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Diagram of the twenty-four seasonal division points by which the solar year is divided under the traditional Chinese calendar according to the sun's apparent movement along the ecliptic.

The ancient Chinese people accumulated ample knowledge on weather forecast and composed it into a series of weather proverbs, which were handed down by word of mouth. Those living on the seaside, based on the geographical and climatic characteristics of the seas and rivers, also summed up a set of weather forecast proverbs viable for oceangoing voyages.

There was a record on correct weather forecasting experience in the Dream Creek Notes by the famous scientist Shen Kuo of theNorthern Song Dynasty(960-1127):

The wind in winter is gradually fostered, so preparations can be made prior to navigation; but usually, there are abrupt gusts in summer, which may endanger sailing vessels. To avoid such sea perils, the businesspeople in the water towns in the south of theYangtze Riverwould get up very early in the morning to observe the sky. If there was a clear and bright moon and twinkling stars, but no clouds on the horizon, it was suitable for seagoing. By 9:00-11:00 a.m., the boats would be anchored to withstand the gusts.

There were also a great many methods and tools for observing wind direction in ancient China.

During theShang Dynasty(16-11th BC), people used a ribbon attached to a flag for wind direction observation, giving rise to the concept of "wind from four sides."

Thebronzeinstruments for wind observation during theHan Dynasty(206BC-220) - the "Bronze Phoenix" and "Bronze Crow" -- were the earliest wind observation apparatus in the world. As was recorded in scientific books, there was a rotating device at the bottom of the "Bronze Phoenix," which would rotate in the direction of the wind. The "Bronze Crow" of theEastern Han Dynasty(25-220), shaped like a crow, was installed on astronomical observatories and could also move with the wind.