• 천문학논총
• /
• 제26권3호
• /
• pp.129-140
• /
• 2011

In this paper, we have studied Sogyupyo (小圭表, small noon gnomon) of the Joseon dynasty. According to the Veritable Records of King Sejong (世宗, 1418 - 1450), Daegyupyo (大圭表, large noon gnomon) with a height of 40-feet [尺] was constructed by Jeong, Cho (鄭招) and his colleagues in 1435, and installed around Ganuidae (簡儀臺, platform of Ganui). On the contrary, the details of Sogyupyo are unknown although the shadow length measurements by Daegyupyo and Sogyupyo are found on the Veritable Records of King Myeongjong (明宗, 1545 - 1567). By analysing historical documents and performing experiments, we have investigated the construction details of Sogyupyo including its development year, manufacturer, and installation spot. We have found that Sogyupyo would be manufactured by King Sejong in 1440 and placed around Ganuidae. And Sogyupyo would be five times smaller than Daegyupyo, i.e., 8-feet. On the basis of experiments, we suggest that although it is smaller, Sogyupyo was equipped with a bar [橫梁] and a pin-hole projector [影符] like Daegyupyo in order to produce the observation precision presented in the Veritable Record of King Myeongjong.

• 천문학논총
• /
• 제27권2호
• /
• pp.29-37
• /
• 2012

In this paper, we study the structure of the Daegyupyo (大圭表, Large Gnomon) of the early Joseon dynasty. A Gyupyo (圭表, Gnomon that is Guibiao as pronounced in Chinese) is composed of a Pyo (表, Biao as pronounced in Chinese) making a shadow and a Gyu (圭, Gui as pronounced in Chinese) measuring its length. It is known that the Daegyupyo with the 40-feet height was constructed between the sixteenth to seventeenth year of the King Sejong reign (1444 - 1445) on the basis of the record of Yuanshi (元史, the History of the Yuan Dynasty). By analyzing historical documents such as Joseonwangjosillok (朝鮮王朝實錄, the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty), Yuanshi, and Jegaryeoksangjip (諸家曆象集, a work written by Sunji Lee), we found a possibility that the Ji (池, a pond) on the Gyu was located in the north side of the Pyo. This structure is different from that in previous studies, but is in a good agreement with that of the 40-feet Guibiao remaining in Dengfeng (登封) of China. Regarding to the Hoengyang (橫梁, cross-bar), we suggest that it was set up by double 5-feet supporting arms apart from the north tip of the Pyo in the radial direction. The 3:4:5 ratio in a rectangular triangle was used to place the Heongyang on the top of the Pyo at a distance of 4-feet (3-feet) in the vertical (horizontal) direction. We also discuss the structural problem when the Hoengyang is positioned apart from the top of the Pyo by supporting arms. In conclusion, we think that this study should be useful in restoring the Daegyupyo of the Joseon dynasty.