What types of vehicles existed in ancient times?
1 Answers
Vehicles (dual-purpose for passengers and cargo), high carriages, comfortable carriages, soft-wheeled carriages (with cattail wheels), four-wheeled vehicles, and single-wheeled vehicles, among others. Below are specific details about the related content: Introduction: Ancient Chinese vehicles refer to primitive vehicles that existed in China as early as 2000 BC. Early vehicles used round wooden boards as moving components, known as "quan." According to legend, Xi Zhong of the Xia Dynasty made significant improvements to vehicles, leading to the emergence of wheels with spokes. The remains of chariots and horses in the Yin ruins of Anyang, Henan, indicate that Shang Dynasty vehicles were single-shaft, two-wheeled carriages, as evidenced by the many "chariot" characters in oracle bone inscriptions. During the Shang and Zhou dynasties, vehicles were mostly pulled by horses, though other livestock or humans were also used. By the Zhou Dynasty, grease was already being used as a lubricant for vehicle bearings. Historical Evolution: The number of wheel spokes varied slightly, and the slanting arrangement of spokes toward the hub was a relatively advanced design. Attention was paid to reinforcing the weak points of wheels, leading to the appearance of "jiafu" (reinforcing components). During the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, chariot warfare flourished, often involving hundreds to thousands of chariots in battle. Elevated chariots, such as tower chariots and nest chariots, also emerged, primarily used for reconnaissance and observation. The technical treatise "Kaogong Ji" from this period dedicates about half of its content to three chapters—"Wheel Maker," "Carriage Maker," and "Shaft Maker"—documenting a series of technical requirements and inspection methods for vehicle construction. For example, compasses were used to check if wheels were perfectly round, flat disks to verify their evenness, and plumb lines to ensure the spokes were straight. Wheels were also placed in water to observe their buoyancy and determine balance. "Kaogong Ji" provides in-depth research on various components like axles and shafts, with different requirements for mountain-use "bai" vehicles and plain-use large carriages.
