The shape and application of moldboards during the Han dynasty: 3D modelling an excavated plow from Shanxi, China

In 1976, one set of bronze plowshares and moldboards, considered the earliest evidence of ancient practical Chinese ’machinery,’ was unearthed in Nanzhuang village, Pu Cun town, in Qishan County, Shaanxi Province, China, dating back to the Han dynasty. The contours and curved surfaces of these moldboards are difficult to design and manufacture. Focusing on these excavated moldboards, this study examined their shape to identify and understand the depth of the science and technology used during the Han dynasty, while simultaneously focusing on their contribution to the design of modern moldboards. To this end, this study used three-dimensional software to model and reimage the moldboard and plow body of a straight-shaft plow used during the Han dynasty and conducted a dynamic simulation of the mechanics of the curved surface of the moldboard to demonstrate the rationality of its design. This approach facilitated deeper understanding of the agricultural culture and technological achievements of China during the Han dynasty through studying the design and principles involved in the use of moldboards.