Chinese Astronomical Instruments: Armillary Spheres

Ancient Chinese astronomical instruments represent some of the most sophisticated astronomical technology in the pre-modern world. Chinese astronomers, working from imperial observatories, developed instruments for measuring the positions of celestial bodies, tracking time, and predicting celestial events — achievements that influenced astronomy worldwide.

The Armillary Sphere

The armillary sphere (浑天仪, huntian yi) — a set of concentric rings representing the celestial spheres — was developed during the Han Dynasty and refined over subsequent centuries. The astronomer Zhang Heng (张衡, 78–139 CE) created an improved version that could accurately predict celestial positions.

The Water Clock

Chinese astronomers used water clocks (漏刻, louke) to measure time accurately. The most sophisticated was the astronomical clock tower (水运仪象台) built by Su Song (苏颂) in 1088 CE. This 12-meter tower combined a water-driven mechanism with an armillary sphere and a celestial globe — the most complex mechanical device in the world at the time.