Science, Medicine & Engineering
Landmark
Zhang Heng
78 β 139
Han astronomer who built the first seismoscope
Landmark is level 2 of 4 in the China Hall of Fame: a first that opened a door, or the pre-eminent figure of their generation in this country. See how the levels work.
Why they are here
A Han dynasty astronomer, mathematician and inventor who built a water-powered armillary sphere and the first known instrument for detecting earthquakes.
Zhang Heng served as chief astronomer at the Han court. His seismoscope of AD 132, a bronze vessel with dragons and toads, is said to have detected a distant earthquake before news of it reached the capital.
He also catalogued stars, improved calculations of pi and was an accomplished poet. A lunar crater and an asteroid are named after him.
He also catalogued stars, improved calculations of pi and was an accomplished poet. A lunar crater and an asteroid are named after him.
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