China Had Clockwork in 1088 AD

Added: 2026-06-02

In 1092 AD, Chinese engineer Su Song constructed a 12-meter tall astronomical clock in Kaifeng, featuring a water-powered mechanism with 36 scoops, a rotating armillary sphere for star tracking, and 133 mechanical figures that announced time through bells and gongs. The clock's most significant innovation was its chain-driven escapement mechanism, which controlled the release of energy in a regulated manner. This technology, which would not appear in European clocks for another 300 years, demonstrates that China developed sophisticated mechanical clockwork centuries before Europe, representing a major advancement in horological engineering.