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Copper pot dripping
Mainland timers have a long history, and before the Qing Dynasty, they were always timed with gui watches, sundials, and copper pot drips. At the end of the Ming Dynasty and the beginning of the Qing Dynasty, European mechanical clocks began to spread to the mainland, and it is reported that the first to bring European clocks and technology to China was the Italian Matteo Ricci, who gradually replaced the traditional Chinese timepiece.
A Western clock that pays tribute to the inner court
From the 18th century onwards, the Qing Palace began to use mechanical clocks in large quantities. Most of these clocks and watches are British products, as well as other Western countries such as France and Switzerland, as well as the mainland's own manufacturing.
Clocks and watches in Western countries were mainly purchased from foreign merchants by the Guangdong Customs Supervision and paid tribute to the official court. The fine clocks and watches made in Guangzhou, Suzhou and other places in the Qing Dynasty were also paid into the inner court.
The Qingguan Interior Office has a bell office, that is, it is ordered to manufacture clocks and watches for the use of officials. In addition to the timing function of playing time and engraving, these clocks and watches also use the principle of mechanical linkage to make the play art systems such as characters, birds and animals, and flowers decorated above constantly change and express various actions.
These clocks and watches won the love of the emperors and queens with their accurate timing, exquisite shapes, brilliant colors, beautiful music and auspicious meanings, and became precious furnishings in the palace.
Copper gilded letterer clock explanatory plaque
At that time, British clocks and watches have always been the world's leading in mechanical transmission. The bronze gilded writer's clock is the most representative of them, and it is also the most beloved clock of the Qianlong Emperor. It is said that after Qianlong abdicated, he also deliberately moved this bell to the Ningshou Palace to enjoy and play.
Copper gilded writer's clock
The entire bell is 231 cm high, 77 cm long and 77 cm wide, and is composed of four Western pavilion-style buildings, which are combined from the bottom up.
The lowest pavilion is the largest, and inside there is a robot in a Western dress
The robot kneels on the ground with its right leg, crouches on its left leg, holds a brush in its right hand, and places its left hand on the Western-style coffee table-like case in front of it.
Stroke by stroke, horizontal and vertical, sharp and straight, as if a calligrapher is walking in the pen (video from the Internet)
The handwriting is neat and standardized, and the pen is extremely powerful
After winding, the robot begins to use the time radius as a radius, methodically dipping in ink and writing with a pen. In the process of writing, the robot looks attentive, and the "eyes" go with the pen blade, forming eight Chinese characters in one go: eight directions, nine earth to the king.
Based on the complex cam and lever structure inside, it can be inferred that the writer may be able to write more hymns
Although this bell was made by Westerners, it is amazing that it can write such standardized Chinese characters, and it can also be seen that 18th century China played a pivotal role in the world.
In the pavilion above the writing robot is a two-pin clock
Inside the pavilion stood a bell ringer, and when the time reached 3, 6, 9, and 12 o'clock, the bell ringer began to ring the music.
In the uppermost pavilion, two people unfold a banner of "Long Life Without Boundaries", which is also a pure and standardized Chinese calligraphy
This piece was made by the famous British watchmaker Williamson
The production of this clock is exquisite, the proportion of architecture and people is moderate, although the upper and lower pavilions have different shapes and functions, but in terms of content and form, they have achieved a perfect and harmonious unity, allowing people to appreciate the designer's unique wisdom and excellent creative talent, it can be said that this is a superb masterpiece of art and technology that has reached a perfect state.
Clock House
Eight directions: Neighboring countries are yearning for the civilized and advanced Heavenly Dynasty, Civilization, and Civilization. King of the Nine Lands: All the nations of the world have come to submit to Nagong. Nine, the largest number in Chinese culture, refers to a lot, soil, land, refers to the country. The king (yin forget), the noun is used, making it the meaning of the king, and all the nations of the world come to support him as the king.
(The picture and text originate from the original author of the online copyright)
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