luopans (feng shui tools)

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  7. [measuring devices for extent]
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  9. angle measuring devices
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  11. compasses (direction indicators)
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Scope note
Magnetic compasses, often referred to as feng shui compasses or geomantic compasses. These are tools used to determine the precise direction of a location or object in the practice of feng shui or geomancy. These differ from conventional directional compasses due to feng shui formulas embedded in up to 40 concentric rings on the surface, a metal or wooden plate known as the heaven dial which sits on a wooden base known as the earth plate. The heaven dial rotates freely on the earth plate. A red wire or thread that crosses the earth plate and heaven dial at 90-degree angles is the Heaven Center Cross Line, or Red Cross Grid Line. This line is used to find the direction and note position on the rings. These were developed in China between the 3rd century BCE and the 1st century CE as tools for feng shui, building on knowledge from even older artifacts.
luopans
Accepted term: 01-Dec-2025