This image is released under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 Licence
This image is released under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 Licence
Compass, 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.
Related people
Details
- Category:
- Navigation
- Object Number:
- 1857-27
- Materials:
- lacquer, metal (unknown), wood
- type:
- magnetic compass
- taxonomy:
-
- furnishing and equipment
- vehicle - transportation
- credit:
- Commissioners of the Great Exhibition of 1851
Cite this page
Rights
We encourage the use and reuse of our collection data.
Data in the title, made, maker and details fields are released under Creative Commons Zero
Descriptions and all other text content are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence
Download
Download catalogue entry as json
Download 
manifest IIIF
Our records are constantly being enhanced and improved, but please note that we cannot guarantee the accuracy of any information shown on this website.
