Ep. 343 | The History of Clocks and Timekeeping in China
This is an old topic I thought I'd present now to coincide with the recent release of the interview with the curators of "Clockwork Treasures From China's Forbidden City. Usually, I release new shows on Sundays at 5 AM L.A. Time. Since I'll be launching the first episode of Season 9 of the Chinese Sayings Podcast this Sunday, I figured I'd release this one Thursday, fresh on the heels of the interview.
This is a quick and easy episode that traces the beginnings of timekeeping in China and will survey a few of the most notable horologists from Chinese history from the Han to the Qing Dynasties. The achievements of Zhang Heng, Yi Xing, Zhang Sixun, Su Song, and Zhan Xiyuan will be examined. Then we'll finish off with the arrival of the Jesuits and the zimingzhong 自鸣钟 clocks they brought with them.
Thanks a bunch for listening. Below are stills of some of the pieces on display at the Clockwork Treasures from China’s Forbidden City exhibit at the London Science Museum.
![13. 铜镀金仙鹤驮亭式表 Zimingzhong with parts from China and Britain © The Palace Museum.jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fe269ae0da18965edaec1f9/1708196167096-VE5167SUT58Y0F3LYR30/13.+%E9%93%9C%E9%95%80%E9%87%91%E4%BB%99%E9%B9%A4%E9%A9%AE%E4%BA%AD%E5%BC%8F%E8%A1%A8+Zimingzhong+with+parts+from+China+and+Britain+%C2%A9+The+Palace+Museum.jpg)
![4. Visitor in Zimingzhong 凝时聚珍 Clockwork Treasures from China’s Forbidden City at the Science Museum © Science Museum Group.jpeg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fe269ae0da18965edaec1f9/1708196130676-1CTC0IENXNV3C4YH0IDW/4.+Visitor+in+Zimingzhong+%E5%87%9D%E6%97%B6%E8%81%9A%E7%8F%8D+Clockwork+Treasures+from+China%E2%80%99s+Forbidden+City+at+the+Science+Museum+%C2%A9+Science+Museum+Group.jpeg)
![3. 铜镀金象驮水法表 Gilt-metal zimingzhong Zimingzhong 凝时聚珍 Clockwork Treasures from China’s Forbidden City at the Science Museum © Science Museum Group.jpeg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fe269ae0da18965edaec1f9/1708196120260-95PG863MKOSEH45CC9BI/3.+%E9%93%9C%E9%95%80%E9%87%91%E8%B1%A1%E9%A9%AE%E6%B0%B4%E6%B3%95%E8%A1%A8+Gilt-metal+zimingzhong+Zimingzhong+%E5%87%9D%E6%97%B6%E8%81%9A%E7%8F%8D+Clockwork+Treasures+from+China%E2%80%99s+Forbidden+City+at+the+Science+Museum+%C2%A9+Science+Museum+Group.jpeg)
![9. 铜镀金嵌料石升降塔钟 Moving Pagoda Zimingzhong © The Palace Museum.jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fe269ae0da18965edaec1f9/1708196142898-YLWVVLCUV9BU1JXY81N3/9.+%E9%93%9C%E9%95%80%E9%87%91%E5%B5%8C%E6%96%99%E7%9F%B3%E5%8D%87%E9%99%8D%E5%A1%94%E9%92%9F+Moving+Pagoda+Zimingzhong+%C2%A9+The+Palace+Museum.jpg)
![10. 铜镀金镶玛瑙座表 Zimingzhong with Armillary Sphere and Original Case © The Palace Museum.jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fe269ae0da18965edaec1f9/1708196150891-EZH7AMLAK41Q7FROISTT/10.+%E9%93%9C%E9%95%80%E9%87%91%E9%95%B6%E7%8E%9B%E7%91%99%E5%BA%A7%E8%A1%A8+Zimingzhong+with+Armillary+Sphere+and+Original+Case+%C2%A9+The+Palace+Museum.jpg)
![11. 铜镀金嵌珐琅转鸭荷花缸钟 Zimingzhong with British and Chinese mechanisms © The Palace Museum.jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fe269ae0da18965edaec1f9/1708196158239-RAOZKTJF2QD0W24YFDO7/11.+%E9%93%9C%E9%95%80%E9%87%91%E5%B5%8C%E7%8F%90%E7%90%85%E8%BD%AC%E9%B8%AD%E8%8D%B7%E8%8A%B1%E7%BC%B8%E9%92%9F+Zimingzhong+with+British+and+Chinese+mechanisms+%C2%A9+The+Palace+Museum.jpg)
![12. 铜镀金象驮水法表 Gilt-metal zimingzhong © The Palace Museum.jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fe269ae0da18965edaec1f9/1708196157942-SA3S14SLSLH5AYPXVL9U/12.+%E9%93%9C%E9%95%80%E9%87%91%E8%B1%A1%E9%A9%AE%E6%B0%B4%E6%B3%95%E8%A1%A8+Gilt-metal+zimingzhong+%C2%A9+The+Palace+Museum.jpg)
![14. 铜镀金乐箱上亭式人打钟 Zimingzhong with Turbaned Figure © The Palace Museum.jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fe269ae0da18965edaec1f9/1708196168867-7S79L68A9X5TC4SEYUWA/14.+%E9%93%9C%E9%95%80%E9%87%91%E4%B9%90%E7%AE%B1%E4%B8%8A%E4%BA%AD%E5%BC%8F%E4%BA%BA%E6%89%93%E9%92%9F+Zimingzhong+with+Turbaned+Figure+%C2%A9+The+Palace+Museum.jpg)
![15. 铜镀金乐箱鹧鸪鸟钟 European-style zimingzhong © The Palace Museum.jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fe269ae0da18965edaec1f9/1708196175587-AW9EQVE3JER2GGE4ZQID/15.+%E9%93%9C%E9%95%80%E9%87%91%E4%B9%90%E7%AE%B1%E9%B9%A7%E9%B8%AA%E9%B8%9F%E9%92%9F+European-style+zimingzhong+%C2%A9+The+Palace+Museum.jpg)
![16. 铜镀金圆花盆式跑人嵌料石花表 Zimingzhong in the form of a pot of artificial flowers © The Palace Museum.jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fe269ae0da18965edaec1f9/1708196178003-TMT11RW5DT3TKLDWGMAJ/16.+%E9%93%9C%E9%95%80%E9%87%91%E5%9C%86%E8%8A%B1%E7%9B%86%E5%BC%8F%E8%B7%91%E4%BA%BA%E5%B5%8C%E6%96%99%E7%9F%B3%E8%8A%B1%E8%A1%A8+Zimingzhong+in+the+form+of+a+pot+of+artificial+flowers+%C2%A9+The+Palace+Museum.jpg)
![17. 铜镀金象驮水法塔式音乐钟 Elephant Zimingzhong © The Palace Museum.jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5fe269ae0da18965edaec1f9/1708196181311-KC7QK6CGB2OBKLQZF2UR/17.+%E9%93%9C%E9%95%80%E9%87%91%E8%B1%A1%E9%A9%AE%E6%B0%B4%E6%B3%95%E5%A1%94%E5%BC%8F%E9%9F%B3%E4%B9%90%E9%92%9F+Elephant+Zimingzhong+%C2%A9+The+Palace+Museum.jpg)
I had the great pleasure to interview fellow Earnshaw Books author, Alice Poon recently about her new book “The Earthly Blaze”.