Wan'an Compass

Wan'an Compass

The Wan'an Compass is a protected geographical indication product.

The Wan'an Compass is a national-level intangible cultural heritage.

　　A traditional geodetic instrument, the Wan'an Compass is renowned for its exquisite craftsmanship and high production standards, making it not only a functional tool but also a handicraft of artistic value. In today's era of modern geodetic instruments, these vintage compasses are still regarded as cultural relics. Named after Wan'an Town in Xiuning County, its place of origin, the compass is a simple device that indicates direction by utilizing the principle of a magnetic needle aligning itself within the magnetic meridian plane under the Earth's magnetic field. It is lightweight, reliable, and widely used in navigation, travel, and plane surveying. It was also employed by geomancers (feng shui practitioners) to select auspicious burial sites and house foundations, making it an instrument of great significance in ancient times. The production of the Wan'an Compass demands extremely strict standards for raw materials and craftsmanship. Its base is made from special wood, which undergoes processes such as rough cutting, rounding, and polishing. Sizes vary from about one foot in diameter to models small enough to fit in the palm of a hand. A circular hole is drilled at the center of the dial, housing a freely rotating magnetic needle. The hole is covered with a transparent thin sheet to keep it clean while allowing visibility of the needle’s movement. Beyond the central circle, the dial is marked with a grid of vertical and horizontal lines, sequentially displaying the Eight Trigrams, the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches, and the Twenty-Eight Lunar Mansions, all inscribed on the surface. Excluding overlaps, this configuration indicates a total of twenty-four directions. When combined, the Eight Trigrams yield sixty-four hexagrams, and the twelve Earthly Branches form sixty groups, with the Trigrams representing space and the Branches representing time — uniting heaven, earth, past, and present within a single circle. The dial is coated with lacquer, giving it a mirror-like transparency and a smooth, jade-like finish.

　　The Wan'an Compass is most famously produced by three prominent workshops: Wuluheng, Fang Xiushui, and Hu Ruyi. Wuluheng, originally named Guozhu, was a native of Wan'an Town, Xiuning County, in the early Qing Dynasty, and was celebrated as an unmatched master craftsman in compass-making. His descendants inherited and continuously improved upon his craft, and the Yujì Compass Workshop remains thriving to this day. In 1915, over a century ago, their products won a gold medal at the Panama–Pacific International Exposition. It is said that in those days, visitors to Huizhou would invariably bring back two souvenirs: a compass and Huizhou ink sticks—feeling their trip would be incomplete without them. Today, the Capital History Museum houses a exquisitely crafted compass made of resilient materials, with unparalleled artistry. Inscribed on the back with the name “Wuluheng,” it is a masterpiece from a top artisan of the Wuluheng family. With the advancement of science and technology and social progress, handmade Wan'an Compasses have gradually been phased out. However, since the reform and opening-up period, to meet the demands of tourism development, Wan'an Town has reopened the “Lao Wuluheng Compass Shop,” now offering small batches of compasses. These are highly sought after by enthusiasts as both handicrafts and travel souvenirs. (Huangshan)

　　Wan'an Compass

　　The current administrative region of Wan'an Town, Xiuning County, Anhui Province

　　Letter from the People's Government of Xiuning County "On Defining the Protection Scope of the Wan'an Compass Geographical Indication Product," Xiuzheng Letter [2013] No. 5

　　Enterprise Standard of Wan'an Wuluheng Compass Old Store Co., Ltd., Xiuning County: Q/WHL001-2010 "Wan'an Compass"