On the Study of Ancient Chinese Mechanical Astronomical Clocks

古中國天文鐘的研究

黃正輝(Zheng-Hui Hwang) ； 林聰益(Tsung-Yi Lin) ； 顏鴻森(Hong-Sen Yan)

《中國機械工程學刊》 43卷3期 (2022/06) Pp. 217-228

摘要

This paper aims to explore the different systems that made up mechanical astronomical clocks in ancient China by analyzing and comparing historical records, related literature, and reconstruction work conducted by modern scholars. Before the development of the waterwheel steelyard clepsydra, power systems in astronomical clocks were believed to be waterwheels and floats, and the transmission elements likely consisted of ropes and heavy hammers or gear assemblies, which all together synchronized the celestial globe with movements of celestial bodies. With the development of the waterwheel steelyard clepsydra in the 8^(th) century, time-keeping function was added to astronomical clocks, and the transmission system mostly consisted of gear assemblies. As the calendar system and mechanical skills advanced during the Song Dynasty, improvements were made on the waterwheel steelyard clepsydra, and astronomical clocks with multiple time-telling systems and different types of astronomical devices were developed. Influenced by western technology, time-telling mechanisms and astronomical devices used in astronomical clocks during the Yuan Dynasty gradually moved away from the use of waterwheels, and water-powered mechanical clocks were developed.

關鍵字

Water-powered astronomical clock ； design specification ； Reconstruction Design ； mechanism design ； Structural synthesis

並列摘要

本文旨在研究古中國機械天文鐘的組成系統。藉由天文鐘的歷史記載、相關文獻、及近代學者的復原工作，進行綜合性的分析與比較。在尚未發展水輪秤漏裝置之前，天文鐘的動力驅動元件應為水輪與浮子，傳動元件應為繩索與重錘，或齒輪所組成的傳動系統，帶動渾象模擬與天同步。8世紀發明水輪秤漏裝置，使得水輪具有計時功能，天文鐘的傳動系統則以齒輪系為主。宋朝時，在曆法、機械工藝技術的發展下，改良了水輪秤漏裝置，亦發展出多元報顯系統、多形式天文裝置的天文鐘。元朝受到西方科技影響，其天文鐘報顯時裝置及天文裝置，逐漸脫離古中國傳統水力機械鐘的模式，發展出新型式的水力機械鐘。