Study on the"Heyin"Water Pumping and Irrigation Tools Seen in the Illustrations of the New Crafting Vessels in the Late Ming Dynasty
Under the influence of the exchange between Chinese and western scientific and technological thoughts,Wang Zheng from the Ming Dynasty designed a lever-type irrigation tool named Heyin.Its main structure consisted of a bucket,a ro-tating trough,a shaft,and ropes,which was delicately designed,efficient,and labor-saving.Illustrations of the New Crafting Vessels is the only source that preserves the image of Heyin,but its engraved edition,due to the systematic roughness and distor-tions in drawing,requires restoration through corrections based on manuscript copies.The name of Heyin suggests elegance,aes-thetic appeal,and practical utility,imbued with strong cultural and literary undertones,evidently reflecting Wang Zheng's thoughtful considerations after much deliberation.From the late Ming Dynasty to the mid-Qing Dynasty,Heyin was used in a small region in the north,and even served as a flood relief and fire extinguishing tool.However,due to its limited applicability,complex manufacturing process and high cost,Heyin gradually became disconnected from agricultural production and farmers'needs,and then faded out of historical stage,leaving a legacy in traditional agricultural culture.
arm toolsHeyin(an ancient irrigation tool)Wang ZhengIllustrations of the New Crafting Vessels
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