China adopted Arabic numerals in the early 17th century.
While the system was introduced during this period by Europeans, it's important to note that traditional Chinese numeral systems remain in use. The financial numerals are specifically used in formal contexts like writing amounts on bank remittance forms. Therefore, the adoption wasn't a complete replacement but rather an introduction and integration alongside existing numeral systems.
Here's a breakdown:
- Introduction: Early 17th Century (by Europeans)
- Co-existence: Arabic numerals exist alongside traditional Chinese numerals.
- Specific Use Cases: Financial numerals are employed for writing amounts in formal financial documents (e.g., bank forms).
In summary, China began using Arabic numerals in the early 17th century, but the pre-existing Chinese numeral systems continue to be actively used today, particularly in certain formal contexts.
