The compass was invented more than 2000 years ago. The Ancient Chinese compass was made from iron oxide, a mineral ore. Iron oxide is also known as lodestone and magneta.
Date
Han Dynasty (206 BC–220 AD)
Format
Metallic
Type
Craft
Crafts Item Type Metadata
Crafting Methods
The most popular style of the first Chinese compass used a lodestone (which automatically points to the south) and a bronze plate. The lodestone was carved into the shape of a spoon. The spoon was placed on a flat plate of bronze. As the bronze plate was moved, the lodestone spun around and came to a stop in a north-to-south orientation with the handle pointing to the south. The “magnetized” lodestone aligned itself with the Earth’s magnetic field. This style of compass was called a “south-pointer”. The bronze plate was also marked with constellations, cardinal points, and other symbols important to the Ancient Chinese.
Another style of compass was made by placing an iron needle that had been rubbed with a lodestone on a piece of wood and floating the wood in a bowl of water. The water allowed the wood to move or spin around until the iron oxide needle was pointing south.
Materials
Bronze, Metal, Magnet, Iron
Usage and Application
The original use of Ancient Chinese compasses was for maintaining harmony and prosperity with one’s environment and for telling the future.
Additionally, the Ancient Chinese used the compass for navigation – to find their way home when traveling. The use of the compass for travel also gave the advantage of being able to travel no matter the weather condition. If clouds or fog masked the sun or the stars, you could still travel because the compass would point you in the right direction.
Interesting Facts
One of the first recordings of using a compass for navigation was during the Northern Song dynasty (960 CE – 1126 CE). These compasses were made by floating a magnetized needle in water. The needle could move freely in the water and point to the earth’s magnetic poles no matter the movement from the ship or boat.
It is an percussion instrument that takes the form of a flat, circular metal disc which is hit with a mallet.
Date
Northern and Southern Dynasties (420–589 AD)
Format
Metallic, Diameter of 50 cm-150 cm
Type
Craft
Crafts Item Type Metadata
Crafting Methods
Gongs are made mainly from bronze or brass but there are many other alloys in use. They are made of a bronze alloy composed of a maximum of 22 parts tin to 78 parts copper, but in many cases the proportion of tin is considerably less. This alloy is excessively brittle when cast and allowed to cool slowly, but it can be tempered and annealed in a peculiar manner to alleviate this. When suddenly cooled from red heat, the alloy becomes so soft that it can be hammered and worked on the lathe then hardened by reheating
Materials
Bronze / Brass / Copper
Usage and Application
The gong is struck by a large round or flat-faced mallet, creating a powerful, rich, and resonant sound. Because of its legato character, the instrument is not suitable for playing rapid rhythms. In Shen Yun dances, the Chinese gong is often used to enhance the music’s power, accentuate its beat, or express sacred solemnity. Its sound demands and immediately gets attention.
Suona, Wade-Giles romanization so-na, also called laba, Chinese double-reed woodwind instrument, the most commonly used double-reed instrument.
Date
Jin Dynasty (265-420 AD)
Format
Hand-held size
Type
Craft
Crafts Item Type Metadata
Crafting Methods
The suona as used in China has a conical wooden body, similar to that of the gyaling horn used by the Tibetan ethnic group, both of which uses a metal, usually a tubular brass or copper bocal to which a small double reed is affixed, and possesses a detachable metal bell at its end. The double-reed gives the instrument a sound similar to that of the modern oboe.
Materials
Wood, Brass / Copper, Metal
Usage and Application
It has a distinctively loud and high-pitched sound, and is used frequently in Chinese traditional music ensembles, particularly those that perform outdoors. It is an important instrument in the folk music of northern China, particularly the provinces of Shandong and Henan, where it has long been used for festival and military purposes. It is still used, in combination with sheng mouth organs, gongs, drums, and sometimes other instruments, in wedding and funeral processions.
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The vessels were made to serve grain and wine, which played an important role in the ritual banquets that took place in family temples or over ceremonial tombs.
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Dublin Core
Title
Bronze Vessels 青銅器皿
Subject
Daily necessity, Level of technology
Description
Bronze Age began around 2000 B.C, Shang and Zhou dynasties. Bronze, an alloy of copper and tin, were used to fashion weapons, parts of chariots and ritual vessels. Chinese bronzes are central to Chinese civilization. The ability to manipulate metal ores to produce useful tools is one of the major steps in the development of human civilization. it was made for the elite and were associated with power.
The vessels were made to serve grain and wine, which played an important role in the ritual banquets that took place in family temples or over ceremonial tombs.
Date
Shang Dynasty (1600–1046 BC)
Format
Hard, Metallic
Type
Craft
Crafts Item Type Metadata
Crafting Methods
Copper and tin would be melted to form bronze.
Materials
Bronze, Metal
Usage and Application
Vessels were used to make sacrificial offerings of food to previous ancestors.