所成立了第一个运筹学小组。

1957

              Qian Xuesen was not satisfied with 运用学 and sought a better term. Zhou Huazhang (周华章), then at Tsinghua University, suggested 运筹学, arguing the field involves not just "application" but also "planning" (筹划). Qian appreciated the classical resonance. Xu Guozhi and Zhou Huazhang formally adopted the term.
            
              钱学森对"运用学"不满意，一直在寻找更好的译名。在清华大学任职的周华章提出用运筹学，认为这门学科不仅有"运用"，还有"筹划"之意。钱学森赞赏这个建议，联想到"运筹帷幄"的典故。许国志和周华章正式将其定名为"运筹学"。

1958

Hua Luogeng (华罗庚) began leading OR research at the Institute of Mathematics. He later applied OR methods to industrial problems across China. 华罗庚开始在中科院数学研究所领导运筹学研究，后来将运筹学方法应用于全国各地的工业问题。

1965

Hua Luogeng published 《统筹方法平话》 ("Plain Talk on the Critical Path Method") in People's Daily, introducing project scheduling to the masses using the famous "making tea" example. 华罗庚在《人民日报》发表《统筹方法平话》，用著名的"烧水泡茶"例子向大众介绍关键路径法。

1980

Chinese Operations Research Society (ORSC) founded, with Hua Luogeng as first president. China joined IFORS in 1982. 中国运筹学会成立，华罗庚任首任理事长。1982年加入国际运筹学联合会（IFORS）。

关键贡献 Key Attribution

          Xu Guozhi (许国志) & Zhou Huazhang (周华章)
          许国志 & 周华章
        

formally named the field 运筹学 in 1957 于1957年正式将 Operations Research 定名为"运筹学"

Sources: Hu Xiaodong, "Early History of Chinese OR" · Operations Research Society of China · Wikipedia

资料来源：胡晓东《中国运筹学初创记》· 中国运筹学会 · 维基百科

为什么这是一个绝妙的翻译？ Why This Translation is Brilliant

The translation 运筹学 captures multiple dimensions of the field:

运筹学这个译名精妙地捕捉了这门学科的多个维度：

方面 Aspect	体现 How It's Captured
定量分析 Quantitative	筹 (counting rods) evokes mathematical calculation 筹（算筹）唤起数学计算的意象
战略层面 Strategic	Classical allusion to high-level military decision-making 与"运筹帷幄"的典故相连，暗示高层决策
运营执行 Operational	运 suggests deployment, movement, execution 运表示部署、运作、执行
系统规划 Planning	The full phrase implies careful advance planning for distant outcomes 完整的典故暗示为远方结果进行周密的预先规划

The English terms "Operations Research" or "Operational Research" are rather prosaic—simply "research about operations." The Chinese 运筹学 elevates the field to the art of strategic planning, carrying a 2,100-year-old literary resonance that connects modern optimization to ancient wisdom.

英文 "Operations Research" 或 "Operational Research" 比较平淡——仅仅是"关于运营的研究"。而中文运筹学将这门学科提升为战略规划的艺术，带有2100年的文学韵味，将现代优化与古代智慧相连。

中国运筹学先驱 Pioneers of Chinese OR

Qian Xuesen

钱学森

Introduced OR to China (1956) 将运筹学引入中国（1956）

Xu Guozhi

许国志

Co-founded first OR group; co-named 运筹学共同创建首个运筹学小组；共同定名"运筹学"

Zhou Huazhang

周华章

Proposed the translation 运筹学 (1957) 提出"运筹学"译名（1957）

Hua Luogeng

华罗庚

Led OR research; promoted 统筹法/优选法; first ORSC president 领导运筹学研究；推广统筹法/优选法；首任中国运筹学会理事长

Guan Meiguo

管梅谷

Created the "Chinese Postman Problem" 提出"中国邮递员问题"

总结 Summary

运筹学

A masterful translation connecting modern decision science to ancient strategic wisdom—the image of a commander deploying counting rods to plan victory a thousand miles away. 一个精妙的翻译，将现代决策科学与古代战略智慧相连——军师运用算筹，决胜千里之外。

The next time you solve a linear program or analyze a queuing system, remember: you are "planning strategies within the tent, winning victories a thousand miles away."

下次当你求解一个线性规划或分析一个排队系统时，请记住：你正在"运筹帷幄之中，决胜千里之外"。