How do you replicate an ancient item that has been no surviving remnants or illustrations to work from? Historical descriptions and texts have given clues to replicate an ancient seismoscope invented by Zhang Heng.
Zhang Heng lived in China during the Han dynasty, and history remembers him as a scholar in many fields. He dabbled in astronomy, mathematics, science, engineering, cartography and poetry, among other fields of study and artistic pursuits. He served as a government official for much of his adult life, and was invited to the imperial court in his mid-30s by Emperor An in honor of his skills as a mathematician.
He worked on calculating pi, mapped stars, and in tandem with his academic career, was an inventor. He improved the accuracy of inflow clepsydra -- a type of water clock that measures time by the flow of liquid -- and is credited with creating the first water-powered armillary sphere (a dynamic model that illustrates the movement of celestial objects). But Zhang Heng is most famed for inventing the world's first seismoscope.
In 2005, a group of seismologists and archaeologists from the Chinese Academy of Sciences announced they had created a proven, functioning replica. Read more about Zhang Heng and his invention at Engadget.
Image Credit: [State Post Bureau of the People's Republic of China via Wikimedia Commons](http://jeff560.tripod.com/stamps.html, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2561547)
Replica of an ancient Chinese Seismoscope.
Image Credit: Kowloonese via Wikimedia Commons
Comments (2)
Oh, and do coconuts migrate? ;)
How does that make you feel?
Thanks! Love your site!!
And what's your favorite husband-of-Jen-posted-this wreckport on Cake Wrecks? Obviously you are the Queen and therefore the best, but he's done some pretty awesome stuff in his own right, yes?
cc: Neatorama
Subject: Oh God, oh God I really want a free book.
Dear Jen,
Do you ever think about the fact that there is a chance inspired people who would have, otherwise, not thought twice about decorating a cake to do just that?
Speaking for myself, seeing professional bakers awkwardly stumble through certain cake requests gives me the confidence that hey, I could do no worse! I might could even do better!
Hypothetically, one of your followers could challenge themselves and then become cake bakers and decorators themselves. Like, good ones, too!
Do you ever imagine that they'll be a message from someone one day saying, "Hey, I've followed you for quite a while now. I was amused, horrified, disgusted, and satiated by your blog. I thought you'd like to know that I recently opened my own decorating business. It's going really well. Thanks for inspiring me,"?
You make the one definite smile of the day. Thanks.
Sincerely,
Green
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Date: 2009-09-22, 12:10AM EDT
Reply to: sale-tnyjx-1386277033@craigslist.org [Errors when replying to ads?]
Hello,
Go check out this person's website. Her portfolio has some possibilities don't you think?
On Craig's List:
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LOVE!
(Love, love, love your blog!)
Let's see... There seem to be a lot of amateurish and poorly-done cakes. Do you think most cake wrecks go unreported? Do people just try to forget about them, or do they always remember that one really bad cake?
Have you ever "Wrecked" a cake, and if so, do you have a funny story and please please please, a picture of it?!