Water-powered trip hammer
Martinete de agua para descascarillar grano
- Date
- c. 20 CE · confidence medium
- Place
- Chang'an (Xi'an), Shaanxi, China
- Credited to
- Described by Huan Tan (Xin lun)
- Field
- Matter & energy
What it is
A water wheel with cams that lifts and drops hammers to hull rice and grind grain. It was the most widespread application of water power in ancient China.
In Europe the water-powered forge hammer is documented from around 1100, probably independently.
What it led to
- mechanisation of grain processing
- water-powered hammers for forging and papermaking