Alvin's Concise Guide To The Chinese Geomantic Compass (Luopan)

1. The center of the luopan where the magnetic needle resides is known as a Tian Chi, literally Heaven’s Pond. But why pond? The reason is because the early luopans in China before the Ming dynasty all use water to keep the needle afloat. The Tian Chi is a catchment area where the water is kept, thus the term pond. The later version where the needle is supported by an another smaller needle and not water was introduced in the late Ming period and was of foreign origin.

2. There are four main parts in a Luopan:
The Nei Pan (Inner Plate): It is round with all the information engraved on it which are separated by rings. It can be rotated and represents the Heaven.
The Wai Pan (Outer Plate): Square in shape and outside the Nei Pan, it represents the Earth. It is a common feature in Luopans made in Taiwan and Hong Kong but mostly missing in those made in China.
The Tian Chi (Heaven’s Pond) / Zi Nan Zhen (South Pointing Needle): The tip of the needle pointing south is painted red while the other northern end may be black sometimes. The north tip comprises of a small circle with two protrusions. It is called the Cow Nose and the protrusions are the horns of the animal. It symbolises the cow, and gives the idea of guiding people in their way. At the bottom of the Tian Chi, there is a red line drawn along the directions of the North and South. It is called the Hai Di Xian (Sea Bottom Line). The Northern end has two red dots for easy differentiation.
The Tian Xin Shi Dao (Heaven’s Heart Cross Lines): It is the two red strings that intersect over the center of the luopan, forming a cross much like "Shi" the Chinese character for the number ten . The ends are tied on the Wai Pan. It aids the reading of the Nei Pan but not all luopans come with it.

3. The use of a magnetic device as a divinatory tool began in China as early as the Warring States. Back then, the device is known as a ‘Si Nan’, meaning Southern Control. It resembles a ladle placed on the center of a square plate.

4. After the Ming and Qing Dynasties, luopans are generally divided into three main types, which are the San He Pan (Three Combinations), San Yuan Pan (Three Periods) and the Zhong He Pan (Merged).

5. Characteristics of a San He Compass
Known also as Yang Gong Pan, or Master Yang’s Compass. Named after Master Yang Yunsong, the famous feng shui master.
Have three rings of the 24 Mountains. The first ring (Earth ring) is used in correlation to the magnetic South. The second ring (Man ring) is set 7.5 degrees anticlockwise while the third (Heaven ring) is set 7.5 degrees clockwise.

6. Characteristics of a San Yuan compass
Known also as Jiang Pan as it is believed to be designed by the feng shui master Jiang Dahong.
Has a ring of the Yijing (I-ching)’s 64 hexagrams not found in San He compass.
Normally has only one ring (Earth ring) of the 24 Mountains. Note that the Yin and Yang of the 24 Mountains are also different to that of a San He compass.

7. Characteristics of a Zhong He compass
Have three rings of the 24 Mountains as well as the ring of the Yijing (I-ching)’s 64 hexagrams.

Regards
Alvin Chua