Japanese clock with zodiac and elements

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Japanese clock
Manufacturer	(unknown)
Production years	19th century
Production location	Japan

This striking clock, probably made about the middle of the 19th century, indicates the time on the old Japanese system in which the periods of the day-light and darkness are each divided into six intervals. It is similar in general to the adjacent clock, but is controlled by a balance-wheel and spring instead of by a pendulum.

[edit] How it works

Two small square apertures above the dial show characters which, when combined, indicate the day of the sexagenery period, a system of reckoning which, according to Hoffmann’s Japanese Grammar, was introduced into Japan from China in A.D. 602 and was employed for counting months and days as well as years. At the back of the dial plate there are two wheels with 12 and 10 teeth respectively; the former, on the left, is marked with 12 characters representing the signs of the zodiac and the other with 10 characters representing the five elements, wood, fire, earth, metal and water, each taken in two forms. These wheels are advanced one tooth each day by means of a pin mounted on the back of the rotating dial, and the period of 60 days, showing 60 different combinations, is completed when one wheel makes five and the other six rotations. As the original hand was missing the one shown was added in the Museum.

[edit] Memories

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[edit] In the Science Museum's Records

Inv. No: 1930-190