Horizontal Sundial (1985-2)

The Horizontal Sundial (1985-2) is a type of sundial made of black marble, measuring 58.9 cm across, 38.2 cm in depth and 16.3 cm thick. It works on the principle of concentric circles drawn at 1 cm intervals and radiating lines at 10-degree intervals, like graph paper, with a gnomon set upright at the centre so that the changing shadow indicates the time — exactly the same arrangement as would result from unfolding the hemispherical Angbuilgu Sundial onto a flat surface. An inscription on the side shows that it was made in the early eighteenth century, and since its structure and the hour lines and seasonal lines drawn on it match those of Chinese examples, it is presumed to have been newly made at the Gwansanggam, the royal observatory, in imitation of a Chinese model. The Seoul National University Museum holds a portable sundial of the same type. Made of brass and measuring 16.8 cm by 12.4 cm, that sundial contains a magnetic needle, so that it could be aligned north–south while being carried, allowing the time to be measured accurately. It is currently on display at the Royal Museum of Deoksugung Palace.

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Where it is

Region

Jongno-gu, Seoul

Designation

Treasure · 보물