Zhang Sixun (simplified Chinese: 张思训; traditional Chinese: 張思訓; pinyin: Zhāng Sīxùn; Wade–Giles: Chang Ssu-hsün, fl. 10th century) was a Chinese astronomer and mechanical engineer from Bazhong, Sichuan during the early Song dynasty (960–1279 AD).[1] He is credited with creating an armillary sphere for his astronomical clock tower that employed the use of liquid mercury (dripped periodically from a clepsydra clock).[2] The liquid mercury filled scoops of the waterwheel would rotate and thus provide the effect of an escapement mechanism in clockworks and allow the astronomical armillary sphere to rotate as needed.[2]
ZhangSixun (simplified Chinese: 张思训; traditional Chinese: 張思訓; pinyin: ZhāngSīxùn; Wade–Giles: Chang Ssu-hsün, fl. 10th century) was a Chinese astronomer...
later Chinese inventors such as Yi Xing, ZhangSixun, Su Song, and Guo Shoujing. Su Song directly named Zhang's water-powered armillary sphere as the inspiration...
Buddhist monk and inventor Yi Xing (683–727). The Chinese engineers ZhangSixun and Su Song integrated striking clock mechanisms in astronomical clocks...
Province) is founded, which becomes one of the renowned academies (Shūyuàn). ZhangSixun, a Chinese astronomer and engineer, employs the use of liquid mercury...
characters each. Hops first mentioned in connection with beer brewing. ZhangSixun of China uses for the first time liquid mercury (element) instead of...
like the astronomical clock tower designed and built by the engineer ZhangSixun. The Song court maintained diplomatic relations with Chola India, the...
to apply liquid mercury for motive power of an armillary sphere was ZhangSixun in 979 AD (because mercury would not freeze during winter). During his...
Yi Xing (683–727), Chinese Buddhist and engineer, astronomical clock. ZhangSixun (10th century AD), Chinese engineer, clepsydra with water wheel. Su Song...
problem that was solved in 976 by the Chinese astronomer and engineer ZhangSixun. His invention—a considerable improvement on Yi Xing's clock—used mercury...
of Zhang Heng (78–139 AD), an earlier Chinese scientist. Su Song was also strongly influenced by the earlier armillary sphere created by ZhangSixun (976...
world's first clockwork escapement. Song dynasty (960–1279) horologists ZhangSixun (fl. late 10th century) and Su Song (1020–1101) duly applied escapement...
Inventors Bi Sheng (972–1051) ZhangSixun (fl. 10th c.) Jia Xian (1010–1070) Su Song (1020–1101) Shen Kuo (1031–1095) Song Ci (1186–1249) Li Ye (1192-1279)...
include the Three Kingdoms writer Chen Shou, Song dynasty astronomer ZhangSixun, and Ming and Qing dynasty philosopher and educator Tang Zhen. Dazhou...
inventor Zhang Heng (78–139), and could be found in later Chinese clockworks such as the clock towers developed by the military engineer ZhangSixun (fl....
planets and stars could be duplicated. In 976, the Song dynasty astronomer ZhangSixun addressed the problem of the water in clepsydrae freezing in cold weather...
celestial globe and striking clock. The early Song dynasty horologist ZhangSixun (fl. late 10th century) employed liquid mercury in his astronomical clock...
Province) is founded, which becomes one of the renowned academies (Shūyuàn). ZhangSixun, a Chinese astronomer and engineer, employs the use of liquid mercury...
technology. He employed the Imperial Workshop to support such projects as ZhangSixun's hydraulic-powered armillary sphere (for astronomical observation and...
as seen in paintings such as “Jiangfan Pavilion Picture” 《江帆楼阁图》 by Li Sixun 李思训. Moreover, these jiehua paintings such as the “Jiangfan Pavilion Picture”...
(殿中侍御史); an imperial chronicler with the title Qiju Sheren (起居舍人); and Sixun Yuanwailang (司勛員外郎), a low-level official at the ministry of civil service...
In 722, he became Sixun Yuanwailang (司勳員外郎), a low level official at the ministry of civil service affairs. At that time, Zhang Yue was a chancellor...
a single day. It is sometimes added that his technique was foiled by Li Sixun, who accompanied him and followed the traditional practice of working slowly...
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