Yagura-Dokei, c.1715
Maker Unknown
Japan
Yagura-Dokei (lantern clocks) were made with single and double foliot escapements. The foliot escapement, with its easily adjustable rate, was ideal for the Japanese temporal system of unequal hours. Typical of Yagura-Dokei, the hand remains stationary and the dial rotates. The outer circle of the dial contains the six hours of daytime and the six hours of nighttime.
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In additional to the different system of hours, striking sequences also differ from the Western tradition. In Japanese clocks, the number of strikes is an abbreviated form of multiplying the hour (one through six) by the culturally symbolic number, nine. When this number exceeds one digit, only the second digit is used. Here are some examples: the first hour would strike nine times (one times nine); the second hour would strike eight (two times nine equals eighteen, but only the second digit is used); the third hour would strike seven times (three times nine, etc.)
Donated by Dr. Warner D. Bundens, Jr., FNAWCC #1177
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