Answer to Quiz3: Human Sundial
Just as its name implies, the human sundial is a sundial involving the participation of human body. The instrument serves to tell the time according to the direction of our shadow cast under sun. The human sundial consists of two parts: A time tally marked with the numbers or titles of time; A month (or solar term) bar marked with month numbers or solar term titles.
Just as its name implies, the human sundial is a sundial involving the participation of human body. The instrument serves to tell the time according to the direction of our shadow cast under sun. The human sundial consists of two parts: A time tally marked with the numbers or titles of time; A month (or solar term) bar marked with month numbers or solar term titles.
When using the sundial, the user stands on the exact month (or solar term) of the time marked on the month (or solar term) bar; however, he should stick to the midline of the month (or solar term) bar, regardless of the month (or solar term) position of the time on the bar, which may be marked on the left or right.
For more info and pictures about sundials in ancient china you may visit: http://hua.umf.maine.edu/China/astronomy/tianpage/0021sundial5416bw.html