Overview
This book presents an innovative approach for the reconstruction design of lost ancient Chinese machinery. By combining the creative mechanism design methodology with the mechanical evolution and variation theory, all feasible and appropriate designs that are consistent with the science theories and techniques of the subject's time period can be systematically recreated. South pointing chariots, walking machines (the wooden horse carriage and the wooden cow and gliding horse), the seismograph, and the astronomical mechanical clock, are used as illustrated examples. The cultural, scientific, and technological backgrounds of these achievements are explained. Before new literature and/or hardware evidences are found, this work provides a novel direction and a unique tool for studying the lost machinery in ancient China and around the world. Furthermore, after reacquaintance with invaluable ancient wisdom, we anticipate stimulating innovative machinery for our future.
Full Product Details
Author: Hong-Sen Yan
Publisher: Springer-Verlag New York Inc.
Imprint: Springer-Verlag New York Inc.
Edition: 2007 ed.
Volume: 3
Dimensions:
Width: 15.50cm
, Height: 1.80cm
, Length: 23.50cm
Weight: 0.653kg
ISBN: 9781402064593
ISBN 10: 1402064594
Pages: 309
Publication Date: 19 November 2007
Audience:
College/higher education
,
Undergraduate
,
Postgraduate, Research & Scholarly
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active
Availability: Awaiting stock
The supplier is currently out of stock of this item. It will be ordered for you and placed on backorder. Once it does come back in stock, we will ship it out for you.
Reviews
From the reviews: Always based on original sources, with a wealth of illustrations and translations of difficult Chinese classical texts, this outstanding book is particularly original. ... a wide extant of difficult topics belonging to the history of technology has never been covered in such a systematic way and by using a unified methodology. (J.-C. Martzloff, Zentralblatt MATH, Vol. 1181, 2010)
From the reviews: Always based on original sources, with a wealth of illustrations and translations of difficult Chinese classical texts, this outstanding book is particularly original. ! a wide extant of difficult topics belonging to the history of technology has never been covered in such a systematic way and by using a unified methodology. (J.-C. Martzloff, Zentralblatt MATH, Vol. 1181, 2010)
Author Information
Professor Hong-Sen YAN received his BS degree from National Cheng Kung University (Tianan, Taiwan) in 1973, MS degree from the University of Kentucky (Lexington, Kentucky, USA) in 1977, and PhD degree from Purdue University (Lafayette, Indiana, USA) in 1980, all in mechanical engineering. He previously served as a mechanical engineer at China Technical Consultants Co. Ltd. (Taipei), an Associate Professor at National Cheng Kung University (Tainan), a Sr. Research Engineer at General Motor Research Laboratories (Michigan), an Associate Professor at the State University of New York at Stony Book (New York), and the Director-general of the National Science and Technology Museum (Kaohsiung). Currently, he is a Chair Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at National Cheng Kung University (Tainan, TAIWAN) and an Associate Editor of both the International Journal of Mechanism and Machine Theory and ASME Transactions Journal of Mechanical Design. Dr. Yan' s areas of interests are creative mechanism and machine design and ancient Chinese machinery. He has published more than 275 papers, holds 48 patents, and is the author of 3 books. Dr. Yan received many honors and academic awards inside and outside Taiwan, and he has a hobby of collecting ancient Chinese Locks.
