Illustrated Explanation of the Chariot System in the Artificers' Record

Taking [that measurement] as the circumference of the felloe—how then would one explain it? This is the fifth point of disagreement.

The Felloe of the Large Cart is Called the Qu

The Record of Trades original: Kao Gong Ji. A classic work on science and technology in Ancient China, part of the Rites of Zhou., in the section on the Wheelwright, states: "The qu original: qu. A specific term for the felloe or rim of a large load-bearing cart. is three ke original: ke. A standard unit of measure used by ancient craftsmen, equal to three feet (chi). The term literally refers to an axe-handle. tripled." Master Zheng Sinong A prominent Han dynasty scholar (d. 83 AD) known for his commentaries on the Rites. notes: "The qu refers to the bent wood of the cart, which is what we call the felloe original: ya. The outer circular rim of a wheel.." The Great Commentary on the Book of Documents says: "Sanyi Sheng went to the shores of the Yangtze and Huai rivers and retrieved a great shell, as large as the qu of a large cart." Master Zheng’s commentary states: "The qu is the outer rim original: wang. of the wheel." Thus, the qu is indeed the felloe.

I further note that although the measurements for the Wheelwright’s "Large Cart" begin with the ke unit, its actual structural proportions are essentially the same [as other chariots]. I shall now interpret the text and append a wheel diagram hereafter to serve as cross-evidence for the felloe’s circumference and the number of binding cords original: geng. The cords or lashings used to secure the parts of the wheel..

The Wheelwright section states: "The ke is three feet long." It further says: "The height of the wheel original: lun chong. is three ke nine feet." It also says: "Divide the height of the wheel into six parts; one of these parts constitutes the circumference of the felloe the felloe width is one foot five inches; the two felloes [of the wheel] combined equal three feet." It also says: "The length of the hub original: gu. The central part of the wheel from which the spokes radiate. is half a ke one footWhile half of a three-foot ke is technically 1.5 feet, the annotation here notes it as 'one foot,' possibly reflecting a specific local variant or a clerical error in the source transcription.."