Zhang Heng (78-139 CE) was a Chinese polymath of the Han dynasty who worked as an astronomer, mathematician, engineer, cartographer, and poet at the imperial court. He is best known for inventing the world's first seismoscope, a device that could detect the direction of distant earthquakes using a system of dropping balls, and for building an early water-powered armillary sphere to model the motion of celestial bodies. His astronomical and mathematical writings, including an improved estimate of the value of pi, place him among the most accomplished scientific figures of the ancient world, and he is honored in China today as one of its greatest historical scientists.
Facts
RoleAstronomer, mathematician, inventor and statesman 1 BirthplaceXi'e, Nanyang Commandery (near modern Nanyang City, Henan), China 1 Role
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1. Wikipedia: Zhang Heng
WikipediaLead paragraph, lifespan clause
Zhang Heng (Chinese: 張衡; AD 78 - 139), courtesy name Pingzi, formerly romanized Chang Heng, was a Chinese polymathic scientist and statesman who lived during the Eastern Han dynasty.
Career narrative, retirement and death clause
He died there a year later, in 139.
Life section, Early life subsection
Born in the town of Xi'e in Nanyang Commandery (north of the modern Nanyang City in Henan), Zhang Heng came from a distinguished but not affluent family.
Lead paragraph, occupation clause
achieved success as an astronomer, mathematician, seismologist, hydraulic engineer, inventor, geographer, cartographer, ethnographer, artist, poet, philosopher, politician, and literary scholar.
Lead paragraph, alias clause
courtesy name Pingzi, formerly romanized Chang Heng
Zhang Heng: Gender
He is best known for inventing the world's first seismoscope, a device that could detect the direction of distant earthquakes using a system of dropping balls, and for building an early water-powered armillary sphere to model the motion of celestial bodies.
In Era: Classical Antiquity, lead paragraph, lifespan
He died there a year later, in 139.
View the Source Wikidata: Zhang Heng
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