Accession No
1203
Brief Description
geomantic compass, by Zhou Yi-Zan, Chinese, 1800 (c)
Origin
China
Maker
Zhou Yi-Zan
Class
magnetism
Earliest Date
1800
Latest Date
1800
Inscription Date
Material
wood (boxwood); glass; organic (mother-of-pearl); steel
Dimensions
box diameter 345mm; thickness 42mm
Special Collection
Provenance
On loan from Peterhouse or the Fitzwilliam Museum, University of Cambridge. Alfred B. Hwagbo, ‘An Alternative Tradition In Architecture: Conceptions In Feng Shui and its Continuous Tradition’, Journal of Architectural and Planning Research, 19:2 (summer 2002), pp. 110-130. Says: “The compass was presented to Peterhouse, Cambridge University by the Reverend Henry Stuart (Cantab.), brought by Captain W. Hanwell R. N. in 1821. It was donated to the Fitzwilliam Museum when it was founded in 1837 (opened in 1848), and then later transferred to the Whipple Museum of the History of Science [sic].”
Inscription
‘A chinese Astrological compass by the Revdd Henry Stuart Pet. Coll. Cant. brought home by Captain W. Hanwell R.N. AD 1821’ (label inside lid of box)
Description Notes
Boxwood compass inscribed with 22 concentric rings of characters; inset compass with NS line; glazed cover; steel needle; signed on base: ‘Zhou Yi Zan Xing an Xiu Yi’; rounded edges.
Circular box painted black and lid inlaid with mother of pearl flowers and butterflies.
References
Events
Description
Magnetic compass
The magnetic compass consists of a magnetic needle attached to a compass card, graduated into angular points, and is used for navigation. The first known dry pivoted compass is dated as early as 1269.
The compass indicates the direction of the magnetic pole but there are problems caused by the difference between magnetic and true north (true north being the useful reading). The variation between the two must be calculated in order to obtain an accurate reading. True north was sometimes simply offset from the direction of magnetic north, but this did not allow for geographical variation. For this, charts were needed. The iron used in building ships during the 19th century also led to problems because the magnetism of iron affected the compasses on board.
18/10/2002
Created by: Saffron Clackson on 18/10/2002
FM:43580
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