Restoration and re-creation in the Eastern Han

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher Cullen
Keyword(s):  
Han Dynasty ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Early Years ◽  
Technical Innovation ◽  
Astronomical Observation ◽  
Fundamental Innovation ◽  
The Creation ◽  
Zhang Heng ◽  
Eastern Han ◽  
New System

We look first at the situation in the early years of the restored Han dynasty. Liu Xin’s system continued in use for more than half a century. Then, in 85 CE, Liu Xin’s system was replaced. We have records of the practical and theoretical grounds on which the old system was rejected, and of the creation and implementation of a new system. Next we follow the story of how c. 92 CE Jia Kui advocated a fundamental innovation in both theory and practice: he insisted on the ecliptic as being central to astronomical observation and calculation. The richness of records from this period makes it easy to tell a detailed story of technical innovation in its fullest context, leading up to the work of Zhang Heng (78–139 CE), for whom astronomical calculation was just one of several fields in which he gained a reputation for exceptional originality.

Zhang Heng

2007 ◽  
pp. 1263-1265
Author(s):  
László Szabados ◽  
Cirilo Flórez Miguel ◽  
Fabrizio Bònoli ◽  
Roy H. Garstang ◽  
Roser Puig ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Zhang Heng

scholarly journals Opticien célèbre. Zhang Heng 张衡

Photoniques ◽  
2018 ◽  
pp. 16-17
Author(s):  
Riad Haidar
Keyword(s):  
Zhang Heng

Astronome, mathématicien, ingénieur et poète chinois, Zhang Heng a vécu pendant la dynastie Han qui régna sur la Chine de 206 avant J.-C. à 220 après J.-C. Il est connu pour sa connaissance étendue des engrenages et de la mécanique, et pour avoir inventé le premier sismographe, ainsi que la sphère armillaire à énergie hydraulique pour représenter les observations astronomiques. Il a également perfectionné la clepsydre, et amélioré les calculs chinois de la formule du nombre π.

Didactic Art in Han China

1991 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 93-103 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Loewe
Keyword(s):  
Historical Records ◽  
Personal Integrity ◽  
Zhang Heng

As is usual in texts which were composed more as panegyrics than as strict historical records, the epitaph inscription for Wu Liang , who died at the age of 74 in A.D. 151, tells of his virtues and his qualities as a scholar. But in common with a number of famous men of ability and learning of his time, such as Zhang Heng (78–139), Ma Rong (79–166) or Wang Fu (c. 90–165), Wu Liang showed a persistent reluctance to serve in an official capacity, preferring to devote himself to a study of history and philosophy. In all probability he felt, like the others, that in the prevailing political circumstances, it was not possible both to embark on an official career and to retain a measure of personal integrity. Be that as it may, other members of his family evidently felt no such scruples; his nephew Wu Ban , for example, was appointed to be chief clerk at Dunhuang.

The Development of Ancient Earthquake Instruments

2006 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hong-Sen Yan ◽  
Kuo-Hung Hsiao
Keyword(s):  
Great Sensitivity ◽  
Recording System ◽  
Major Difficulty ◽  
Ancient China ◽  
Sensing Element ◽  
Pendulum System ◽  
Timing System ◽  
Electromagnetic Seismograph ◽  
Zhang Heng ◽  
Made In

This paper studies sensing element designs in ancient seismometers and describes the developments of ancient earthquake instruments. A basic seismograph comprises a seismometer, a recording system, and a timing system. The major difficulty in the development of a seismograph was the design of the seismometer. And, the break through was the use of a pendulum system as a sensing element that responded to ground motion and did not move with the ground. Early seismoscopes were primarily intended to determine that an earthquake had happened. The first seismoscope invented by Zhang Heng was Hou Feng Di Dong Yi made in ancient China around the year 132 AD. The truly successful seismographs were first designed and built in the 1880s by a group of British scientists in Japan. In 1906, Boris Galitzin developed a working electromagnetic seismograph with a great sensitivity. Finally, a comparison with the recording systems of ancient seismographs is concluded.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document