ancient Chinese sundial; gnomon
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesnoun
ancient Chinese astronomical instrument consisting of a horizontal measuring scale (gui) and vertical gnomons (biao) used to measure solar shadows and determine solar terms and the length of a year
archaicDates back to the Zhou Dynasty and was crucial for creating the traditional Chinese calendar. The gui (ruler) measures the shadow cast by the biao (pole).
Guī圭
biǎo表
shì是
Zhōng中
guó国
gǔ古
dài代
zuì最
zhòng重
yào要
de的
tiān天
wén文
yí仪
qì器
zhī之
yī一
。
The guibiao is one of the most important astronomical instruments in ancient China.
Gǔ古
rén人
lì利
yòng用
guī圭
biǎo表
cè测
liáng量
rì日
yǐng影
de的
cháng长
dù度
lái来
què确
dìng定
jié节
qì气
。
Ancient people used the guibiao to measure the length of shadows to determine solar terms.
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Hé河
nán南
Dēng登
fēng封
de的
guān观
xīng星
tái台
shàng上
zhì至
jīn今
hái还
bǎo保
cún存
zhe着
Yuán元
dài代
jiàn建
zào造
de的
guī圭
biǎo表
。
The guibiao built during the Yuan Dynasty is still preserved at the Dengfeng Observatory in Henan.