The oldest timepiece in history is the sundial. At first employing just a rod stuck into the ground, then later erecting stone pillars, ancient people used sundials to measure time from the position of the shadow cast on the ground.

Water clocks were invented as timepieces that could be used even when the sun was not shining. Designed to allow water to escape from a vessel at a constant rate, these devices were used to measure time by the level of the remaining water.

Combustion clocks were used to measure time using materials that would burn at a constant rate. This included candle clocks, incense clocks, and lamp clocks. Some of these also provided the additional convenience of serving as a source of light.

Because hourglasses are not easily influenced by swaying or by changes in temperature, they were used for many centuries as a means of measuring time on sea voyages.

In the Edo period, people could tell the time from the ringing of bells in temples or other places, and in areas where there were no bells to hear, people would use paper sundials or portable sundials.