Zhang's name in Traditional (top) and Simplified (bottom) Chinese characters
Traditional Chinese
張衡
Simplified Chinese
张衡
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu Pinyin
Zhāng Héng
Wade–Giles
Chang1 Hêng2
IPA
[ʈʂáŋ xə̌ŋ]
Wu
Suzhounese
Tsãn Ghén
Yue: Cantonese
Yale Romanization
Chēung Hàhng
Jyutping
Zoeng1 Hang4
IPA
[tsœːŋ˥ hɐŋ˩]
Southern Min
Hokkien POJ
Tiong Hîng
Middle Chinese
Middle Chinese
ʈjanghæng
Old Chinese
Baxter–Sagart (2014)
*C.tranggˤrang
Zhang Heng (Chinese: 張衡; AD 78–139), formerly romanized Chang Heng, was a Chinese polymathic scientist and statesman who lived during the Han dynasty. Educated in the capital cities of Luoyang and Chang'an, he achieved success as an astronomer, mathematician, seismologist, hydraulic engineer, inventor, geographer, cartographer, ethnographer, artist, poet, philosopher, politician, and literary scholar.
Zhang Heng began his career as a minor civil servant in Nanyang. Eventually, he became Chief Astronomer, Prefect of the Majors for Official Carriages, and then Palace Attendant at the imperial court. His uncompromising stance on historical and calendrical issues led to his becoming a controversial figure, preventing him from rising to the status of Grand Historian. His political rivalry with the palace eunuchs during the reign of Emperor Shun (r. 125–144) led to his decision to retire from the central court to serve as an administrator of Hejian Kingdom in present-day Hebei. Zhang returned home to Nanyang for a short time, before being recalled to serve in the capital once more in 138. He died there a year later, in 139.
Zhang applied his extensive knowledge of mechanics and gears in several of his inventions. He invented the world's first water-powered armillary sphere to assist astronomical observation;[1] improved the inflow water clock by adding another tank;[2] and invented the world's first seismoscope, which discerned the cardinal direction of an earthquake 500 km (310 mi) away.[1][3][4] He improved previous Chinese calculations for pi. In addition to documenting about 2,500 stars in his extensive star catalog, Zhang also posited theories about the Moon and its relationship to the Sun: specifically, he discussed the Moon's sphericity, its illumination by reflected sunlight on one side and the hidden nature of the other, and the nature of solar and lunar eclipses. His fu (rhapsody) and shi poetry were renowned in his time and studied and analyzed by later Chinese writers. Zhang received many posthumous honors for his scholarship and ingenuity; some modern scholars have compared his work in astronomy to that of the Greco-Roman Ptolemy (AD 86–161).
^ abNeedham (1986), Volume 4, Part 2, 30.
^Needham (1986), Volume 4, Part 2, 479 footnote e.
ZhangHeng (Chinese: 張衡; AD 78–139), formerly romanized Chang Heng, was a Chinese polymathic scientist and statesman who lived during the Han dynasty....
water clock, waterwheel, and a series of gears, the Court Astronomer ZhangHeng (78–139 AD) was able to mechanically rotate his metal-ringed armillary...
the flat Earth to the heavens: In a passage of ZhangHeng's cosmogony not translated by Needham, Zhang himself says: "Heaven takes its body from the Yang...
engineer Ma Jun is considered by many to be the equal of his predecessor ZhangHeng. He invented a hydraulic-powered, mechanical puppet theatre designed for...
warlords included Hou Xuan (侯選), Cheng Yin (程銀), Yang Qiu, Li Kan (李堪), ZhangHeng (張橫), Liang Xing (梁興), Cheng Yi (成宜), and Ma Wan (馬玩). The coalition comprised...
who could stay under water for long periods of time. Zhang Shun and his elder brother ZhangHeng live at Jieyang Ridge (揭陽嶺; believed to be in present-day...
90 constellations. The Eastern Han era polymath scientist and inventor ZhangHeng (78–139 CE) published a star catalogue in 120 CE that features 124 recorded...
mechanical engineers, such as the statesman and master of gear systems ZhangHeng (78–139) of the Han dynasty, the mechanical engineer Ma Jun (200–265)...
CSES (China Seismo-Electromagnetic Satellite), or Zhangheng, is a Chinese–Italian space mission dedicated to monitoring electromagnetic field and waves...
ecliptic ring by 84 AD. With the famous statesman, astronomer, and inventor ZhangHeng (張衡, 78–139 AD), the sphere was totally complete in 125 AD, with horizon...
Astronomical Bureau. Zhang Sixun, although innovative, built upon the efforts of those before him. It was polymathic scientist and engineer ZhangHeng (78–139 AD)...
of China invents paper. 125: ZhangHeng of China invents the world's first water-powered armillary sphere. 132: ZhangHeng of China invents first seismometer...
seismometer was made in China during the 2nd century. It was invented by ZhangHeng, a Chinese mathematician and astronomer. The first Western description...
sphere permanently mounted in equatorial axis from 52 BCE. In 125 CE ZhangHeng used water power to rotate the sphere in real time. This included rings...
scientific thinking in his day. Similar to Han dynasty polymath contemporary ZhangHeng (78–139) and Chinese scholars before him, Wang discussed theories about...
inventor ZhangHeng (78–139), and could be found in later Chinese clockworks such as the clock towers developed by the military engineer Zhang Sixun (fl...
Ao (6th century BC), Ximen Bao (5th century BC), Du Shi (circa 31 AD), ZhangHeng (78 – 139 AD), and Ma Jun (200 – 265 AD), while medieval China had Su...
century BC), it was ZhangHeng who was the first to make a concerted effort at creating a more accurate formula for pi. ZhangHeng approximated pi as 730/232...
phenomena began with the Han Dynasty polymath ZhangHeng (78–139) in 117, who also employed a waterwheel. ZhangHeng was the first in China to add an extra compensating...
of Miletus (c. 550 BCE), Aristotle (c. 340 BCE), and ZhangHeng (132 CE). In 132 CE, ZhangHeng of China's Han dynasty designed the first known seismoscope...
ancient China, possibly by the prolific inventor and early scientist ZhangHeng (78 AD – 139 AD) of the Han dynasty. By the 3rd century (during the Three...
undermine Li Heng, but with Gao Lishi and Zhang Shuo's son Zhang Ji (張垍), who had married Li Heng's sister Princess Ningqing, protecting Li Heng, Li Heng escaped...
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