A Study on Ancient Chinese Shanxi Locks

Hsiao, Kuo-Hung; Zhang, Y.; Lin, Jinn; Huang, J.; An, H.

doi:10.1007/978-3-030-20131-9_116

Cited by 4 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…The topological structure of a mechanism depends on the types and the numbers of members and pairs and their attachments [17][18]. A mechanism that has various topological structures during operation, it is called a reconfigurable mechanism [19][20]. Since the opening process of the puzzle lock has various topological structures, it belongs to a reconfigurable mechanism.…”

Section: Representation Of the Topology Matrixmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Structural Analysis of Traditional Chinese Complex Puzzle Locks

Shi¹,

Wang²,

Zhang³

et al. 2021

Preprint

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The development of barbed-spring locks in ancient China has a history of more than two thousand years. With the development of the design and manufacturing techniques in ancient China, the safety of locks has gotten better and better. Since the 17th century, the puzzle lock, with a complicated structure and a high difficulty in opening, was gradually developed and used. The puzzle lock needs specific steps to be opened. Even if strangers have the correct key, it is still difficult for them to open the lock immediately. Based on the difficulty of the opening process, traditional Chinese puzzle locks can be partition into two sorts, namely, general puzzle locks and complex puzzle locks. As the structure of the puzzle lock will change during the opening process, the puzzle lock belongs to the reconfigurable mechanism. In this paper, a method of topology matrix is provided to analyze the structure of the complex puzzle lock during operation systematically. Firstly, the characteristics and types of general puzzle locks are explained, and then the topology matrix representation is introduced. Finally, four complex puzzle locks are taken as examples, to illustrate the opening process. There are various types of complex puzzle locks, and the mechanism designs are quite ingenious and interesting, which shows the extraordinary technique and ingenuity of the ancient craftsmen.

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Section: Representation Of the Topology Matrixmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The case has a keyhole for inserting the key and guiding the bolt to move. The bolt has a shackle for suspending the lock and a stem for riveting the springs [20]. The key is designed according to the position and shape of the keyhole and the configuration of the spring.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Structural Analysis of Traditional Chinese Complex Puzzle Locks

Shi¹,

Wang²,

Zhang³

et al. 2021

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The case has a keyhole for inserting the key and guiding the bolt to move. The bolt has a shackle for suspending the lock and a stem for riveting the springs 23 . The key is designed according to the position and shape of the keyhole and the configuration of the spring.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Structural analysis of traditional Chinese complex puzzle locks

Shi

Wang

Zhang

et al. 2022

Sci Rep

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The development of barbed-spring locks in ancient China has a history of more than 2000 years. With the development of the design and manufacturing techniques in ancient China, the safety of locks has gotten better and better. Since the seventeenth century, the puzzle lock, with a complicated structure and a high difficulty in opening, was gradually developed and used. The puzzle lock needs specific steps to be opened. Based on the difficulty of the opening process, traditional Chinese puzzle locks can be partition into two sorts, namely, general puzzle locks and complex puzzle locks. As the structure of the puzzle lock will change during the opening process, the puzzle lock belongs to the reconfigurable mechanism. In this paper, a method of topology matrix is provided to analyze the structure of the complex puzzle lock during systematical operation. Firstly, the characteristics and types of general puzzle locks are explained, and then the topology matrix representation is introduced. Finally, four complex puzzle locks are taken as examples, to illustrate the opening process. There are various types of complex puzzle locks, and the mechanism designs are quite ingenious and interesting, which shows the extraordinary technique and ingenuity of the ancient craftsmen.

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Traditional Chinese Yuekou locks

Zhang

Hsiao

2020

Mech. Sci.

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Abstract. In the Qing dynasty (1644–1911 CE), the town of Yuekou, in Hubei Province, was an important and renowned lock production center. Yuekou locks produced there won high acclaim for their use of quality materials. Transported via water routes, they were marketed in other provinces in China and other Southeast Asian countries. Even today, Yuekou locks are the favorites of antique collectors. After the introduction of the Western-style pin tumbler lock in the 1950s, the popularity of traditional Chinese locks began to decline, and they disappeared from the market. Receiving no attention from people, they were forgotten. From 2009 to 2016, the research team visited Yuekou eight times to conduct field research and interview surviving locksmiths and their descendants, achieving significant results. There are six main types of Yuekou locks, including combination locks, regular locks, pull-back locks, maze locks, multi-stage locks, and hidden-keyhole locks. The crafting of Yuekou locks is conducted in four stages: material preparation, molding, shaping, and assembling. The entire process is operated manually. This work introduces the historical development of Yuekou locks, summarizes the verbatim interviews, explores the production of Yuekou locks, and analyzes the types and structures of Yuekou locks.

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A Study on Ancient Chinese Shanxi Locks

Cited by 4 publications

References 8 publications

Structural Analysis of Traditional Chinese Complex Puzzle Locks

Structural Analysis of Traditional Chinese Complex Puzzle Locks

Structural analysis of traditional Chinese complex puzzle locks

Traditional Chinese Yuekou locks

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