Record

Compass

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made in China

Postcard of Compass.
000-100-104-223-C
© National Museums Scotland

Compass

This simple Chinese magnetic compass dates from the 19th century. It was made by scooping the core from a cross-section of the branch of a tree.

This small Chinese compass is made from wood, with an artificially-induced magnetic needle. This is protected by glass, and points to one of the 24 Chinese compass points surrounding the bearing pan.

The Chinese knew about the properties of magnets long before they were discovered in the West. Their directional compasses, however, always pointed south.


Record details

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Online ID: 000-100-104-223-C
Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
Project: 0098: National Museums Scotland
Project description | View all records in project
Ref: National Museums Scotland  T.1953.46
Date: 19th century
Material: Wood
Dimensions: 3.13" D
What: Compass, magnetic
Subject: 9. NAVIGATION (Departmental Classification)
Who:
Where: China
CHINA
Event:
Description: Primitive Chinese magnetic compass made by scooping the core from a cross section of a branch of a tree, 19th century
References:
  • China: 7000 Years of Discovery, China's Ancient Technology, San Francisco, 1983, pp 21-22. 
  • Joseph Needham, Science and Civilisation in China vol. IV part 1, Cambridge, 1962, pp 249-269; 279-299.  
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