Chinese Feng Shui Compass

Author: Cheng Jianjun
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-01-01
Features: The compass, also known as Luo Jing (Luo Mirror), Jing Pan (Jing Plate), Zi Wu Pan (Zi Wu Plate), Zhun Pan (Needle Plate), or Feng Shui compass, is an indispensable tool for ancient Chinese geomancers in their divination activities. The compass dial is layered and complex, encompassing a vast array of contents, from the Five Elements and Bagua to the Geng Chen Jia Zi, solar terms, and directional positions, to astronomical and calendrical knowledge, as well as the division of regions and states. As the preface to Luo Jing Jieding states: "The Luo Jing gathers the essence of heaven and earth, adjusts the movements of stars, observes the rise and flow of mountains and waters, aligns form with qi, and applies numbers to reason. Everything is intricately arranged, and thus, the Yin and Yang houses find auspiciousness. Just as a weaver must follow the warp to create brocade, the Luo Jing is called such." Its complexity and obscurity have given rise to a mysterious and enigmatic impression of the compass. In recent years, Feng Shui research has flourished, yet in-depth studies on the compass remain scarce. There may be three reasons for this: first, there are ideological reservations, believing it unwise to study it or that the time is not right; second, the obscurity of the compass indeed makes it difficult to delve into deeply; and third, there may be research findings but a reluctance to share them. This makes it hard for people to understand its true nature. What exactly is the compass? What are the functions of its many layers and contents? Is there a scientific basis for it? As Feng Shui studies continue to evolve, these questions naturally draw attention. It is no surprise that in recent years, some have begun publishing in-depth research on the compass, but unfortunately, some of these works lack proper analysis, while others are overly obscure and difficult to understand.
In my opinion, regardless of the circumstances, the compass, as a historical artifact and a mystery, is worth studying with the right mindset and methods. As the saying goes, "If you don’t enter the tiger’s den, how can you catch the tiger’s cub?" To simply dismiss it without putting in the effort to study it and judge it as "wrong" or "good" without understanding it is precisely unscientific. What I mean is that whether it’s ancient or modern, scientific or superstitious, good or bad, it should all be subjected to in-depth research. Otherwise, how can we dialectically understand things? Without thorough research, how can we distinguish science from superstition, or understand what truly makes something scientific or superstitious?
What I’m saying is that this book on the compass is a scientific study—not necessarily that the subject itself is scientific. This is exactly the case. Through certain research on the compass, we realize that this mysterious object, aside from its use for magnetic needle orientation and recording some ancient astronomical, geographical, climatic, and historical knowledge, most of the content on its dial lacks logical basis. Although these contents include many concepts from ancient Chinese philosophy, some of the content on the compass dial, such as historical, philosophical, and cultural elements, has been meticulously processed by geomancers, but its methods and the auspicious or inauspicious conclusions derived from them are absurd. The astrology and destiny studies embedded in the compass have nearly drowned out its scientific contributions in early compasses, making them appear foolish. It should be noted that the Feng Shui compass is indeed a practical tool for ancient Chinese divination and geomancy, connecting heaven and earth.
Of course, during our research, we have also discovered other issues, such as the possible origins of the magnetic compass in the Tang Dynasty, the relationship between the invention of the compass in China and its geographical location, and the influence of compass use on architectural orientation in the late feudal era. These findings hold significance for research in other fields.
The Feng Shui compass comes in many varieties, and this book primarily takes the "Huipan" as an example for a detailed study, aiming to present its true nature.