Thank you so much for clarifying some information that I have worked out via the internet and giving me better explanations of some of the inner circles and the little white squares! The clock isn't working at the moment unfortunately so I am limited in what information I can confirm. I am trying to contact the Japanese Clock and Watch Association via email but they don't have an enquiries form. I am only volunteering here once a week so hence why length of time in replying. It is an exquisite piece. I will look at your links and information above and let you know how I go. Kind regards, Clare BkMore ramblings: The shift from Japanese traditional time to "western" time (fixed length of hours) happened officially in 1872. If this clock is from 1860, and it has some kind of mechanism for adjusting the length of the hours, it ought to be a very interesting timepiece indeed. Anyway, this is out of my field of expertise, but I'm very curious now about this item.
I tried to find the Old Clock House in Japan and searched for Yasuyuki Mizukami but couldn't find it nor link into it unfortunately. I have contacted Seiko, Japanese Clock and Watch Association, Daimyo Clock Museum, Horological Society of Japan but they are unable to assist me.Thank you so much for clarifying some information that I have worked out via the internet and giving me better explanations of some of the inner circles and the little white squares! The clock isn't working at the moment unfortunately so I am limited in what information I can confirm. I am trying to contact the Japanese Clock and Watch Association via email but they don't have an enquiries form. I am only volunteering here once a week so hence why length of time in replying. It is an exquisite piece. I will look at your links and information above and let you know how I go. Kind regards, Clare Bk
Am now in touch with Ada Takumi. He is a mind full of information. Wish I had enough mechanical knowledge to understand it all!Did you find the link to Ada Takumi, the guy who repairs such antique clocks? His email address is on his YouTube "About" page. He may be your best chance. Let me know if you can't find it.
This most likely is for 更点法, which was a way to categorize evening hours. See Wikipedia:Majestic said:On the inner circle (clockwise from bottom)
卯・寅・丑・子・亥
Rabbit, Tiger, Cow, Rat, Pig
I don't know what they represent, or why there are only 5 of the twelve animals.
I'm being lazy so here is the Google Translate of the above:Wikipedia said:更点法
夜間の分割については6等分のほか、5等分の更点法もある。日暮れを一更（初更）とし、二更、三更として夜明け前は五更となり、一つの更はさらに一点（初点）から五点まで5等分され、夜明けは五更五点となる。
日本でも更点法は奈良時代から一部で使われたが、どちらかというと更点法は中国や朝鮮で盛んに用いられた。
Also see this link to see how the 更点法 connects to the Chinese characters.Google Translate said:As for the division at night, in addition to 6 equal divisions, there is also a 5 equal division method. Sunset is 1st stage (first stage), 2nd stage, 3rd stage, and 5th stage before dawn. .
In Japan, the Saketen method was used in some areas from the Nara period, but the Saketen method was more actively used in China and Korea.
Thanks for your guidance. I will be showing all this information to the technical person. Ada has been extremely helpful. I wish he would write the paragraphs for me because he is technical but has provided so much information which I really appreciated.This most likely is for 更点法, which was a way to categorize evening hours. See Wikipedia:
I'm being lazy so here is the Google Translate of the above:
Also see this link to see how the 更点法 connects to the Chinese characters.
Hope it's cool me popping up in here… but look what I found this weekend. Ima need some help with identifying my Japanese lantern clock.. and honestly, putting it together!! So this is where I'm at….The characters in the innermost circle are the 12 Chinese zodiac symbols: Rat, Cow, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, Pig. The characters (in the above order) are 子丑寅卯辰巳午未申酉戌亥
The Chinese zodiac system was well-known and used in Japan, and is still used in Japan for some traditional things (fortune-telling, calendars, symbols for New Year's celebrations etc). In feudal times the zodiac was used to tell time. The day was divided into 12 sections, with each section corresponding to one of the animals of the zodiac system.
In the ring with the western numerals, the characters under each numeral are the kanji equivalent of that numberal. In other words, they are the Japanese characters for 1 to 12.
The small white square on the left side under the clock face is the number "20". Hard to tell what it is...is it a day/date counter?
That's quite a find!My crazy barn find…