Automata in China -2
Automata in China -2 is called “Kiriko-sha”, of which the mechanism was invented in ancient China.
Kiriko-sha and Shinan-sha are used in pairs for the measurement of the length of route and the area of the country.
The Kiriko-sha shows an excellent motion due to the sophisticated mechanism; a doll beats the drum to indicate the constant distance that Kiriko-sha moved.
So the technicians put a lot of effort into the production of the measuring device, and the governors made efforts to find the clever usage of it.
Although legend says that Kiriko-sha was used in the war, it was, in fact, used mainly as the symbol of the authority of emperor.
Tadataka Inou used “Ryoutei-sha”, of which the mechanism is due to Kiriko-sha, for surveying the country of Japan. The use of Ryoutei-sha led to the origin of some Japanese words; “Kiriageru”, “kirigayoi” and “Kiriganai” etc.
(Ref. “Haguruma-Bunkashi , by Hirosi Uchiyama )
