An old engraving of mariner’s compass with Chinese directional points. It is from a Victorian book of the 1880s. This compass has the small magnetic steel needle contained within a copper cup and points south. The 8 main directional compass points are shown in the inner circle – the concentric circles outside of this include the portions of the day and further, larger, chronological cycles. The magnetic compass was used for interpreting symbols and fortune-telling, possibly to harmonise buildings and interiors in accordance with the geomantic principles of feng shui.
An old engraving of mariner’s compass with Chinese directional points. It is from a Victorian book of the 1880s. This compass has the small magnetic steel needle contained within a copper cup and points south. The 8 main directional compass points are shown in the inner circle – the concentric circles outside of this include the portions of the day and further, larger, chronological cycles. The first compasses were made of lodestone, a naturally magnetised ironstone, in Han dynasty China (20 BC–20 AD) where it was called the ‘south-governor’. The magnetic compass was not initially used for navigation, but for interpreting symbols and patterns, divination and fortune-telling. The earliest Chinese magnetic compasses were possibly used to order and harmonise buildings and interiors in accordance with the geomantic principles of feng shui.
Size: 2953px × 2942px
Location: China
Photo credit: © M&N / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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