Wananluopan Making Craftsmanship
01 · Historical Records
The Wan'an compass-making trade arose no later than the end of the Yuan dynasty; it developed during the Ming dynasty, entered its zenith in the mid-Qing dynasty, declined for a time in the late Qing, regained its brilliance in the early years of the Republic of China and continued until the early 1960s. After a suspension of nearly twenty years, production resumed in 1982. In 1915, Wan'an compasses and sundials were exhibited at the Panama World Exposition and won a gold medal.
02 · Core Techniques & Process
The compass is an important instrument widely used in astronomy, geography, military affairs, navigation, and the siting of dwellings and tombs; it is a continuation and development of the compass needle, one of the Four Great Inventions of ancient China. The Wan'an compass is the only compass still extant in the country made by hand with traditional techniques; its place of production is Wan'an Old Street in Wan'an Town, Xiuning County, Anhui Province, today. The Wan'an compass carries on China's traditional compass-making craft; in the course of long production practice it developed its own characteristics, with strict requirements for process flows and technical methods. Making a single compass generally requires six process steps. First, select the finest grade of timber — the 'tiger-bone tree' (Bischofia polycarpa) — and saw it into a blank for the compass; then turn the blank round, polish it, and drill the round hole for the magnetic needle; next, draw the grid and letter the dial face; then boil down tung oil and apply it to the compass. Installing the magnetic needle is the last and most critical step; it is carried out alone by the shop owner in a closed room, and the work includes magnetizing the steel needle, determining the needle's center of gravity, and fitting the needle. By dial design, Wan'an compasses are divided into three types — the Sanhe dial, the Sanyuan dial, and the combined dial; by diameter they come in about eleven specifications. Compasses produced in Wan'an, with their distinctive designs, carefully chosen materials, fine workmanship, and complete range of varieties, are regarded as the authentic lineage of compass making and enjoy the renown of 'Hui luo' or 'Hui pan' (Huizhou compass). However, in modern society the practical function of the Wan'an compass has gradually declined and market demand has shrunk; veteran artisans have passed away one after another, successors are lacking, and the compass-making technique is on the verge of extinction and is in urgent need of protection and utilization.
Archival Records of Process Steps
Making a single compass generally requires six process steps. First, select the finest grade of timber — the 'tiger-bone tree' (Bischofia polycarpa) — and saw it into a blank for the compass; then turn the blank round, polish it, and drill the round hole for the magnetic needle; next, draw the grid and letter the dial face; then boil down tung oil and apply it to the compass.
03 · Regional Records & Related Items
The Wan'an compass is the only compass still extant in the country made by hand with traditional techniques; its place of production is Wan'an Old Street in Wan'an Town, Xiuning County, Anhui Province, today. The compass is an important instrument widely used in astronomy, geography, military affairs, navigation, and the siting of dwellings and tombs; it is a continuation and development of the compass needle, one of the Four Great Inventions of ancient China. The Wan'an Wuluheng Luojing (compass) Old Shop Co., Ltd. of Xiuning County is the project's protecting unit.
04 · Cultural Value & Contemporary Safeguarding
The Wan'an compass carries cultural information from ancient Chinese astronomy, geography, environmental studies, philosophy, Yi studies (the Book of Changes), and architecture, and transmits magnetic pointing techniques and related crafts; it provides valuable material for research on the history of ancient Chinese science and technology, social history, human settlements, and the historical culture of ancient Huizhou. Wu Shuisen (recorded in the official archive of associated inheritors): Representative inheritor of the Wan'an compass-making technique, a national-level intangible cultural heritage item (third batch). From childhood he learned the Wan'an compass-making craft from his father Wu Weicang (winner of a gold medal at the first Panama-Pacific International Exposition in 1915). In 1992 he founded the Wan'an Wu Family Direct-Lineage Luojing (compass) Old Shop. In the same year, a 'Huizhou woodcarving auspicious-cloud compass' made with restored techniques was presented as a gift of the Beijing Olympic Games to Juan Antonio Samaranch, honorary life president of the International Olympic Committee. Male, of Han ethnicity, born in June 1949 in Xiuning County, Anhui Province; died in February 2014. In 2008, the 'Wan'an gift compass' won a silver prize at the second Anhui Province folk arts and crafts excellence exhibition. The brand 'Wuluheng' that he carried on was named one of China's ten centenary brands with the greatest historical and cultural value of 2009 and has been recognized as a China Time-honored Brand. His son Wu Zhaogu, inheriting his father's craft, has been recognized as a provincial-level representative inheritor of this item.
05 · Associated Representative Bearers
Representative bearers recorded under this item, organized by national nomination batch:
- Wu Shuisen 03-1322
06 · Authoritative Sources & Bibliography
Sources
China Intangible Cultural Heritage Network (ihchina.cn)
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