• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.171-182
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• 2017

In this study, the internal structure of a Heumgyeonggak-nu (欽敬閣漏) was designed, and the power transmission mechanism was analyzed. Heumgyeonggak-nu is an automated water clock from the Joseon Dynasty that was installed within Heumgyeonggak (欽敬閣), and it was manufactured in the $20^{th}$ year of the reign of King Sejong (1438). As descriptions of Heumgyeonggak-nu in ancient literature have mostly focused on its external shape, the study of its internal mechanism has been difficult. A detailed analysis of the literature record on Heumgyeonggak-nu (e.g., The Annals of the Joseon Dynasty) indicates that Heumgyeonggak-nu had a three-stage water clock, included a waterfall or tilting vessel (欹器) using the overflowed water, and displayed the time using a ball. In this study, the Cheonhyeong apparatus, water wheel, scoop, and various mechanism wheels were designed so that 16 fixed-type scoops could operate at a constant speed for the water wheel with a diameter of 100 cm. As the scoop can contain 1.25 l of water and the water wheel rotates 61 times a day, a total of 1,220 l of water is required. Also, the power gear wheel was designed as a 366-tooth gear, which supported the operation of the time signal gear wheel. To implement the movement of stars on the celestial sphere, the rotation ratio of the celestial gear wheel to the diurnal motion gear ring was set to 366:365. In addition, to operate the sun movement apparatus on the ecliptic, a gear device was installed on the South Pole axis. It is expected that the results of this study can be used for the manufacture and restoration of the operation model of Heumgyeonggak-nu.

• Publications of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.31-40
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• 2019

We study the internal structure under the artificial mountain of Heumkyeonggak-nu, a Korean water-powered clock in the early Joseon dynasty. All the puppets on the artificial mountain are driven by the rotational force generated by the water wheel at their designated time. We design a model that work with three parts of the artificial mountain. At the upper part of the artificial mountain to the east, west, north and south, there are four puppets called the Four Mystical Animal Divinity and four ladies called the Jade Lady respectively. The former rotates a quarter every double hour and the latter rings the bell every hour. In the middle part of this mountain is the timekeeping platform with four puppets; the Timekeeping Official (Hour Jack), the Bell-, Drum-, and Gong-Warriors. The Hour Jack controls time with three warriors each hitting his own bell, drum, and gong, respectively. In the plain there are 12 Jade Lady puppets (the lower ladies) combined with 12 Oriental Animal Deity puppets. In his own time a lady doll pops out of the hole and her animal doll gets up. Two hours later, the animal deity lies down and his lady hides in the artificial plain. These puppets are regularly moved by the signal such as iron balls, bumps, levers, and so on. We can use balls and bumps to explain the concept of the Jujeon system. Iron balls were used to manipulate puppets of the timekeeping mechanism in Borugak-nu, another Korean water-powered clock in Joseon dynasty, which was developed earlier than Heumgyeonggak-nu. According to the North Korea's previous study (Choi, 1974), it is obvious that bumps were used in the internal structure of Heumgyeonggak-nu. In 1669, The armillary clock made by Song, I-young was also utilized bumps. Finally we presented mock-ups of three timekeeping systems.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.69.2-69.2
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• 2017

우리는 2016년 6월부터 세종시대 흠경각루 복원 프로젝트(사업명: 장영실 자동물시계 옥루의 전시융합콘텐츠 개발 및 활용 연구, 한국연구재단)를 진행하고 있다. 흠경각루는 세종대에 장영실이 제작한 보루각루의 제작(1434년)이후 4년여 만에 새롭게 제작(1438년)한 또 다른 자동물시계이다. 총 3년간의 연구를 통해 세종시대의 흠경각루('옥루'로도 부름)에 대한 상세 설계도면의 작성, 프로토타입(prototype) 제작, 전시융합콘텐츠와 과학교재 개발을 진행하게 된다. 현재 1차 년도 연구사업을 통해 내부구성에 따른 동력시스템에 대한 설계와 제작이 진행되었다. 물시계로부터 공급된 물이 수차를 움직이게 하고 회전 기륜을 작동시켜 각 층의 시보인형이 작동하는 동력을 발생시킨다. 가장 위층의 천륜은 혼천의를 구동시켜 태양의 일주운동 및 연주운동을 재현하여 보여주도록 했다. 향후 2차 년도의 연구를 통해 세부 시보인형에 대한 작동메커니즘을 실시설계하고, 흠경각루 외형에 해당되는 가산을 디자인하는 일들이 진행될 예정이다. 이 연구의 최종 단계에서는 흠경각루의 복원 모델을 제시하게 되며, 전시를 통한 체험 활동과 영상콘텐츠가 접목된 천문시계 전시물로 활용될 예정이다.