New Meanings of the Artificers' Record: Volume 1

Page 10

...as well.

When gazing at the spokes, they should appear slender and elegantly tapered. When one approaches to inspect them original: 眠 (mian), a phonetic loan for "to see" or "to inspect" in this context., their thickness must be proportionate.

There is no other standard to follow here; one simply seeks that which is smooth and straight.

"Thickness" refers to the tapering original: feng-sha (豐殺), the intentional thinning of wood towards the ends to balance weight and strength. of the structural timber. "Proportionate thickness" means that the upper spoke-tenon zi: the part of the spoke that fits into the hub where it enters the hub, and the lower claw zao: the part of the spoke that fits into the rim where it enters the rim, must each match the width and narrowness of their respective mortise holes. Regarding the spokes and the hub, one simply gazes at their alignment...

The text above uses abbreviated phrasing.

One must inspect the binding original: 粳 (jing), a regional variant for geng, referring to a rope or bamboo wrap. to ensure the claws are correctly positioned. If one ensures that the spoke-tenons and claws are not loose or decayed original: qu (齲), literally "tooth decay," referring here to gaps or rot in the joinery., then even if the wheel becomes worn with age, it will not warp.

The binding is made of bamboo and is also known as a suan original: 算; its purpose is to protect the rim and cover the mortise holes of the claws.