Reconstruction designs of lost ancient Chinese machinery (Q936175)

Always based on original sources, with a wealth of illustrations and translations of difficult Chinese classical texts, this outstanding book is particularly original. Of course, the subject in itself is far from novel but such a wide extant of difficult topics belonging to the history of technology has never been covered in such a systematic way and by using a unified methodology. Moreover, the study of ancient machines is done here in a critical way; it begins with an abstract definition of the topic as a well as a mathematical, physical and technological analysis of the notions of mechanisms and of machines aiming at reconstructions of these. Specific examples of reconstructions, such as the seismoscope of Zhang Heng, Su Song's escapement regulator, South pointing chariots and walking machines, are also minutely analysed by taking avail of the methodology introduced in the first part of the book.