张衡地动仪文献蠡读——对地动仪功能的重新认识

Selected Readings of Ancient Literature Concerning Zhang Heng's Seismograph: A New Consideration of the Function of the Instrument

对地动仪的有关文献进行分析,证明《后汉书·张衡传》中有关地动仪的记载(结构方面的内容除外)与其他同期的文献不能很好地衔接。考察地动仪及其设计思想在中国古代的流传情况,可以看出古人对地动仪的质疑早已有之,而且越来越明显与强烈。关于地动仪的所有文献信息不出范晔所记,亦使之成为一条孤证。研究表明,张衡研制地动仪的史实勿容质疑,但限于东汉的科技发展水平,该地动仪并未达到设计初衷,因此渐被世人所遗忘。然而张衡的设计思想有其科学与合理的一面,是人类历史上系统研究测震仪器的第一人,其在科学史上的崇高地位即体现于此。

Based on an analysis of relevant literature about Zhang Heng's seismograph, this paper shows that the description of the instrument (except the description of its structure) from the Biography of Zhang Heng in the History of the Later Han Dynasty is not quite compatible with other records from the same period. On the other hand, from the spread of the designing thought of the instrument in ancient China, it is very clear that the doubts about the instrument had appeared from very early times,and were becoming more and more obvious and strong. Judging from the fact that all later records of the seismograph did not provide us more information than Fan Ye did, it is completely reasonable to look upon Fan's record as an isolated piece of evidence that can not be reconfirmed with other independent sources. Combining all of these considerations, the paper intends to venture that Zhang Heng did make a seismograph. The instrument did not function according to the original intention of designing because of the limitation of developing level of science and technology in the Eastern Han Dynasty,and was thus gradually forgotten by ancient people. Zhang Heng's thought of designing, however,had a scientific and rational facet. In addition, he was also the first one in the history of mankind who ever systematically studied the instrument for earthquake monitoring. That is why his seismograph occupies a high position in the history of science.