Chapter 12 Chapter 4 The Ins and Outs of Vehicles

China is one of the first countries to use cars.According to legend, the Chinese created the car about 4,600 years ago in the Yellow Emperor era.About 4,000 years ago, the Xue tribe was famous for making cars. "Zuo Zhuan" said that Xi Zhong of the Xue tribe served as the official "Chezheng" of the Xia Dynasty (about 21st century BC-17th century BC). "Mozi", "Xunzi" and "Lu Shi Chunqiu" all describe Xi Zhong's car making.The main activity areas of the Xia people were in the Hedong and Henan regions, that is, the southern part of Shanxi and the central and western part of Henan today.The Erlitou cultural site discovered by archaeologists in Yanshi, Henan Province is a typical Xia cultural relic, and its upper limit corresponds to the beginning of the founding of the Xia Dynasty, more than 4,000 years ago.A large number of bronze wares were unearthed here, including a large number of production and daily utensils such as knives, cones, chisels, and shovels, indicating that bronze smelting was at a relatively high level at that time.These tools have played an important role in activities such as building vehicles and opening roads.The Xia Dynasty had entered a slave society. In its slave-owner regime, Muzheng was in charge of raising, domesticating and using horses and cattle, and Chezheng was in charge of the manufacture, storage and use of chariots and transport vehicles.It can be considered that Chezheng and Muzheng were the full-time administrative personnel in charge of transportation in the early days of our country.Not long after Xia Qi ascended the throne, he raised the banner of "respectfully punishing the heavens", and used a large number of pack animals, chariots, and transport vehicles when attacking the Youhu clan under the guise of the will of the gods.At the end of the Xia Dynasty, Shang Tang, with the assistance of Yi Yin, also raised the banner of "Respectful Punishment of Heaven", and used more livestock, chariots, and transport vehicles in the battle to destroy the tyrannical and senseless king Xia Jie. , Established the Shang Dynasty (approximately 16th century BC - 11th century BC).According to historical records, Qi, the ancestor of Shang, was a contemporary of Xia Yu. By the time of his grandson Xiangtu, the merchant could already drive a chariot with four horses.It was passed down to Wang Hai, the great-grandson of Xiangtu, and the merchant learned to use oxen to drive.Wang Hai himself once drove an ox cart to the boundary of the Yi family (now central Hebei) to trade.During the Wuding period, the national power of the Shang Dynasty increased, and the army drove a large number of chariots to expand to the south, and penetrated into the deep area of ​​Chu State.King Zhou, the last monarch of the Shang Dynasty, also frequently dispatched a large number of chariots to expand the territory to the Jianghuai area.The use of chariots in the Shang Dynasty has become very common, and the vehicle manufacturing technology has also been greatly improved, and quite exquisite two-wheeled vehicles can be made.In Anyang, Henan, a carriage pit of that era was excavated. There was a cart with four horses and two people, a cart with two horses and three people, and a cart with two horses and one person.According to the analysis of many "car" characters in the excavated oracle bone inscriptions, it shows that the two-wheeled carts of the Shang Dynasty had one shaft, one balance, two yokes (e'e) and one yu.The car model of the Shang Dynasty in the Chinese History Museum is an exquisite two-wheeled car, showing the high level of car-making technology at that time.In 1066 BC, Zhou Wu Wang Jifa mobilized 300 chariots, 3,000 warriors, and 45,000 armored soldiers as the main force for the Eastern Expedition.At the same time, a large number of troops from various vassal states were recruited to participate in the war.According to "Historical Records Zhou Benji", there were more than 800 princes who met unexpectedly.When the soldiers arrived in Muye (now Qixian County, Henan Province), there were already 4,000 military vehicles.Upon hearing the news, King Zhou of Shang hurriedly dispatched troops back from the front line of attacking the barbarians. As a result, 700,000 slave soldiers fought back. King Zhou of Shang was desperate and died by self-immolation.After Zhou Wuwang destroyed the Shang Dynasty, he enfeoffed the feudal lords, and accepted Zhou Gong's suggestion to build Luoyi, dig roads, manufacture vehicles, and develop transportation.The vehicles of the Western Zhou Dynasty underwent major reforms. "Shuowen" said that in the Shang Dynasty there were three horse-drawn carts, which were called horses; Zhou people added one horse, which was called si.Twelve vehicles were unearthed from the Zhou Tomb in Xincun, Junxian County, Henan Province, and 72 horse bones, indicating that there were already six horse-drawn vehicles.Especially in the Spring and Autumn and Warring States period, the vehicle manufacturing industry developed faster.We only cite a few examples recorded in history books to illustrate. "Zuo Zhuan Thirteen Years of Ding Gong" contains: Qi and Wei conquered Jin, and Qi Hou wanted to show off the luxury and excellence of his chariots and horses, so he drove a special car "Guangcheng" in advance to invite Wei Hou to a banquet.During the banquet, the Qi people lied that "the Jin army is attacking", and Qi Hou hurriedly invited Wei Hou to ride on the "Guangcheng".So the two monarchs took a car together, and the soldiers in the car lined up... After running for a while, the people of Qi reported again: "No Jinshi has arrived."Only then did the chariots and horses stop, Weihou heaved a sigh of relief, Qihou was proud of his "Guangcheng" for its durability and speed. The emergence of "Guangcheng" indeed marks the superb technology of Qi man-made vehicles.Ancient books also record: Jin people's postcars are durable, and they are good at taming horses, and summed up the "horse raising classics".Qin's "thousand rides and eight returns" is the best demonstration of its transportation capabilities.It is said that Mingzhen, the son of Duke Huan of Qin, was worried that his elder brother would harm him after he came to power, so he loaded his property into thousands of cars, 10 miles a house, relay transportation, and each car made eight round trips before it was all transported to the state of Jin. It can be seen that his vehicles Many and good performance.The ancient books in which Confucius traveled around the world, and Zigong was sent as an envoy to Wuyue and Jin, all illustrate the convenience of transportation and the advancement of vehicles at that time. "Mozi Luhe" said that the large carts made in various countries in the Spring and Autumn Period can hold 50 shigu and run flexibly, and the axles will not be broken even for long-distance transportation.During the Warring States period, the carts were greatly improved. In particular, the shafts of the carts began to be changed from single shafts to double shafts, which became stronger and had a larger load capacity.On the basis of the development of agriculture and handicrafts in several big countries, commerce and transportation also developed rapidly. Towns with tens of thousands of households were built one after another, and the traffic of vehicles was very frequent. unprecedented prosperity.

Cars in the pre-Qin period can be generally divided into two categories: "small cars" and "big cars".Those with small carriages and horses are called "small carts", also called light carts or military chariots.Those with large carriages and oxen are called "big carts".In addition to traveling by nobles, small cars were mainly used for war.During the Warring States period, due to the development of chariot warfare, the number of chariots became a sign of the strength of a country. There were so-called "country of a thousand chariots" and "country of ten thousand chariots".The production of the trolley is very particular, and it is decorated with various metal accessories.At that time, carts were regarded as "tools for carrying on flat ground", and they were only used to pull some heavy things.Some nobles in the Shang and Zhou dynasties buried the chariots and horses they used during their lifetime together with the slaves who drove them, and there were as many as dozens of chariots.

After Qin Shihuang unified China, he implemented "vehicles on the same track", which put forward higher requirements for the technology and craftsmanship of vehicle manufacturing.Qin Shihuang made five large-scale parades, and the main means of transportation was horse-drawn carriages.People in the Qin Dynasty seem to have a special and deep affection for carriages. So far, we can still see chariots, chariots and other real objects from the terracotta warriors left by the Qin Dynasty, as well as people and horses that are almost as tall as real people. image.In the pit of Terracotta Warriors and Horses excavated in the Mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang since 1974, more than 800 warriors, 18 wooden chariots, more than 100 pottery horses, and more than 9,000 bronze weapons and chariots have been unearthed.If it is restored according to the arrangement of soldiers and horses, there may be 7,000 warrior figurines in the three pits, more than 100 four-horse chariots, and more than 1,000 war horses.The huge lineup of terracotta warriors and horses vividly shows the arrangement of troops and weapons and vehicles of the Qin army. In 1980, two large painted bronze chariots and horses were unearthed, 1/2 the size of real chariots and horses.Car No. 1 is a standing car, that is to say, take the leading car immediately.It is 2.25 meters long and 1.52 meters high.Single shaft and double yoke, four horses are harnessed, that is, two horses and two clothes.The chariot is rectangular, with a round copper umbrella on the chariot, and a figurine of a horse official under the umbrella, holding a bridle [peipei] with both hands.There are copper square pots, bows, scorpions, arrowheads, shields, etc. in the Yu.The four bronze horses are all decorated with gold and silver ties.There are 29 numbered characters on the saddle, with a total of 49 characters, all in Xiaozhuan script.The second car is an car, that is, a sedan-shaped car for riding.The overall length of the body is 3.28 meters and the height is 1.04 meters.The carriage is divided into two rooms, the front and the back. The front room is the driver's cab, and there is a figurine of a horse official sitting in the lap (ji design), with a sword at the waist and a bridle in front of him.The back room is the main seat.There is an oval cover on the compartment.The chariot also has a single shaft and two wheels, with four bronze horses driving in front.These precious cultural relics are completely simulated and made of real objects. They are unprecedented archaeological discoveries and reflect the exquisite craftsmanship of my country's horse-drawn carriages more than 2,000 years ago.

In the Han Dynasty, the car had a great development and change. The single-shaft car gradually decreased, and the double-shaft car had a great development. The types of cars increased, and they were mainly used for carrying people and loading goods, rather than battlefields.The most advanced carriages in the Han Dynasty were the "辂〔Lulu〕carriage" and "Golden Root Carriage" used by the emperor.According to the description in "Continued Han Shu·Yu Fu Zhi", there are "luan bird standing and weighing" and "feather covering flower flea" on the golden root car.High-ranking officials take the "Xuan car", which is a car with barriers on both sides.General officials take a "轺〔yaoyao〕car" (a light cart driven by a horse in ancient times).Aristocratic women ride in a "carriage", the carriage is like a small house.In addition, there are many specialized vehicle types that are made for a specific purpose.The appearance of the carts in the Han Dynasty is similar to that of today's carts, with a long body and some with canopies.A model of a wooden ox cart was unearthed from a tomb of the Eastern Han Dynasty in Wuwei, Gansu. There are doors and windows in front of the cart, and railings on the upper and lower sides of the doors and windows.There are two doors on the rear fence, which can be opened and closed.The wheelbarrow appeared in the Eastern Han Dynasty and the Three Kingdoms period. This is an economical and practical means of transportation, and it is an important invention in the history of transportation.According to historical records, during Zhuge Liang's Northern Expedition, Pu Yuan created the "wooden ox" to transport food and grass for the army.Many scholars believe that the "wooden ox" at that time was a special kind of wheelbarrow.

In particular, it should be emphasized that Zhang Heng, an outstanding scientist in the Han Dynasty, invented the world-famous Jili drum chariot, and Ma Jun in the Three Kingdoms period invented the compass chariot for indicating directions.Zhang Heng's scientific and technological contributions are various. The mileage drum car he invented is a machine that uses a reduction gear system to drive a small wooden figure on the car to report the mileage of the car.Every time the car travels one mile or 10 miles, the little wooden man will automatically beat the drum, and the distance traveled can be known by the number of drum beats.Ma Jun is an outstanding mechanical inventor. The compass car he made is a major invention in ancient my country.Legend has it that there were two tribes in ancient times, one surnamed Jiang, whose leader was Emperor Yan; the other surnamed Ji, whose leader was Huangdi.There is another Jiuli tribe, whose leader is Chiyou, who often invades tribes surnamed Jiang and Ji.The latter joined forces to resist Chiyou, and finally defeated the Jiuli tribe and captured Chiyou alive because of the compass chariot made by the Yellow Emperor to point the way.There is also a legend that in the Western Zhou Dynasty, the Yueshang clan living in Southeast Asia sent envoys to King Cheng of Zhou. When they returned home, the Duke of Zhou built a compass cart for them so that the envoys would not get lost.But these are legends after all. It is still impossible to know exactly when and by whom the guide car was first invented.Once Ma Jun heard someone comment that the compass car was just a mythical fiction and didn't exist at all, and he didn't take it seriously.Ma Jun believes that there was a guide car in ancient times, but it is lost now. It is not difficult to rebuild the guide car as long as you are willing to study hard.So he was not afraid of ridicule, overcame difficulties, and after a long period of exploration, he finally developed a new guide car.This kind of car is a direction-indicating machine composed of a car and a small wooden figure. The car is equipped with a gear transmission device that can be automatically clutched and connected to the wooden figure. The wooden figure has a finger pointing forward.No matter which direction the vehicle is going, under the action of the automatic clutch gear device, the wooden man's hand points to the south.It and Ji Ligu cart are both important achievements in ancient Chinese vehicle machinery.

After the Tang and Song Dynasties, the manufacturing technology of vehicles also improved.During the Southern and Northern Dynasties, large vehicles driven by 12 oxen appeared.There were also mills.The mill is equipped with a stone mill, and the cart is driven to grind 10 dendrobium for 10 miles.As for the tricycle, it appeared in the late Tang Dynasty and the Five Dynasties, but it was not popularized.In the Song Dynasty, the custom of bureaucrats sitting in sedan chairs gradually flourished.At this time, the production and improvement of advanced vehicles were not paid much attention, and the focus of vehicle manufacturing technology gradually shifted from passenger vehicles to cargo vehicles.The big carts in the Song Dynasty were called "Taiping carts" and were pulled by five to seven oxen.At this time, there are two people driving the wheelbarrow at the front and back, two people at the side holding the crutches, and the front is pulled by a donkey, which is called "string cart".In the Ming Dynasty, the wheelbarrow that was pulled by a donkey and pushed by a human was called "Double Loving Wheelbarrow".During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, in addition to many new vehicles and special-shaped vehicles, sailing vehicles also appeared, that is, adding sails to the vehicles and using wind power to help the vehicles move forward.In the Qing Dynasty, armored vehicles and cars appeared again.The armored chariot has four wheels with a diameter of about one foot, and the carriage is covered with iron leaves for safety.A sedan is the product of the combination of a carriage and a sedan chair. It looks like a sedan chair and is pulled by horses and mules.This kind of car is painted in Xu Yang's "Qianlong Southern Tour Picture".