Topographic sand tables have a long history in my country, with their prototypes dating back to the Qin Dynasty. According to the *Records of the Grand Historian*, Qin Shi Huang personally constructed sand tables to study the geographical situation when planning the conquest of the six states. In 32 AD (the eighth year of the Jianwu era of the Eastern Han Dynasty), the famous general Ma Yuan "gathered rice to represent valleys and mountains, pointing out the terrain," considered one of the earliest examples of three-dimensional sand table simulations in world war history. The Northern Song Dynasty scientist Shen Kuo improved the sand table construction method, using materials such as wood shavings and molten wax to create models of border terrain, which was promoted by the imperial court.
Abroad, the modern sand table originated in the early 19th century with the development of Prussian architects von Reiswitz and his son. They used clay to create battlefield models and small porcelain blocks to represent armies, later evolving into "war simulations." After World War I, sand tables were widely used in the military field. During World War II, the German army frequently conducted sand table simulations before organizing major battles. With the development of computer technology, sand tables have evolved towards automation and diversification.
