What Are the Chinese Combination Locks?

The invention of the ara lock is nearly thousand years old. It took several centuries for the technology to travel to europe, and it likely took hold in china around the thirteenth century. Aisalborg describes them as keyless locks that are opened by turning rings or cubes. The surfaces of the rings or cubes have imprinted letters, numbers, or, in this case, chinese characters. Each must be turned to the correct position before the lock can be opened.