At a glance
- Period
- 15th century 1
- Place
- South Korea 1
- Dates
- 1433 is the annal year of the cited work record, not a birth year. No precise Gregorian conversion of the lunar entry.
- Also known as
- 장영실, 蔣英實, Jang Young-sil
The watchmaking story
A useful place to start with Jang Yeong-sil's work is Self-striking palace water clock (자격궁루 / 自擊宮漏). 1
Sources connect Jang Yeong-sil with Joseon royal court, without establishing a formal role. 1
Scope: Broader horology 1
Why this person is included
Documented attributable individual contribution
Background and working context
Affiliations and workshops: Joseon royal court 1
Geographic ties: Joseon Korea; modern South Korean archival and historical-location context. Modern geographic grouping for historical Joseon court activity; not modern nationality
Brands, workshops, and other relationships
- Institution / education / public service · Inherited source-linked record; relationship classification reviewed, sources not reopened
Joseon royal court — Institutional association — role not established. Court clockmaker / instrument artisan 1
Legacy affiliation: Joseon royal court. Person-level contribution: A 1433 royal-annals entry credits his practical construction of a self-striking palace water clock while also recording the king’s direction.
Original affiliation wording: Joseon royal court. No present-day employment or ownership inferred.
Evidence and limitations
This dossier connects 8 field-specific evidence records with 1 public source. Known links only; full career not established; unresolved relationship(s) remain
Claim qualifications (8)
- Full name: English synthesis of Korean/Chinese entry. Romanized name and modern geography are editorial; the record supports the artisan and work, not all later inventions. 1
- Noteworthy contribution: English synthesis of Korean/Chinese entry. Romanized name and modern geography are editorial; the record supports the artisan and work, not all later inventions. 1
- Representative work: English synthesis of Korean/Chinese entry. Romanized name and modern geography are editorial; the record supports the artisan and work, not all later inventions. 1
- Affiliations / workshops: English synthesis of Korean/Chinese entry. Romanized name and modern geography are editorial; the record supports the artisan and work, not all later inventions. 1
- Specific role: English synthesis of Korean/Chinese entry. Romanized name and modern geography are editorial; the record supports the artisan and work, not all later inventions. 1
- Era: English synthesis of Korean/Chinese entry. Romanized name and modern geography are editorial; the record supports the artisan and work, not all later inventions. 1
- Primary geography: English synthesis of Korean/Chinese entry. Romanized name and modern geography are editorial; the record supports the artisan and work, not all later inventions. 1
- Scope: English synthesis of Korean/Chinese entry. Romanized name and modern geography are editorial; the record supports the artisan and work, not all later inventions. 1
Sources
- Sejong Sillok, volume 61: discussion of Jang Yeong-sil’s promotionNot stated · National Institute of Korean History — Annals of the Joseon Dynasty · Primary historical chronicle · Historical entry: Sejong 15, ninth lunar month, day 16 (1433), third entry
[S0326] National Institute of Korean History — Annals of the Joseon Dynasty. "Sejong Sillok, volume 61: discussion of Jang Yeong-sil’s promotion." Historical entry: Sejong 15, ninth lunar month, day 16 (1433), third entry. https://sillok.history.go.kr/id/kda_11509016_003 Accessed 2026-09-13. Locator: kda_11509016_003; 장영실 / 蔣英實 and 자격궁루 / 自擊宮漏.
Source context
Relationship to subject: Institutional edition of original royal annals
How it was checked: Opened — relevant text inspected. kda_11509016_003; 장영실 / 蔣英實 and 자격궁루 / 自擊宮漏
Limitation: Korean/Chinese record, summarized in English. The lunar date is not converted to a Gregorian day. Royal direction and artisan work are both acknowledged.
Corrections and stronger evidence
Names, dates, and workshop relationships can change as archives are digitised. If you have a primary source that clarifies this record, use the correction process.
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