Top 10 greatest inventions of ancient China
- By Lin Liyao
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E-mail China.org.cn, March 4, 2011
Compass
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The earliest Chinese compasses were originally invented to harmonize environments and buildings in accordance with the geometric principles of Feng Shui. [china.com.cn] |
The earliest Chinese compasses were probably not originally invented for navigation, but to harmonize environments and buildings in accordance with the geometric principles of Feng Shui. It is proved that the earliest Chinese reference recording a magnetic device used as a "direction finder" is in a Song Dynasty book dated during from 960 to1279. The earliest record about the actual use of a magnetized needle for navigation is Zhu Yu's book Pingzhou Table Talks, written in 1102. The invention of compass greatly improved the safety and efficiency of travel, especially oceanic navigation.
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