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LicenseThis image is released under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 Licence
Buy this image as a print
BuyLicense this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library
LicenseCompass, Chinese geomancer's, black lacquer finish (10" dia), c. 1851?. From a colour transparency in the Science
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Lacquer work Chinese geomancer's compass showing a 24-point compass rose, unsigned, Chinese, 1750-1857
Geomancy is the art of successfully orienting buildings. The Chinese geomantic system is known as feng shui. In Chinese thought, feng shui is a system of good and evil influence in the natural surroundings, which needs to be taken into consideration when designing and siting buildings. Wooden compasses such as this one were used to determine the most healthy position to build a house. The location for buildings were carefully chosen so that the forces of Yin and Yang were balanced correctly, thus reducing the chance of illness.
Details
- Category:
- Navigation
- Object Number:
- 1857-27
- Materials:
- lacquer, metal (unknown) and wood
- type:
- magnetic compass
- taxonomy:
-
- furnishing and equipment
- vehicle - transportation
- credit:
- Commissioners of the Great Exhibition of 1851
