People check the time several times a day without even thinking about it.
But have you ever wondered — since when has humanity been making and using clocks?
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From Sundials to Wristwatches
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The history of clocks — something we look at so casually every day — stretches back over 6,000 years.
Around 4000 BC, in ancient Egypt and Babylonia, the gnomon, a type of sundial, became humanity’s first known timekeeping device.
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A gnomon was simply a stick placed upright in the ground within a circle marked with scales.
By observing the shadow cast by the stick, people could estimate the time.
However, it required long observation periods and couldn’t function properly on cloudy or rainy days.
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Around 2000 BC, the water clock, or Clepsydra, was invented in Egypt.
This device worked by allowing water to drip slowly from a container with markings inside; the changing water level indicated the passage of time.
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By the 4th century, the hourglass appeared — a familiar sight even today in saunas or as a decorative timer.
It measured time by the steady flow of sand through a narrow glass neck.
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In the 9th century, people began using objects with consistent burning speeds, such as candles, lamps, and incense, to tell time.
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Then, in 1364, Frenchman Henri de Vic created the world’s first mechanical clock — the first to use power to move its parts.
From that point on, the history of clocks evolved rapidly.
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By the 16th century, portable clocks and early mechanical chronometers appeared, and by 1728, precision improved even more.
In the 19th century, the foundation of modern clockmaking was established with the invention of electric spring clocks and the world’s first wristwatch by Cartier.
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Later, Rolex introduced a self-winding mechanism with a 360-degree rotating rotor, eliminating the need to manually wind the watch.
Building on this innovation, Seiko in Japan developed the world’s first quartz wristwatch, marking the beginning of the modern era of timekeeping.
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The History of Clocks in Korea
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When did Koreans begin to measure time?
Although no physical artifacts remain, records in The Chronicles of the Three Kingdoms (Samguk Sagi) mention the use of water clocks.
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Fragments of sundials have been discovered from the Silla period, and during the Goryeo dynasty, a large bell used to announce the time was made during King Chungmok’s reign.
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In 1434, under the order of King Sejong, the brilliant inventor Jang Yeong-sil created the Jagyeokru (self-striking water clock).
It was a remarkable invention for its time.
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The Jagyeokru consisted of three water tanks.
As water filled the final tank, a floating rod rose to a certain height, releasing metal balls that rolled down and struck a bell — allowing time to be announced automatically, without human supervision.
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Other types of sundials, such as Angbuilgu, Hyeonjuilgu, Cheonpyeongilgu, and Jeongnamilgu, were also developed.
Among them, the Angbuilgu, first produced during King Sejong’s reign, even influenced timekeeping technology in Japan.
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In 1631, during the reign of King Injo, Jeong Du-won brought back a mechanical clock (self-ringing bell clock) from a diplomatic mission to Ming China — Korea’s first encounter with a mechanical timepiece.
This introduction greatly influenced the development of Korean clockmaking.
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Later, in 1669 (the 10th year of King Hyeonjong’s reign), the Honcheon Clock was created — the only surviving astronomical clock from the Joseon dynasty.
It combined the power of a water wheel mechanism with the principles of Western mechanical clocks, representing a fascinating blend of Eastern and Western technology.
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Freeing Time from the Clock
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Throughout history, clocks have been inseparable from human civilization.
They are proof of our desire to master time — though in truth, time has always been something beyond our control.
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While clocks have become ever more precise, modern humans seem more hurried than ever.
Driven by pressure to move faster and further, we often lose our sense of calm and find ourselves enslaved by the very time we try to control.
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But what if clocks had never existed?
We might struggle with daily routines — not knowing when to wake up, sleep, or eat lunch — yet we might also live with a little more freedom and peace of mind.
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Perhaps forgetting about time once in a while isn’t such a bad idea.
If clocks had never been invented, maybe we’d be living more relaxed, unhurried lives today.
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In our fast-paced modern world, making every second count is important —
but sometimes, it’s equally valuable to let time flow naturally and simply enjoy the moment.
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