A Wind Device of Ancient Chinese Astronomy and Meteorology: The Bird-Like Wind Indicator ——Inquiry into Origin, Culture, History and Philosophical ideas

This paper discusses the Bird-Like Wind Indicator: a meteorological device looking like a bird to indicate the speed or direction of the wind in ancient China, its manufactural workmanship, function and historical evolution, exploring in a deep way the cultural and historical background and philosophical ideas in relation to it. From late Old Stone Age to Neolithic and New Neolithic Ages, till Xia, Shang and Zhou dynasties, the ancient Chinese regarded birds as their gods of worship, and therefore, sacrificed and worshipped them. They linked birds' activities with weather changes in nature. As can be seen, the invention of such a meteorological and astronomical wind indicator device has a solid foundation in its cultural history.