Yi Xing
In regards to mercury instead of water (as noted in the quote above), the first to apply liquid mercury for motive power of an armillary sphere was Zhang Sixun in 979 AD (because mercury would not freeze during winter). During his age, the Song dynasty (960–1279) era historical text of the "Song Shi" mentions Yi Xing and the reason why his armillary sphere did not survive the ages after the Tang (Wade–Giles spelling):