South-pointing Chariot中国指南车
China (233AD-237AD)
Have you ever thought about how ancient people distinguished direction before the invention of the compass? Let’s find out together today.
你有想过古人在指南针发明以前，是怎么辨别方向的吗？今天我们一起来看看吧。
The South-pointing chariot is a mechanical device to indicate the direction in ancient China. It is said that the Yellow Emperor invented this chariot. At that time, a tribe leader Chi You, cast heavy fog, then the warriors lost their way. Therefore Yellow Emperor made it to show the direction and finally won the battle.
指南车是中国古代用来指示方向的一种机械装置。相传是由轩辕黄帝所发明，当时黄帝大战蚩尤，蚩尤施放大雾试图让黄帝的军队迷失方向，但黄帝制造了指南车来辨别方向，从而赢得了胜利。
The South-pointing chariot is structured with a single shaft and double wheels. Unlike the geomagnetic effect of the compass, it uses gear transmission to indicate the direction.
指南车的外形为独辕双轮车，与指南针采用的地磁效应不同，它是利用齿轮传动来指明方向的。
the inside of the chariot consists of an attached gears fixed to the wheel, the big flat gear fixed to the wooden figure in the middle, small flat gears that can be moved up and down on both sides, and a rope connecting the shaft end and the small flat gears on both sides. By rotating the shaft and lifting the rope, it could realize the separation and meshing between big and small gear. No matter where the vehicle turns, the wooden figure’s finger always point to the south.
指南车的内部是由固定在车轮上的附足立齿轮、中间与小木人固定在一起的大平轮、两侧可上下平移的小平轮以及连接车辕的辕尾与两侧小平轮的绳索构成。通过车辕的旋转、绳索的提拉，实现小平轮与附足立齿轮、中间大平轮之间的相互啮合与分离，从而使固定在大平轮上方的小木人可以达到“车虽回运而手常指南”的效果。
This automatic clutch device shows remarkable achievement of ancient mechanical technology. Joseph Needham, historian of science and sinologist, named this chariot “the world's first adaptive system”.
指南车的自动离合装置显示了古代机械技术的卓越成就。世界著名科技史学家、汉学家李约瑟称赞它为“世界上第一个自适应系统”。
Have you ever thought about how ancient people distinguished direction before the invention of the compass? Let’s find out together today.
你有想过古人在指南针发明以前，是怎么辨别方向的吗？今天我们一起来看看吧。
The South-pointing chariot is a mechanical device to indicate the direction in ancient China. It is said that the Yellow Emperor invented this chariot. At that time, a tribe leader Chi You, cast heavy fog, then the warriors lost their way. Therefore Yellow Emperor made it to show the direction and finally won the battle.
指南车是中国古代用来指示方向的一种机械装置。相传是由轩辕黄帝所发明，当时黄帝大战蚩尤，蚩尤施放大雾试图让黄帝的军队迷失方向，但黄帝制造了指南车来辨别方向，从而赢得了胜利。
The South-pointing chariot is structured with a single shaft and double wheels. Unlike the geomagnetic effect of the compass, it uses gear transmission to indicate the direction.
指南车的外形为独辕双轮车，与指南针采用的地磁效应不同，它是利用齿轮传动来指明方向的。
the inside of the chariot consists of an attached gears fixed to the wheel, the big flat gear fixed to the wooden figure in the middle, small flat gears that can be moved up and down on both sides, and a rope connecting the shaft end and the small flat gears on both sides. By rotating the shaft and lifting the rope, it could realize the separation and meshing between big and small gear. No matter where the vehicle turns, the wooden figure’s finger always point to the south.
指南车的内部是由固定在车轮上的附足立齿轮、中间与小木人固定在一起的大平轮、两侧可上下平移的小平轮以及连接车辕的辕尾与两侧小平轮的绳索构成。通过车辕的旋转、绳索的提拉，实现小平轮与附足立齿轮、中间大平轮之间的相互啮合与分离，从而使固定在大平轮上方的小木人可以达到“车虽回运而手常指南”的效果。
This automatic clutch device shows remarkable achievement of ancient mechanical technology. Joseph Needham, historian of science and sinologist, named this chariot “the world's first adaptive system”.
指南车的自动离合装置显示了古代机械技术的卓越成就。世界著名科技史学家、汉学家李约瑟称赞它为“世界上第一个自适应系统”。
