Candle Clocks History, Origins, and Cultural Use

1. What Are Candle Clocks?

Candle clocks represent a timekeeping technique from ancient times, utilizing candles to gauge time’s progression. By lighting a marked candle, the burning process reveals specific time intervals. This clever, uncomplicated method helped keep track of time before mechanical clocks emerged.

2. Candle Clocks History

The precise beginnings of candle clocks remain a mystery, but their use spans diverse cultures and historical periods. The first recorded mention of a candle clock appears in a 6th-century CE Chinese poem by You Jiangsu. These clocks became popular in medieval Europe, particularly in monasteries, where they marked prayer hours.

3. Candle Clocks in Different Cultures

Various cultures worldwide employed candle clocks, each featuring unique methods and designs.

• Ancient Egypt: Egyptians utilized a “shadow clock” or sundial, measuring time using sun-cast shadows. At night, they applied a similar method with candles, marking time-based on shadow lengths.
• Medieval Europe: Monasteries relied on candle clocks to follow strict prayer and activity schedules. These clocks had notches or metal pins that fell or made noise when the candle burned down, signalling prayer time.
• Japan: Japanese candle clocks, called keika-dokei, were made of wax or a wax and plant oil mixture, often decorated with elaborate artwork. They used the “koku” system, dividing day and night into six equal parts.

4. Evolution of Candle Clocks

Candle clocks evolved with the introduction of new materials and techniques, such as:

• Al-Jazari’s Candle Clock: In 1206, the renowned Muslim inventor Al-Jazari devised an advanced candle clock using water and weights for a consistent burn rate, improving accuracy.
• King Alfred’s Candle Clock: In the 9th century, England’s King Alfred the Great allegedly used a six-candle clock, with each candle burning for four hours. He allocated equal portions of his day to various tasks using these clocks.

By the 14th century, more accurate mechanical clocks replaced candle clocks.

5. Conclusion

Candle clocks history offers an intriguing insight into our ancestors’ resourcefulness in measuring time. From ancient Egypt to medieval Europe and Japan, candle clocks were vital in various cultures for tracking time and maintaining schedules.

Candle clocks exemplify not only the diverse historical uses of candles but also human creativity across different eras. Reflecting on candle clock history, we appreciate timekeeping evolution and its impact on our modern time comprehension.

At Highland Candle Company, we continue to cherish the rich history and applications of candles. Though not used for timekeeping today, candles still hold a special place in our hearts, bringing warmth, light, and ambience to our homes and lives.