Wan'an Compass [Anhui Xiuning Specialty]

What is Wan'an Compass? Authentic Anhui Xiuning specialty: Wan'an compass

Content summary:Do you want to know what Wan'an compass is? This article is a detailed introduction to the special product of Anhui Xiuning, Wan'an Compass. It was compiled and edited by the editorial team of China Specialty Network after reviewing and collecting relevant information about Wan'an Compass. The full text takes about 6 minutes to read, mainly including the basic introduction of Wan'an Compass and the product characteristics of Wan'an Compass? How did the history of Wan'an Compass come about? The production method of Wan'an Compass, the awards and honors of Wan'an Compass, etc

Introduction to Wan'an Compass

Wan'an Compass is a traditional Han Chinese handicraft in Wan'an Town, Anhui Province. It is an important instrument widely used in astronomy, geography, military, navigation and divination, as well as the location of houses and tombs. It is the continuation and development of the compass, one of the the Four Great Inventions of the ancient Han working people. It is a traditional practical folk handicraft developed on the basis of the compass. Wan'an Compass is the only existing compass in China that is handmade using traditional Han Chinese techniques. It is named after its birthplace and production location in Wan'an Old Street, Wan'an Town, Xiuning County, Anhui Province. The Wan'an compass is a famous traditional geological instrument, which can be used for both navigation direction identification and feng shui divination of urban and rural residential buildings. Including several types such as navigation compass, surveying compass, and sundial. Compass sizes vary, with hundreds of styles and high precision. At the end of the Qing Dynasty, it was sold both domestically and internationally

1. Sensory features: The disc surface is free from deformation, cracking, smooth and even, with accurate division and clear handwriting. If there is an external disk, the disk surface is a standard square, with no bending or skewing on all four sides. The inner and outer circles of the inner disc should be standardized, and after inserting the outer disc, the gap between them should be appropriately wide and tight

2. Accuracy: When placing Tianchi into the inner plate, the seabed is aligned with the meridian and compass of the inner plate. The center of the concave circle where the inner disk is placed is the geometric center of the outer disk

Method of making Wan'an compass

Requirements for raw materials

1. Magnetic needle: a pointer magnetized by a specific natural meteorite

2. Wood: Choose locally produced silk cotton wood (tiger bone wood) or ginkgo wood (white fruit wood) that is over 30 years old, has been dried in the shade for more than three years, and has no cracks<3. Ink: Huizhou ink developed by Sheyan

Process flow

Blanking → Turning → Dividing → Clearing → Writing → Oil cargo → Needle installation

1. It is necessary to select the top-grade wood material "Tiger Bone Tree" (scientific name Chongyang Wood)

2. Saw into compass blanks

3. Polish the rough car circle and dig a circular hole for installing the magnetic needle

4. Divide and write on the table, draw grids and write on the table, arrange according to the Taiji Yin Yang, Bagua 24 Yao, Tian Gan Di Zhi, 24 Xiang Zhi, 24 Solar Terms, 12 Zodiac Animals, 28 Mansions Fen Ye, and 365 Zhou Tian in sequence, and write according to the secret map<5. Then refine tung oil and apply oil to the compass

6. Installing the magnetic needle is the last and most critical process, which is operated by the shop owner alone in the secret room. Its work includes magnetizing the steel needle, measuring the center of gravity of the magnetic needle, and installing the needle

Mysterious Process

Among them, the most mysterious process is "dividing and writing on the dial", which requires compass makers to write the contents of the division according to different models and dial patterns of secret collections, using a brush to write small regular script according to various dial patterns. They must be rigorous, careful, and correct

Honor of Wan'an Compass

The country attaches great importance to the protection of intangible cultural heritage. On May 20, 2006, the production techniques were approved by the State Council and included in the first batch of national intangible cultural heritage list.