The Borugak Jagyeongnu ("Water Clock of Borugak Pavilion"), classified as a scientific instrument, is the 229th National Treasure of South Korea and was designated by the South Korean government on March 3, 1985. The water clock is currently held and managed by the National Palace Museum of Korea in Seoul. It dates to the time of King SeoJong of the Joseon Dynasty.
Water clocks have a long history of use in Korea with the first mention of one in the records of the Samguk Sagi during the Three Kingdoms era. In 1434, during the reign of King Sejong the Great a water clock was made by Jang Yeong-sil which would mark the hour automatically with the sounds of a bell, gong, and drum. That clock, Jagyeokru ("self-striking water clock"), was used to keep the standard of time in the Joseon Dynasty. The clock was not preserved well and so in 1536, King Jungjong ordered the clock remade and improved which was done by Yu Jeon. Today, only three water bowls and two cylindrical water containers survive from the 1434 version of the clock, and no records mentioning its existence. Extensive records of 1536 version remain, and it is believed that the two clocks were very similar. In its current configuration the large bronze cylindrical water containers are 93.5 centimeters in diameter and 70 centimeters in height. The smaller ceramic vessels are 46.0 centimeters and 40.5 centimeters in height. The two bases for the ceramic vessels still survived in the Myeongjeonjeon Hall of Changgyeonggung Palace. A third version of the clock was built in 2007.[1]
The water clock worked by having water poured into the largest bronze vessel which flowed into the smaller vessels which then flowed into the long water tanks. When the water level rose to the appropriate level, a floating rod touched a lever device which caused a ball to roll and hit another ball at the other end. The rolling ball would trigger the gong, bell, drum, and even a wooden puppet which marked the hour with a placard.
The clepsydra does not work today because only the water holding vessels have survived. However, it is valuable because of the scientific and cultural information it holds and because there are only few examples of ancient automatic water clocks. It is the oldest and largest surviving clock of its kind.[2]
^. The Korea Times. 2007-11-21. Archived from the original on 2016-10-12. Retrieved 2016-10-12.
^Nam Moon-hyon (2005). . Koreana. 19 (4). Archived from the original on 2016-10-12. Retrieved 2016-10-12.
External links
Cultural Heritage: Water Clock of Borugak Pavilion
A description of the clock
February 11, 2023
borugak, jagyeongnu, water, clock, borugak, pavilion, classified, scientific, instrument, 229th, national, treasure, south, korea, designated, south, korean, government, march, 1985, water, clock, currently, held, managed, national, palace, museum, korea, seou. The Borugak Jagyeongnu Water Clock of Borugak Pavilion classified as a scientific instrument is the 229th National Treasure of South Korea and was designated by the South Korean government on March 3 1985 The water clock is currently held and managed by the National Palace Museum of Korea in Seoul It dates to the time of King SeoJong of the Joseon Dynasty Borugak JagyeongnuKorean nameHangul보루각자격루Hanja報漏閣自擊漏Revised RomanizationBorugak jagyeongnuMcCune ReischauerPorugak chagyŏngnuA model of the water clock Water clocks have a long history of use in Korea with the first mention of one in the records of the Samguk Sagi during the Three Kingdoms era In 1434 during the reign of King Sejong the Great a water clock was made by Jang Yeong sil which would mark the hour automatically with the sounds of a bell gong and drum That clock Jagyeokru self striking water clock was used to keep the standard of time in the Joseon Dynasty The clock was not preserved well and so in 1536 King Jungjong ordered the clock remade and improved which was done by Yu Jeon Today only three water bowls and two cylindrical water containers survive from the 1434 version of the clock and no records mentioning its existence Extensive records of 1536 version remain and it is believed that the two clocks were very similar In its current configuration the large bronze cylindrical water containers are 93 5 centimeters in diameter and 70 centimeters in height The smaller ceramic vessels are 46 0 centimeters and 40 5 centimeters in height The two bases for the ceramic vessels still survived in the Myeongjeonjeon Hall of Changgyeonggung Palace A third version of the clock was built in 2007 1 The water clock worked by having water poured into the largest bronze vessel which flowed into the smaller vessels which then flowed into the long water tanks When the water level rose to the appropriate level a floating rod touched a lever device which caused a ball to roll and hit another ball at the other end The rolling ball would trigger the gong bell drum and even a wooden puppet which marked the hour with a placard The clepsydra does not work today because only the water holding vessels have survived However it is valuable because of the scientific and cultural information it holds and because there are only few examples of ancient automatic water clocks It is the oldest and largest surviving clock of its kind 2 See also EditJang Yeong sil Water clock National treasures of South Korea National treasures of North KoreaReferences Edit Ancient Water Clock Recreated The Korea Times 2007 11 21 Archived from the original on 2016 10 12 Retrieved 2016 10 12 Nam Moon hyon 2005 Angbuilgwi and Jagyeongnu Innovative Time keepers of the Joseon Dynasty Koreana 19 4 Archived from the original on 2016 10 12 Retrieved 2016 10 12 External links EditCultural Heritage Water Clock of Borugak Pavilion A description of the clock Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Borugak Jagyeongnu amp oldid 966166368, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
