Genggu (Watchman's Drum): A Preliminary Study On The System Of Telling Timein Ming And Qing Dynasties

The article discusses the the System of Watchman's Drum in Ming and Qing Dynasties by making use of the local chronicles and officer-instruction books. This article focuses its attention on the official time management system, especially on the system of time-keeping and time-telling given by the watchtower, Yin and Yang experts as well as the watchmen. In this article, the author believes that the capital and local governments all generally have time-telling towers such as watchtowers, integrated with time-keeping instruments like clepsydras, sundials, incense seals as well as other time-telling instruments like drums and bells. The Yin and Yang officers and experts are in charge of watchtower's management and time service. During that period, the local governments set up Yin and Yang system, bringing all the experts on Yin and Yang under the official management. In addition, the local Yin and Yang system is directly affiliated to the Central Astronomical Bureau, which could realize the central governments' control over local areas. In ancient China, the systems of strict curfew and night watch patrol are carried out and watchmen are set to perform night watch patrol according to the time given by the watchtower. The implementation of these systems could not only tell the time to the citizens but could also guard the safety of that area. As special places like the capital and palace, the System of Watchman's Drum is different from that of the local areas. Since modern times, with widespread use of clocks and China's modernization, the System of Watchman's Drum finally walked to its grave.