水运仪象台枢轮的两种复原方案探源  

Revisiting the Two Approaches to the Reconstruction of the Driving-wheel in Su Song's Astronomical Clock-tower

作　　者：徐思源 王哲然 XU Siyuan;WANG Zheran(Department of the History of Science,Tsinghua University,Beijing 100084,China)

机构地区：[1]清华大学科学史系,北京100084

出　　处：《中国科技史杂志》2023年第2期264-273,共10页The Chinese Journal for the History of Science and Technology

基　　金：唐仲英基金会“苏颂水运仪象台复原”项目。

摘　　要：枢轮是水运仪象台复原研究中的重点与难点,依受水壶是否可独立于枢轮转动,形成了“翻斗”与“定斗”两种复原方案。经本文考证,康布里奇所提出的“翻斗”方案,既出于精确计时和保证枢轮正常运转的考虑,同时也受到了李约瑟《新仪象法要》错误译文的误导。伯斯塔尔在添加了于文无据的切断凸轮的基础上,复原出可运转的模型,是为最早“定斗”方案的实现者。康布里奇与伯斯塔尔此后就受水壶是否可动等问题产生了一系列争论。对这段水运仪象台早期研究史的分析表明,无论“翻斗”还是“定斗”,皆有不尽如原始文献之处,这为后续研究水运仪象台的现代复原留出了进一步探索的空间。The driving-wheel is one of the most critical and challenging mechanisms in reconstructing Su Song's astronomical clock-tower.Distinguished by whether the scoop could turn independently or not,the two approaches were formed known as“flip-scoop”and“fixed-scoop”.This paper demonstrates that John H.Combridge's conception of“flip-scoop”was not only to meet the necessity for accurate timing and proper motion of the driving-wheel,but also resulted from the misleading of several incorrect translations by Joseph Needham.On the other hand,Aubrey F.Burstall was the first to implement the“fixed-scoop”scheme by reconstructing a functioning model,in which he added an interrupter-cam that was not supported by the text.A series of debates between Combridge and Burstall followed on specific issues,such as the independent motion of the scoops.A review of the early scholarship of Su Song's astronomical clock-tower indicates that the two approaches,the“flip-scoop”and the“fixed-scoop,”were not in conformity with the original text.Accordingly,there are further potential studies for the modern reconstruction of this famous ancient clock-tower.

关 键 词：水运仪象台 枢轮 复原 翻斗 《新仪象法要》 

分 类 号：N092[自然科学总论—科学技术哲学] P111.1[天文地球—天文学]