What Are the Different Types of Irrigation Tools?

Waterwheel is a kind of operating machine developed by the working people in ancient China, making full use of water power. ^[1] According to literature, waterwheels appeared around the Eastern Han Dynasty. As an important part of Chinese farming culture, the waterwheel reflects the creativity of the Chinese nation, witnesses the agricultural civilization of China, and provides a witness for the history of water conservancy research. The invention of the waterwheel laid the foundation for the people to live and work in peace and social harmony and stability.

Waterwheel

(Irrigation tool)

Waterwheel is an ancient water-lifting irrigation tool. Water mill is also called

Waterwheel first stage

The waterwheel in the official records in China did not occur until the Eastern Han Dynasty. In the late Eastern Han Dynasty, Emperor Ling ordered Bi Lan to make a "turnover", and had basic equipment such as wheel axle groove plates. It was also said that during the Three Kingdoms period, Wei people and horses also made "turnovers" (see "Three Kingdoms and Wei Zhi" Vol. 29 Du Chuan Pei Song's note). Regardless of who actually created the "rollover", in short, the official emergence of "rollover" from the Eastern Han Dynasty to the Three Kingdoms can be regarded as the first stage of the establishment of China's waterwheel.

Waterwheel Phase II

The development of the waterwheel has reached the Tang and Song dynasties, and there has been great progress in the application of wheel and axles. It can use water power as the power to make a "drum car", which can be used for low water and high delivery in conjunction with the pool and the drum. Not only is it more effective, it also saves valuable manpower. Southern Song Zhang Xiaoxiang's "Tinyenren Courtyard Poems" praised it: "Turn this Da Falun to save Ruhan from suffering. It can be seen that this waterwheel is of great help to farming. This is the second stage of China's waterwheel development.

Waterwheel Phase III

In the Yuan and Ming dynasties, the development of wheel axles was more advanced. A waterwheel has not only one set of gears, but also up to three sets, and there are "water-to-roller", "bull-to-roller" or "donkey-to-roller", which can be used according to the wind and land. This development makes the use of rollovers more efficient. Since the invention of the Three Kingdoms era of the Eastern Han Dynasty, it has been stagnant in the operation of manpower. At this point, the use of water and animal power as the drive, so that manpower is finally liberated from the rollover pedals. At the same time, due to the development of rotating shafts, vertical wheels, and horizontal wheels, the originally used water-powered roller carts can make use of animal power even in places with less water, and contribute. In addition, there are "high-roller trucks". Where the terrain is steep enough to keep the pond away,

Waterwheel Atlas (4 photos)

It can be developed with low water and high delivery. This is the third stage of China's waterwheel development. After the Yuan and Ming dynasties, the development of China's waterwheels did not have many special achievements.

The waterwheel has contributed greatly to China's agricultural development. It greatly reduces the constraints on the cultivated land topography and realizes the development of hilly land and hillside land. It is not only used for pumping water in dry conditions, but also for drainage when water accumulates in low places. ^[2] Later, as an agricultural building, it was loved by farmers.