Xiè Fēi (;
fl. 334–349) was a scholar of the
Later Zhao
The Later Zhao (; 319–351) was a dynasty of the Sixteen Kingdoms in northern China. It was founded by the Shi family of the Jie ethnicity. The Jie were most likely a Yeniseian people and spoke next to Chinese one of the Yeniseian languages.Vov ...
state during the
Sixteen Kingdoms
The Sixteen Kingdoms (), less commonly the Sixteen States, was a chaotic period in Chinese history from AD 304 to 439 when northern China fragmented into a series of short-lived dynastic states. The majority of these states were founded by ...
period of Chinese history. He served as Head of the Healing (Medicinal) Department in the State Chancellery. He is known as a
mechanical engineer
Mechanical may refer to:
Machine
* Machine (mechanical), a system of mechanisms that shape the actuator input to achieve a specific application of output forces and movement
* Mechanical calculator, a device used to perform the basic operations of ...
who built a
south-pointing chariot
The south-pointing chariot (or carriage) was an ancient Chinese two-wheeled vehicle that carried a movable pointer to indicate the south, no matter how the chariot turned. Usually, the pointer took the form of a doll or figure with an outstretch ...
(also called a "south-pointing carriage"), a directional
compass
A compass is a device that shows the cardinal directions used for navigation and geographic orientation. It commonly consists of a magnetized needle or other element, such as a compass card or compass rose, which can pivot to align itself with ...
vehicle which apparently did not use
magnetic
Magnetism is the class of physical attributes that are mediated by a magnetic field, which refers to the capacity to induce attractive and repulsive phenomena in other entities. Electric currents and the magnetic moments of elementary particle ...
principles, but was operated by use of
differential gears (which apply equal amounts of
torque
In physics and mechanics, torque is the rotational equivalent of linear force. It is also referred to as the moment of force (also abbreviated to moment). It represents the capability of a force to produce change in the rotational motion of th ...
to driving wheels rotating at different speeds), or a similar angular differential principle.
[J.Needham (1986), ''"Science and Civilization in China"'', Taipei, Caves Books, Ltd, Volume 4, Part 2, pp. 40 and 287, ]
For the great ingenuity shown in the construction of the device, the Later Zhao Emperor
Shi Hu
Shi Hu (; 295–349), courtesy name Jilong (季龍), formally Emperor Wu of (Later) Zhao ((後)趙武帝), was an emperor of the Jie-led Chinese Later Zhao dynasty. He was the founding emperor Shi Le's distant nephew, who took power in a coup ...
granted him the noble title of ''
hou
Hou or HOU may refer to:
* -hou, a place-name element
* Hou (surname)
* Hou (currency) (Chinese: ), a unit of currency in Greater China
* Hou (Odder Municipality), a town in Denmark
* Hou (title) (Chinese: ), a title in ancient China
* Denglong (m ...
'' (marquis) without land possessions and rewarded him generously.
Notes
References
* Vol. 106.
*{{cite book, last=Taskin, first=V. S., script-title=ru:Цзе, trans-title=Jie, series=Материалы по истории кочевых народов в Китае III-V вв.
aterials on the history of nomadic peoples in China. 3rd - 5th cc. ADvolume=2, publisher=
Nauka, location=Moscow, year=1990, isbn=5-02-016543-3, page=99, language=Russian
Chinese inventors
4th-century Chinese people
Later Zhao people