Song Dynasty Compass Navigation

Timeline

1. c. 1088–1100Bianjing–Lin'an area · ChinaIn the late Northern Song, the magnetic needle replaced the sinan as the mainstream south-pointing tool, floating on water or suspended from a beam, laying the technical foundation for the later maritime compass.
2. 1180–1189Port of Quanzhou · FujianBefore setting sail, Southern Song merchant ships set their course on a compass plate (luopan), combining compass-route manuals and monsoon patterns to maintain direction day and night and in fog, extending sea trade routes to Southeast Asia and South Asia.
3. c. 1200–1300Sea routes from China's southeast coast to the Indian Ocean · Indian OceanCompass routes, compass mounts, and graduations were further standardized; the maritime compass became standard equipment for ocean trade and, through channels such as the Arab world, influenced subsequent European maritime navigation.