Gwansanggam Cheugudae

Basic information

Designation

Treasure No.843

Category

Craft

Era

조선시대

Designated year

1985

Location

종로구, 서울특별시— 서울특별시 종로구 송월길 52 (송월동, 국립기상박물관)

Coordinates

37.493749, 126.917310

This granite pedestal supported a cheugugi (rain gauge) set up on to measure the amount of rainfall in the Joseon Dynasty, and now only the pedestal remains. The cheugugi was the first rain gauge in the world. It was invented in the 23rd year of the reign of King Sejong the Great (1441) of the Joseon Dynasty, and first used to measure the amount of rainfall nationwide in the following year. It was an epoch-making development in 15th century because before its invention, it had been impossible to measure the amount of rainfall since the rain immediately soaked into the ground. A cylindrical shaped cheugugi made of iron was set in the 16.5 cm diameter, 4.7 cm deep hole in this pedestal of rectangular parallelepiped of 87.6 cm height, 59.7 cm length and 94.5 cm width.

Location