| Title |
ht-Watch Time-Annunciating Systems for the King Sejong's Striking Clepsydra |
| Abstract |
King Sejong's Striking Clepsydra was an elaborate timekeeping and annunciating system incorporating biological automata capable of annunciating hours, intervals and night-watches based on Shou-shih calindrical systems automatically. In this paper the author has studied the original manuscripts on the Striking Clepsydra [Sejong sillock, 65: 1a-3b ff` 16th year, 7th month(1434)] from the technical point of view undertaking a close analysis of this monumental clock and aiming to our modern understanding of the full degree of delicate mechanisms and sophisticated controls built into the night-watch and division announcing clockwork(jackwork). Based on the input/output model, timekeeping, ball-rack, ball-relay, and audible time-indicating mechanisms were synthesized reconstructing night-watch annunciating systems. It revealed that the night-watch and division announcing processes were entirely renewed automatically. Historical and philological data concerning the improvements of the proposed model were discussed. |