How many kinds of fortune-telling methods are there?

Why did China invent the earliest magnetic compass for divination in ancient times?

What prompted them to create the divination compass?

The magnetic compass is one of the four great inventions in China-Wikipedia. But it depends on who you ask. The earliest magnetic compasses can be traced back to the Western Zhou Dynasty (BC 1046-256), the Han Dynasty (BC 202- AD 220) and the Song Dynasty (AD 960- 1279).

We know from many records that people knew the existence of magnetite as early as the 3rd century BC. People know that there is a special kind of rock that can absorb iron. China of magnetite was a "loving stone" and a loving mother (loving mother) in this period, because people believed that magnetite was the "mother stone" of iron ore.

There are many, many ancient records describing a device that people used to tell directions. It's basically a board with a magnetic spoon on it.

However, the problem is that there is no archaeological evidence to prove this device. What we see is modern entertainment based on ancient descriptions. Several scholars tried to copy this device by using the technology of Han Dynasty, but failed. Simply put, the spoon can't be magnetite, because we don't have the technology to make it point accurately to the north and south; And it can't be iron, because we don't have the technology to magnetize the iron spoon correctly with magnetite.

It was not until the Song Dynasty (960- 1279) that we had a clear record of making a compass step by step, and we also had some archaeological evidence.

Although there are great differences between utensils and spoons recorded in the Song Dynasty. According to these records, the compass is a thin and flat piece of iron, shaped like a fish or a needle. When placed in a bowl filled with water, the iron leaves will float and point north and south.

1959, two bowls of Yuan Dynasty in China were discovered.

This ball has two circles and a three-point line.

The idea is that you aim the fishing line at your boat, put the water in it, and then put the compass in it to make it float. You can also know the direction of your ship relative to the north.

The use of ancient compasses seems to have started from military use. The earliest legend about "the device to tell the direction" seems to be the handcart. During the war, when people can't tell the direction from the stars because of the weather conditions (cloudy and foggy), military generals use it to tell the direction.

Later, the compass seems to be used for divination and geomantic omen (you know, finding the best place to build a grave or house, etc.).

Traditionally, China people were not sailors, so the compass was not used for ocean navigation until the Yuan and Ming Dynasties.