Luopan

Luopan is a Chinese magnetic compass, also known as a Feng Shui compass. It is used by a Feng Shui consultant to determine the precise direction of a structure or other item. Since the invention of the compass for use in Feng Shui [Wallace H. Campbell. "Earth Magnetism: A Guided Tour Through Magnetic Fields." Academic Press, 2001.] , traditional feng shui has required its use.

Form and Function

Like a conventional compass, a luopan is a direction finder. However, a luopan differs from a compass in several important ways. The most obvious difference is the Feng Shui formulas embedded in concentric rings on the surface. This is a metal plate known as the "heaven dial". The metal plate typically 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". [Cheng Jian Jun and Adriana Fernandes-Gonçalves. "Chinese Feng Shui Compass: Step by Step Guide." 1998:25] This line is used to find the direction and note position on the rings. The schematic of earth plate, heaven plate, and grid lines is part of the two cords and four hooks geometrical diagram in use since at least the Warring States period. [Mark Kalinowski. The "Xingde" Texts from Mawangdui. "Early China" 23-24. 1998-99:125-202]

A conventional compass has markings for four or eight directions, while a luopan typically contains markings for 24 directions. This translates to 15 degrees per direction. Interestingly, the Sun takes approximately 15.2 days to traverse a point. If you mark a series of 24 points on the ecliptic it creates a cycle of 365.25 days, which means that each degree on a luopan approximates a terrestrial day.

A luopan does not point to the north pole of Earth. The needle of a luopan points to the south geographic pole. The Chinese word "compass" translates to “pointing-south needle.”

Types of Luopan

Since the Ming and dynasties, three types of luopan have been popular. They have some formula rings in common, such as the 24 directions and the early and later heaven arrangements.

San He

This luopan was said to have been used in the Tang dynasty. [Cheng Jian Jun and Adriana Fernandes-Gonçalves. "Chinese Feng Shui Compass: Step by Step Guide." 1998:21] The San He contains three basic 24-direction rings. Each ring relates to a different method and formula. (The techniques grouped under the name "Three Harmonies" are San He methods.)

San Yuan

This luopan, also known as the "jiang pan" (after Jiang Da Hong) or the "Yi Pan" (because of the presence of I Ching trigrams) [Cheng Jian Jun and Adriana Fernandes-Gonçalves. "Chinese Feng Shui Compass: Step by Step Guide." 1998:21] incorporates many formulas used in San Yuan (Three Cycles). It contains one 24-direction ring, known as the Earth Plate Correct Needle, the ring for the 64 trigrams, and others. (The techniques grouped under the name "Flying Stars" are an example of San Yuan methods.)

Zong He

This luopan combines rings from the San He and San Yuan. It contains three 24-direction rings and the 64 trigrams ring.

Other Types

Each Feng Shui master may design a luopan to suit preference and to offer students. Some designs incorporate the gua (trigram) numbers, directions from the Eight Mansions "(ba zhai)" methods, and English equivalents.

History and Development

Shi or Shipan

The shi (Chinese for "astrolabe" or "diviner's board)" [Mark Kalinowski. The "Xingde" Texts from Mawangdui. "Early China" 23-24. 1998-99:194] is the original magnetic compass, and was developed for Feng Shui. [Wallace H. Campbell. "Earth Magnetism: A Guided Tour Through Magnetic Fields." Academic Press, 2001.] The "shi" featured the two cords and four hooks diagram, direction markers, and a magnetized spoon in the center.

Liuren astrolabe

The oldest excavated examples of instruments used for feng shui are "liuren" astrolabes. These consist of a lacquered, two-sided board with astronomical sightlines. Liuren astrolabes have been unearthed from tombs that date between 278 BC and 209 BC. They show the cord-hook diagram and some models include the magic square of three. They were commonly used to chart the motion of Taiyi through the nine palaces. [Yin Difei. "Xi-Han Ruyinhou mu chutu de zhanpan he tianwen yiqi." "Kaogu" 1978.5, 338-43; Yan Dunjie, "Guanyu Xi-Han chuqi de shipan he zhanpan." "Kaogu" 1978.5, 334-37.] The markings are virtually unchanged from the astrolabe to the first magnetic compasses. [Marc Kalinowski. 'The "Xingde" Texts from Mawangdui.' "Early China." 23-24 (1998-99):125-202.]

Derek Walters suggests that "The luopan was originally a scientific instrument, used for astronomical observation." [Derek Walters. "About the Luopan". http://www.derekwalters.de/text2.htm]

References

External links

* [http://www.iching.com.my/loupan-en.htm Luopan - Malaysia I Ching Net]