Ancient Clepsydras

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Lou (water clock) is an idiom used by ancient Chinese equivalent to today's "clock". Zhonghu Dilou is also called clepsydra or water clock. The time-measuring device consists of several kettles filled with water, which are usually connected together. There are small holes on the bottom of upper kettles, so that once the kettles are filled up, the water will drop down stepwise and regularly to the lower kettles. The lowest kettle has an erect buoy in it carved with scale divisions. The clepsydra is a 24-hour calculagraph used to calculate time through observing the scale of buoy according to fluctuation of buoy enabled by changes in water level. It measures time day and night during both sunny and rainy days. However, there may be changes in the speed of dripping according to temperature condition, which lead to inevitable error or difference in telling time. Nevertheless, it can be corrected by using sundial during fine days.

Details

Qianzhang Bronze Clepsydra

Qianzhang Bronze Clepsydra

Produced in Western Han Dynasty, the Qianzhang Bronze Clepsydra was unearthed in Hangjin District, Ordos City, Inner Mongolia. It is now preserved in Inner Mongolia Museum. As an ancient...
Dragon-boat Incense Clock

Dragon-boat Incense Clock

Apart from measuring time by flowing water, incense clock was also adopted in ancient China, characterized by the Dragon-boat Incense Clock, an instrument taking full use of burning incense to...
Steelyard Clepsydra

Steelyard Clepsydra

The Steelyard Clepsydra is a special type of water clock that measures time by weighing the water fed into the water-receiving kettle with a Chinese steelyard. It was invented by a Taoist named Li...
Lotus-shaped Water Clock by Yansu

Lotus-shaped Water Clock by Yansu

The Lotus-shaped Water Clock was one of the major time-counting devices in ancient China and the first to adopt extra kettles in its construction. Created by Yansu, an official in Longtu Pavilion...
Water Clock of the Yanyou Reign

Water Clock of the Yanyou Reign

The Water Clock of the Yanyou Reign is the oldest extant water clock in China cast in the third year during the reign of Yanyou in Yuan Dynasty (1316). It is a multilevel compensating arrow-marked...
Xingping Bronze Clepsydra

Xingping Bronze Clepsydra

The Xingping Bronze Clepsydra was excavated from the Xingping County, Shaanxi Province in 1958 and is now preserved in Shaanxi Provincial Museum. It was produced in mid Western Han Dynasty in the...