Compass, a simple instrument of finding the direction, was one of the four great inventions in ancient China.
The history of compass can date back to the period of Warring States (475BC~221BC). During that time, working people used an instrument called Sinan to find their way. It consisted of two parts, a metal spoon which was made of loadstone and a square bronze plate with markings for different positions. Due to the earth’s magnetic field, the handle of the spoon always point to the south. It was believed as the earliest form of compass. During the period of Northern Song Dynasty (960~1127), another kind of compass south-pointing fish appeared and was used for military purpose.
Later, people discovered the directivity of the magnetite. Then the magnetized needles were used to point directions instead of the spoon-shaped loadstone. Finally, the compass came into being. According to records, it was used in navigation during the Northern Song Dynasty (960 A.D. – 1127 A.D.)
As a useful tool in ancient China, compass was also one of the most important inventions for the whole world. Nowadays, it is still used for different purposes, such as measuring, traveling, mining, astronomy, etc.
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