The so-called "bronze phoenix" was placed on top of roofs to measure the direction and velocity of the wind. A similar appliance was not invented until 1,000 years later in Europe.
另外經過考證設計的還有東漢張衡所發明的風向標，在古代叫「銅鳳凰」，又稱「相風銅鳥」或「銜花鳥」，放置在五丈以上高的屋頂，除了可以測風向外，還可以測風速，一千年以後歐洲才有類似的儀器出現。