Cheugugi
Encyclopedia
Cheugugi(Hangul:측우기, Hanja:測雨器)is the world first rain gauge
which is invented and utilized by Joseon Dynasty
of Korea
. It was invented and supplied to each Provincial offices during the King Sejong the Great's reign.
Now(May 2010), there are just one Joseon dynasty
's Cheugugi left, Geumyeong Cheugugi(Hangul:금영측우기, Hanja:錦營測雨器), literally means Cheugugi installed on provincial office's yard. Which is designated as a National Treasure #561 of Korea, and was installed in provincial office of Gongju
city, 1837 by the King Yeongjo(the 21st King of the Joseon). In addition, also the official record of the rainfall by Cheugugi form the King Jeongjo's reign to Emperor Gojong's reign is preserved.
, there was a system to measure and report the region's rainfall for adopting that information to farming crops. But the method to measure a rainfall in those days was primitive, to measure the depth of puddles' water from the rain.
And the record from this method can't tell the exact rainfall, cause there are differences in much of rainwater permeated through the ground, by the region's environment. To prevent from the error of these kinds, the King Sejong the Great ordered Gwansanggam(Hangul:관상감,Hanja:觀象監)(straightly speaking Joseon's research institute of astronomy, geography, calendar and weather) to build a rain water container, the Cheugugi, made of iron in August 1441 (by lunar calendar). In the early days of the Cheugugi, it was mainly used in the capital area only.
In 1442(King Sejong the Great's 24th year of his reign), the King ordered Gwansanggam, again, to design a standardized rainfall measuring system, measure and record the data by that standardized way. And he also ordered his Provincial governors, appointed by the King, to install the same Cheugugi on the each courtyard of the provincial offices, and measure, record the rainfalls by Governors themselves.
It was originally made of iron, but there were copper-made and ceramic-made ones, built in after age.
The depth of the preserved Cheugugi is about 32 cm and the diameter is about 15 cm.
And measuring the rainfall is operated, after the rain stopped, by dipping a ruler and recorded by Poon(Hangul:푼, Hanja:分)Units(approximately 0.303 cm(0.120 inch)). Furthermore, the information of the time when the rain began and stopped is also recorded by each cases, always, throughout the nation.
There is also Ma-jeon-gyo(Bridge) which is generally known as Supyo-gyo across the Cheonggyecheon
(stream flows center of Joseon Era's Seoul Castle(wall), near the Gyungbok Palace). The generally known name was originated from the Supyo-seok attached on the pier of the bridge, and the Supyo-seok's meaning and function is "the water level gauge" of Cheonggyecheon
, telling how much the stream's water level is risen by a rain. It also established in King Sejong the Great's reign(accurately 2nd year of his reign) and is existing nowadays. But 1958 when the Cheonggyecheon was covered as a road by the Korean Government, it was moved to Jang-chung park and it is located there till now. There was a plan to move the bridge to its original location, during the Cheonggyecheon restoration. But, unfortunately the plan can't be fulfilled, cause there was a difference between the restored width of the Cheonggyecheon
and the Bridge's length. So, the bridge located in Jang-chung Park, as it was, till these days.
Rain gauge
A rain gauge is a type of instrument used by meteorologists and hydrologists to gather and measure the amount of liquid precipitation over a set period of time....
which is invented and utilized by Joseon Dynasty
Joseon Dynasty
Joseon , was a Korean state founded by Taejo Yi Seong-gye that lasted for approximately five centuries. It was founded in the aftermath of the overthrow of the Goryeo at what is today the city of Kaesong. Early on, Korea was retitled and the capital was relocated to modern-day Seoul...
of Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
. It was invented and supplied to each Provincial offices during the King Sejong the Great's reign.
Now(May 2010), there are just one Joseon dynasty
Joseon Dynasty
Joseon , was a Korean state founded by Taejo Yi Seong-gye that lasted for approximately five centuries. It was founded in the aftermath of the overthrow of the Goryeo at what is today the city of Kaesong. Early on, Korea was retitled and the capital was relocated to modern-day Seoul...
's Cheugugi left, Geumyeong Cheugugi(Hangul:금영측우기, Hanja:錦營測雨器), literally means Cheugugi installed on provincial office's yard. Which is designated as a National Treasure #561 of Korea, and was installed in provincial office of Gongju
Gongju
Gongju , also spelt Kongju, is a city in South Chungcheong province, South Korea. It is located at .- History :Gongju was formerly named Ungjin and was the capital of Baekje from AD 475 to 538. In this period, Baekje was under threat from Goguryeo...
city, 1837 by the King Yeongjo(the 21st King of the Joseon). In addition, also the official record of the rainfall by Cheugugi form the King Jeongjo's reign to Emperor Gojong's reign is preserved.
Intention
In early days of the Joseon dynastyJoseon Dynasty
Joseon , was a Korean state founded by Taejo Yi Seong-gye that lasted for approximately five centuries. It was founded in the aftermath of the overthrow of the Goryeo at what is today the city of Kaesong. Early on, Korea was retitled and the capital was relocated to modern-day Seoul...
, there was a system to measure and report the region's rainfall for adopting that information to farming crops. But the method to measure a rainfall in those days was primitive, to measure the depth of puddles' water from the rain.
And the record from this method can't tell the exact rainfall, cause there are differences in much of rainwater permeated through the ground, by the region's environment. To prevent from the error of these kinds, the King Sejong the Great ordered Gwansanggam(Hangul:관상감,Hanja:觀象監)(straightly speaking Joseon's research institute of astronomy, geography, calendar and weather) to build a rain water container, the Cheugugi, made of iron in August 1441 (by lunar calendar). In the early days of the Cheugugi, it was mainly used in the capital area only.
In 1442(King Sejong the Great's 24th year of his reign), the King ordered Gwansanggam, again, to design a standardized rainfall measuring system, measure and record the data by that standardized way. And he also ordered his Provincial governors, appointed by the King, to install the same Cheugugi on the each courtyard of the provincial offices, and measure, record the rainfalls by Governors themselves.
It was originally made of iron, but there were copper-made and ceramic-made ones, built in after age.
Exterior Features
As it is described above, the Cheugugi was mainly made of iron. By observing the preserved one, it is generally characterized by its oil-drum shape which is fixed on the hexahedral stone support, Cheugudae(측우대). The resonable height of the Cheugudae makes the splashed water can't flow into the Cheugugi.The depth of the preserved Cheugugi is about 32 cm and the diameter is about 15 cm.
Operation
It is estimated, the measuring rainfalls by the standardized Cheugugi is institutionalized from May 8, 1442, by lunar calendar. From that day, the word "Chegugi" has came on the official records of the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty(조선왕조실록).And measuring the rainfall is operated, after the rain stopped, by dipping a ruler and recorded by Poon(Hangul:푼, Hanja:分)Units(approximately 0.303 cm(0.120 inch)). Furthermore, the information of the time when the rain began and stopped is also recorded by each cases, always, throughout the nation.
Etc.
Some Cheugudaes(the support) are existing even nowadays, as follows- The Gwansanggam Cheugudae
- DaeguDaeguDaegu , also known as Taegu, and officially the Daegu Metropolitan City, is a city in South Korea, the fourth largest after Seoul, Busan, and Incheon, and the third largest metropolitan area in the country with over 2.5 million residents. The city is the capital and principal city of the...
Sunhwadang Cheugudae(established on DaeguDaeguDaegu , also known as Taegu, and officially the Daegu Metropolitan City, is a city in South Korea, the fourth largest after Seoul, Busan, and Incheon, and the third largest metropolitan area in the country with over 2.5 million residents. The city is the capital and principal city of the...
Provincial office by Joseon dynastyJoseon DynastyJoseon , was a Korean state founded by Taejo Yi Seong-gye that lasted for approximately five centuries. It was founded in the aftermath of the overthrow of the Goryeo at what is today the city of Kaesong. Early on, Korea was retitled and the capital was relocated to modern-day Seoul...
) - ChangdeokgungChangdeokgungChangdeokgung, also known as Changdeokgung Palace or Changdeok Palace, is set within a large park in Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea. It is one of the "Five Grand Palaces" built by the kings of the Joseon Dynasty. Because of its location east of Gyeongbok Palace, Changdeokgung, with Changgyeonggung,...
Palace's Cheugudae(Moved to the National Palace Museum of KoreaNational Palace Museum of KoreaNational Palace Museum of Korea is a national museum of South Korea located in Gyeongbokgung Palace, Seoul.-History:The museum first began as the "Korean Imperial Museum", which was established on September, 1908 and was originally located in Changgyeonggung Palace. On November of the following...
) - TongyeongTongyeongTongyeong is a coastal city in South Gyeongsang Province, South Korea. In 2010, it had an area of 238.81 ㎢ and a population of 139,869 people. It is divided into 1 eup , 6 myeon and 11 dong . Chungmu city and Tongyeong county were reunited in 1995, creating Tongyeong City as we know it today...
Cheugudae - Yeon-gyeong-dang(the royal residence located in forbidden garden of Changdeokgung Palace) Cheugudae
There is also Ma-jeon-gyo(Bridge) which is generally known as Supyo-gyo across the Cheonggyecheon
Cheonggyecheon
Cheonggyecheon is an 8.4 km long, modern public recreation space in downtown Seoul, South Korea. The massive urban renewal project is on the site of a stream that flowed before the rapid post-war economic development required it to be covered by transportation infrastructure...
(stream flows center of Joseon Era's Seoul Castle(wall), near the Gyungbok Palace). The generally known name was originated from the Supyo-seok attached on the pier of the bridge, and the Supyo-seok's meaning and function is "the water level gauge" of Cheonggyecheon
Cheonggyecheon
Cheonggyecheon is an 8.4 km long, modern public recreation space in downtown Seoul, South Korea. The massive urban renewal project is on the site of a stream that flowed before the rapid post-war economic development required it to be covered by transportation infrastructure...
, telling how much the stream's water level is risen by a rain. It also established in King Sejong the Great's reign(accurately 2nd year of his reign) and is existing nowadays. But 1958 when the Cheonggyecheon was covered as a road by the Korean Government, it was moved to Jang-chung park and it is located there till now. There was a plan to move the bridge to its original location, during the Cheonggyecheon restoration. But, unfortunately the plan can't be fulfilled, cause there was a difference between the restored width of the Cheonggyecheon
Cheonggyecheon
Cheonggyecheon is an 8.4 km long, modern public recreation space in downtown Seoul, South Korea. The massive urban renewal project is on the site of a stream that flowed before the rapid post-war economic development required it to be covered by transportation infrastructure...
and the Bridge's length. So, the bridge located in Jang-chung Park, as it was, till these days.