song song simplified chinese traditional chinese pinyin courtesy renowned han chinese described scientist mathematician statesman medical doctor zoologist botanist mechanical architectural engineer poet antiquarian ambassador engineer mechanical astronomical clock tower medieval employed use early mechanism mechanism clock tower invented buddhist monk government official operate water powered sphere sphere provided mechanical clock drive clock tower featured oldest known endless power chain drive called ladder depicted treatise clock tower different clock indicate sound hours treatise clock tower survived written form official printed publication book analyzed historians clock dismantled invading army attempts tower successfully reinstated best known treatise compiled works completed large star maps terrestrial maps treatise discussed related subjects visitors china like briefly wrote chinese wheel drives mistakenly believed chinese advanced stage clock thought advanced mechanical new china mechanisms valuable europeans offer chinese prominent song period contemporary chinese texts dynasty described relatively history mechanical china 13th century 16th life works career scholar official song born modern day near medieval like contemporary person expertise spans significant number different interests written junior colleague scholar youth mastered provincial exams rose examination list writing best essay general principles structure chinese calendar early age interests astronomy science led distinguished path state spare time fond writing poetry praise works artists painter antiquarian collector old artworks previous matters administrative government attained rank ambassador president capital known expert administration finance serving minister justice appointed distinguished editor edited commented added preface classic work han dynasty eventually rose post vice president honorable positions titles conferred deputy heir apparent court chose distance political rivalries conservatives led prime minister led prime minister associates conservative faction dispatched diplomatic mission dynasty people north sharing ideas science state created calendar finding reportedly embarrassed court acknowledged emperor calendar people fact bit accurate resulting punishment officials calendar supposed travel north arrive promptly birthday celebration feast day coincided winter song calendar actually day calendar states emperor song sponsored order compete scientific national superiority court instructed book diplomatic history relations elaborate task complete filled volumes extensive knowledge able settle heated border dispute song astronomy song created separate maps hour circles lunar forming astronomical stars marked cylindrical projection equator accordance north polar distances furthermore taken advantage astronomical findings political rival contemporary song fourth star map places position pole star halfway degrees current accurate calculation degrees observed pole star period months width improved sighting tube star maps written song book greatest significance star maps represent oldest extant star maps printed form song team scholars compiled edited illustrated original source material groundbreaking treatise compiling information knowledge worked notable scholars treatise documented wide range practices including use drug includes valuable information steel iron industries 11th century china created systematic approach listing different minerals use medicinal variously known forms cure wrote fracture native signs ore beds provided description crystal form similar ore channels formed circulation ground water written later german scientist similar statements concerning copper earlier copper book treatise written china describe plants according accurately described translucent quality fine origin pods found rocky river matrix pitted holes having deep red purple color mineral varied sizes ranging size citing evidence ancient work believed physicians ancient dynasty remedy believed day era physicians purpose thought systematic descriptions animals environmental regions found different species freshwater marine shore crabs example noted freshwater crab species found running waterways near capital city marshes book preserved copied dynasty physician mechanical engineering song compiled greatest chinese middle ages surrounding entourage notable engineers assist projects lit new method rotation sphere globe written final product life achievements fortunately book handed included different illustrations great detail mechanical workings astronomical greatest project foot tall water powered astronomical constructed wooden pilot model completed bronze components cast wholly finished work completed reign emperor song emperor previously commissioned han acting secretary head project leadership position instead handed emperor ordered reconstruct clock new clock tower capital city worked aid han applied extensive knowledge mathematics construction clock tower small scale wooden model crafted testing intricate parts applying actual scale clock tower end clock tower impressive features mechanical rotating sphere level weighing tons bronze globe located middle feet diameter timed rotating dressed miniature chinese clothes exited miniature opening doors announce time day presenting designated reading plaques ringing bells beating drums sophisticated use oblique gears mechanism exterior facade chinese completion tower called tower water powered sphere globe writes invention dynasty great gear wheels culminating bronze iron song elaborate masterpiece years death capital city besieged captured based dynasty wars clock tower dismantled piece piece components capital modern day beijing complexity tower unable successfully piece new emperor song instructed son construct new astronomical clock tower place set work studying father texts team experts unsuccessful creating clock tower convinced left essential components written work steal ideas historian points astronomical clock lead new generation mass produced china work largely government sponsored endeavor use imperial court mechanical legacy end work writer noted types day basic clock clock revolving snapping springs gun tan rulers continuing dynasty interest advancement mechanical helped restore beijing ancient observatory beginning crafted water powered sphere clock clock fully implemented sounding hours complex uniquely chinese continued dynasty new designs driven power falling sand instead water provide motive power wheel drive featured reduction earlier earliest design sand clock featured wheel song device new addition stationary face circulated like new european period mechanism song device action arrest release achieved gravity exerted periodically continuous flow liquid filled containers limited size single line evolution clock united concept mechanical clock device run mechanics memorial song wrote concept according servant opinion systems designs astronomical instruments past differing minor respects principle use water power driving mechanism heavens water flow fall water pour perfect comparison movements heavens machine contradiction follows writing credited predecessor working clock hydraulic powered sphere earlier chinese scientist strongly influenced earlier sphere created employed mechanism liquid mercury instead water astronomical clock tower liquid mercury freeze winter metal components time stated writing death able replicate device like mechanical astronomical tower featured great driving wheel feet diameter carrying water poured uniform rate constant level tank main driving shaft iron cylindrical supported iron crescent shaped ended engaged gear wheel lower end main vertical transmission shaft gives general description clock tower song driven water wheel fully enclosed tower rotated sphere platform globe upper story time announcing function fulfilled visually performances numerous mounted superimposed wheels time keeping shaft appearing windows like structure tower building high driving wheel provided special form water pumped tanks periodically manual means time included conversion gave unequal equal time signals sphere probably treatise clock constitutes classic engineering figure displays upper lower tanks manual wheel operating displays miniature scaled basics mechanism illustration book quote balance mechanism figure carefully labels right upper lock upper link left upper lock axle pivot long chain upper checking fork lower balancing tongue main lower figure intricate telling half page scale drawing large mechanism labeling individual parts interact arrested spoke left upper lock filled water jet constant level tank small checking fork projection pin forming near end lower balancing lower tongue connected long chain upper balancing far end upper near end short length chain connecting upper lock beneath right upper lock endless chain drive world oldest illustrated depiction endless power chain drive treatise main drive shaft sphere gearbox rotating small seen belonged end main vertical transmission shaft incorporating right angle gears oblique gears connected short shaft toothed ring gear called motion gear ring fit shell sphere parallel near southern pole ancient greek byzantium 3rd century featured sort endless belt magazine transmit continuous power influential source chain drive likely continuously driven chain pump known china han dynasty treatise states chain drive lit ladder long system follows iron chain links joined form endless circuit hangs upper chain wheel concealed cloud column supporting sphere centrally passes round lower chain wheel mounted main driving shaft link moves moves forward tooth motion gear ring component time following motion heavens addition motion gear rings upper drive wheel teeth mathematical precision carefully calculated measured units day division gears having teeth ensured division day measurements minutes seconds sphere volume drawing displays drawing sphere depicted 11th century treatise complete nests layers rotated rings earlier chinese dynasty created sphere layers multiple aspects astronomical observation sphere compared 13th century monarch islamic era spain chief difference instrument featured arrangement making measurements altitude present arabic tradition sphere duly graduated drawing sphere listing components outer circle horizon circle outer equator circle middle circle circle motion gear ring connecting power drive inner mounted ring hour angle circle sighting tube attached strengthened column transmission shaft supporting columns form dragons cross piece base incorporating water levels south polar pivot north polar transmission text legacy written monograph finalized presented work published widely printed north printing type south printing circulation work widely distributed printed presenting design emperor song constant flow water continuous movements heavens power emperor appealed emperor featured artwork representing vehicles major imperial illustrated later dynasty dynasty scholar held old volume work reproduced newly printed edition took special care avoiding inconsistencies original text later reprinted treatise astronomical china day song compiled records written treatise wade lit technique making astronomical apparatus revolve written treatise longer survives realm modern research late british historian chinese science known china extensive research analysis texts achievements china book series related detailed passages contemporary medieval chinese sources life achievements known day reconstructed model famous drawing garnered attention west 11th century chinese engineering miniature model clock reconstructed display london china reconstructed fifth actual scale worked beijing 1950s
Su Song