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Song dynasty water clocks

Type Object Region China Time c. 960–1279

Song dynasty clepsydra (water clock) systems for timekeeping, maintained by the Bureau of Astronomy and others, using multi-stage float arrows to cal…

Timeline

  1. c. 960–1050Bureau of Astronomy, Kaifeng imperial city · KaifengAfter the Northern Song established its capital at Kaifeng, the Bureau of Astronomy maintained multi-stage clepsydras and time-announcing systems, making water clocks the standard timekeeping device of the court and city.
  2. 1051–1060Kaifeng · KaifengIn the 1050s, the Northern Song continued using clepsydras to calibrate solar terms and court audience times; water clock readings together with astronomical observation records served calendar compilation.

Sources