• Publications of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.17-23
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• 2013

Song I-Yeong (1619 ~ 1692), who was an astronomy professor of Gwansanggam (觀象監, Bureau of Astronomy), created the Honcheonsigye (渾天時計, Armillary Clock) in 1669 (10th year of King Hyeonjong Era). Honcheonsigye was a unique astronomical clock which combined an armillary sphere, the traditional astronomical instrument of the Far East, with the power mechanism of western alarm clock. The clock part of this armillary clock is composed of two major parts which are the going-train, power unit used the weight, and the time signal system in a wooden case. The time signal system is composed of four parts which are the time-annunciator, the striking train, the 12 different time-announcing medallions and the sound bell. This clock has been neglected for many years and its several components have been lost. This study is to understand the structure of time signal system and suggests the restoration process.

• Publications of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.49-65
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• 2019

We investigate the provenance and the changes in the timekeeping system focusing on official records such as almanacs and textbooks published by the government after the solar calendar was introduced. We found that the solar calendar and the 12-hour clock time first appeared in 1884 during Joseon dynasty, at that time the solar calendar was used at the open port in Busan to facilitate the exchanges with Japan. The 12-hour clock time first appeared in the 『Hansung Sunbo』 published by the government in 1884. We also found that the Joseon dynasty also used 12 diǎnzhōng or 12 diǎn. In addition, the term of the 'Sigan' first appeared in the first official academic textbook in August 1895, and the chapter related to time contained the information about 12-hour clock time instead of the 12 Shi. In 1908, the meaning of the solar time, the equation of time, and the differences in longitude with the adoption of Korean Standard Time were introduced. Meanwhile, the 24-hour clock time was first introduced in Joseon and applied to railway times in 1907. The 1946 almanac, the first issue after liberation, used the 12-hour clock time which uses 'Sango', 'Hao' and the 24-hour clock time started to be used from the following year and is still used to this day. Finally, the 12-hour clock time, which was introduced around 1884, was enacted as Article 44 of the law in 1900 and was revised again in 1905 and 1908. In Korea, the terms related to the time in the current astronomical calendar system were newly defined around 1884, 1896, and 1908, and gradually standardized through the establishment of laws.

• Publications of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.43-57
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• 2020

Hong, Dae-Yong manufactured the Tongcheon-ui (Pan-celestial Armillary Sphere) with cooperating clock researcher Na, Kyeong-Jeok, and its craftsman An, Cheo-In, in Naju of Jeolla Province in 1760 ~ 1762. Tongcheon-ui is a kind of astronomical clock with an armillary sphere which is rotated by the force generated by a lantern clock's weight. In our study, we examine the lantern clock model of Tongcheon-ui through its description of the articles written by Hong himself. As his description, however, did not explain the detail of the mechanical process of the lantern clock, we investigate the remains of lantern clocks in the possession of Korea University Museum and Seoul National University Museum. Comparing with the clocks of these museums, we designed the lantern clock model of Tongcheon-ui which measures 115 mm (L) × 115 mm (W) × 307 mm (H). This model has used the structure of the striking train imitated from the Korea University Museum artifact and is also regulated by a foliot escapement which is connected to a going train for timekeeping. The orientation of the rotation of the going train and the striking train of our model makes a difference with the remains of both university museums. That is, on the rotation axis of the first gear set of Tongcheon-ui's lantern clock, the going and the striking trains take on a counterclockwise and clockwise direction, respectively. The weight of 6.4 kg makes a force driving these two trains to stick to the pulley on the twine pulling across two spike gears corresponding to the going train and the striking train. This weight below the pulley may travel down about 560 mm per day. We conclude that the mechanical system of Tongcheon-ui's lantern clock is slightly different from the Japanese style.

• Publications of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.31-44
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• 2018

Song, I-Yeong (1619 ~ ?) was an active astronomer in the Joseon dynasty at the era of adopting the Shixian-li, Chinese calendar in Qing dynasty. His astronomical contribution was recorded in Annals of the Joseon Dynasty, Diary of the Royal Secretariat, Comparative Review of Records and Documents-Its Revision and Enlargement, and Treatise on the Bureau of Astronomy. In addition the details on his life and works were found at the genealogies of the Song Family from Yeonan and the Kim Family from Seonsan. His major astronomical activities can be summarized in three items. First, as a specialist astronomer, he has attempted to make a systematic observation of two comets. Second, he designed and fabricated the Jamyeong-jong, the weight-powered armillary clock, which became a typical model of the astronomical clock in the Joseon dynasty. Last, he served as a royal astronomical professor, greatly contributing on implementing the Shixian-li. Song has concentrated on performing astronomical duties for his royal official service time. Song is regarded as an important astronomer who made it possible to enforce the Shixian-li until the late Joseon dynasty.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.79-91
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• 2011

Ongnu (Jade Clepsydra; also called Heumgyeonggaknu) is a water clock was made by Jang Yeong-sil in 1438. It is not only an automatic water clock that makes the sound at every hour on the hour by striking bell, drum and gong, but also an astronomical clock that shows the sun's movement over time. Ongnu's power mechanism used is a water-hammering method applied to automatic time-signal device. The appearance of Ongnu is modeled by Gasan (pasted-paper imitation mountain) and Binpungdo (landscape of farming work scene) is drawn at the foot of the mountain. The structure of Ongnu is divided into the top of the mountain, the foot of the mountain and the flatland. There located are sun-movement device, Ongnyeo (jade female immortal; I) and Four gods (shaped of animal-like immortals) at the top of the mountain, Sasin (jack hour) and Musa (warrior) at the foot of the mountain, and Twelve gods, Ongnyeo (II) and Gwanin on the flatland. In this study, we clearly and systematically understood the time-announcing mechanism of each puppet. Also, we showed the working mechanism of the sun-movement device. Finally, we completely established the 3D model of Ongnu based on this study.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.28-28
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• 2000

• Publications of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.189-199
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• 2007

In this paper, we describe the proposed KVN (Korean VLBI Network) clock system in order to make the observation of the VLBI effectively. In general, the GPS system is widely used for the time information in the single dish observation. In the case of VLBI observation, a very high precise frequency standard is needed to perform the observation in accordance with the observation frequency using the radio telescope with over 100km distance. The objective of the high precise clock system is to insert the time-tagging information to the observed data and to synchronize it with the same clock in overall equipments which used in station. The AHM (Active Hydrogen Maser) and clock system are basically used as a frequency standard equipments at VLBI station. This system is also adopted in KVN. The proposed KVN clock system at each station consists of the AHM, GPS time comparator, standard clock system, time distributor, and frequency standard distributor. The basic experiments were performed to check the AHM system specification and to verify the effectiveness of implemented KVN clock system. In this paper, we briefly introduce the KVN clock system configuration and experimental results.

• Publications of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.93-99
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• 2004

In this paper, we describe a principle of the atomic frequency standard and clock system in VLBI(Very Long Baseline Interferometry). The hydrogen maser is a usual VLBI standard. During VLBI observations, signals emitted by distant sources of radio frequency energy(quasars) are received and recorded at several antennas. At each antenna(VLBI station), a very stable frequency standard(hydrogen maser) provides a reference signal which enables time-tagging to the quasar signals as they are being recorded on magnetic tapes or hard-disk modules. For each VLBl experiment, correlation of the time-tagged recorded information between the participating antennas is used to yield the arrival time differences of any specific quasar radio wave between the antennas. These time differences are used to calculate the relative antennas to each other. In this paper, we also introduce the KVN(Korean VLBI Network) atomic frequency standard and clock system.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.221-232
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• 2012

We analyzed the manufacturing procedure, specifications, repair history, and details of celestial movements of the water-hammering type $Honsang$ (celestial globe). Results from our study on the remaining $Honsangs$ in China and Japan and on the reconstruction models in Korea were applied to our conceptual design of the water-hammering type $Honsang$. A $Honui$ (armillary sphere) and $Honsang$ using the water-hammering method were manufactured in $Joseon$ in 1435 (the 17th year of King $Sejong$). $Jang$ $Yeong-Sil$ developed the $Honsang$ system based on the water-operation method of $Shui$ $y{\ddot{u}}n$ $i$ $hsiang$ $t'ai$ in China. Water-operation means driving water wheels using a water flow. The most important factor in this type of operation is the precision of the water clock and the control of the water wheel movement. The water-hammering type $Honsang$ in $Joseon$ probably adopted the $Cheonhyeong$ (天衡; oriental escapement device) system of $Shui$ $y{\ddot{u}}n$ $i$ $hsiang$ $t'ai$ in China and the overflow mechanism of $Jagyeongnu$ (striking clepsydra) in $Joseon$, etc. In addition to the $Cheonryun$ system, more gear instruments were needed to stage the rotation of the $Honsang$ globe and the sun's movement. In this study, the water-hammering mechanism is analyzed in the structure of a water clock, a water wheel, the $Cheonhyeong$ system, and the $Giryun$ system, as an organically working operation mechanism. We expect that this study will serve as an essential basis for studies on $Heumgyeonggaknu$, the water-operating astronomical clock, and other astronomical clocks in the middle and latter parts of the $Joseon$ dynasty.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.167-178
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• 2007

We analysis the structure of Song $I-y\u{o}ng's$ Armillary Clock, a Korean National Treasure (No. 230) that is displayed at Korea University Museum. This Armillary Clock is only one remained in east Asia, but does not working because some parts had been broken away. We measured this remains and reconstructed a working model of the astronomical armillary sphere system of the his armillary clock, which system is consisted of Solar and lunar moving devices.