244 D. J. Macgowan on Chinese Horology. 
the clepsydra in palaces and public places, struck bells or drums 
every kih, but at this period a clock was constructed, consisting 
of four vessels, with machinery which caused a drum to be struck 
by day, and a bell by night, to indicate the hours and watches. 
No description of the works of this interesting invention can be 
found. It is possible, however, that the Saracens may have an- 
ticipated them in this invention of water-clocks. 
In the history of the Tong dynasty (620—907) it. is stated 
that in the Fahlin country, (which in this instance doubtless 
means Persia, though the best living authority amongst the Chi- 
nese makes it Judea,) there is a clepsydra on a terrace near the 
palace, formed of a balance which contained twelve metal or 
gold balls, one of which fell every hour on a bell, and thus struck 
the hours correctly. It is not improbable that this instrument is 
identical with the celebrated one which the king of Persia sent 
in 807 to Charlemagne. rat ween ee : ! 
In 980 an astronomer named Tsiang, made. an improvement 
on all former instruments, and which, considering the period, was 
a remarkable specimen of art. The machine, which was ina 
sort of miniature terrace, was ten feet high, divided into three 
stories, the works being in the middle. ‘Twelve images of men, 
one for every hour, appeared in turn. before an opening in the 
terrace. Another set of automata struck the twelve lveurs and 
the &th or eighths of such hours. These figures occupied the 
lower story. . The upper was devoted to astronomy, where there 
was an orrery in motion, which it-is obvious must have rendered 
complex machinery necessary. We are only told that. it had 
oblique, perpendicular, and horizontal wheels, and. that it was 
kept in motion by falling water, : Sa 
_As the Saracens had reached China by sea, at the close of the 
eighth century, and. by land at an earlier period, some assistance 
may have been derived from them in the construction of this 
instrument, but I am disposed to consider it wholly Chinese. 
Beckman, after much learned research, ascribes the invention of 
clocks to the Saracens, and the first appearance of these instru- 
ments in E to the eleventh century. ‘ 
description, also constructed about this period. One, which like 
the last, united an otrery and clepsydra, was formed in one part like 
a water lily, whilst in another were images of a dragon, a gels 
