Ancient Chinese Seismometer & Folio 43v

Captain’s Blog 1/13/2023: An in depth view of Folio 43v.

Each Folio in MS 408 (Voynich Manuscript) has hidden technology, how to operate it and where to use it and why. To calculate where each Folio is the reader must have time and distance. Without going into a verbose lecture on geodetic calculations, (which have been previously discussed in other blog posts) the authors of MS 408 inserted time calculations be solar observations drawn in the flowers, the distance calculations are the scaled measurements of the Folio itself. Due to tangential distortion by Yale scanners the true Folio calculations where re-calculated and approximated by measuring existing Yale replicas. Given the time and distance displayed on Folio 43v places the coordinates at 32°N / 127°E approx. approaching the Dragon Triangle( Folio 44r), South of Japan.

In the East China Sea the seismic profiling indicates that the geologic structure beneath the ocean floor consists of nearly parallel folds, with rock ridges near the northern limits of the East China Sea, near the edge of the continental shelf, and along the Ryukyus (as drawn in Folio 43v middle of the right side.) The Ryukyus are an island chain with several volcanic islands on the East China Sea side. Many of the volcanoes are still active. Epicentres of earthquakes are found along the axis of the Okinawa Trough and the Ryukyu Island arc.

A sea captain or Admiral would want to know the seismic activity in this region due to the severe volcanic activity. In Ancient China the inventor astronomer, engineer, scientist, scholar and artist Zhang Heng (79-139AD) designed and created the first earthquake sensing device named Houfeng didong yi. Which could remotely detect earthquakes hundreds of kilometres away. Known as a Seismoscope, this inertia sensing instrument was the very beginning for the science’s in the field of seismology.

The device that the authors of MS 408 describe in Folio 43v match the description of the ancient Chinese Seismometer with some variations. The alterations include being attached to a clock and the use of the French version of a Monkey Tray. (A Monkey Tray is a base for holding large canon balls.) The Seismometer would work by detecting the direction of where an earthquake was coming from by wobbling the internal lever releasing a canon ball from the snake/dragons mouth.

The diagram to the Left is the Ancient Chinese Seismometer, to the Right is the European version attached to a clock.

Translation of Folio 34v:

High pressure ridges in the discolored area (right sided root system). The velocity of an orifice synchronizes the vial, the metal consumes humidity forcing out the pool attached to the side snake. The mark holes force out the leader confirms the merged average time vector eddies (tsunamis). The atmospheric vorticity stays the secant. I am giving the out, gather and collect the inactive foremost forefront outside the atmospheric vorticity. The use approaches the smallest unit pass through spherical excess. The speedway had thrusted the outcome unprocessed velocity of an orifice throttle. The pass through gets a clockwise circulation gated area (reference to time zone change in sun position), the former night (e)*secant arc forced out the whole information.

The reading undertaking gets the grids mark (Flower Solar observation 35°N) it is obtaining the mark and pushes a strong grid former hollow cavity. Where it blows you all are going (flowers are blowing toward South of Japan near Ryokyu Islands) the lead collects the forefront and moves like an eel, 69cm all around. Forward it persists the y-level away and would heavily pinion the leader, ventured the measurement contestably discharging the lever unusually wobbling naturally and vaulting.

At the times beginning as the bird fly’s (reference to time zones in the Catalan Atlas and birds flying at this latitude in the Map see below) the use completely grids. Remove and detach the radius, it is pushing the drawings monkey (tray) out of the way, the former angular radius link the increase to the snake. Suppose the out use covers and violates competitively, thrust confirmed pass through you are congealing. I will be continuing the lead information differently. The opening forced out the ball-socket joint receiver. Zero-Zero (coordinates) stakes the leader to obtain the leadable. The wing-attachment at a distance, the authors have the leader and will rack to your pinion. The clock spoon had measured descending entirely. Monster Wave (tsunami) secant spherical excess information you go the upper bow naturally, the visual hole stacked to get the pass through.

(END Folio translation)

The above translation third paragraph mentions “At the times beginning as the bird fly’s” is a reference to Time Zones calculated in the Catalan Atlas. The position of the map is to begin a the edge of the known world at the latitude of the birds.