Why isn't a compass called a North compass? This question is very interesting. Friends who have used the compass know that the arrow on the compass generally refers to the north. Why is it called the compass instead of the North compass? The following is the information I collected. Let's have a look!
In fact, ancient people pointed north without a compass, but by looking at the Polaris.
China is a country with well-developed astronomy and is located in the northern hemisphere. Long, long ago, the ancients were interested in stars, planets and constellations in the sky and were diligent in observing them. They are quite familiar with the Big Dipper in the sky. Four of the seven bright stars form a bucket shape and the other three form a bucket handle; And with the Big Dipper, it is easy to find the dazzling Polaris at the North Pole. Using Polaris to point north is Chinese common sense, Chinese tradition and habit.
With this sign that can point to the north, nothing can compete with it, nor is it allowed to compete with it, just as the sunrise points to the East. Because of this, the "ancestor" of the compass is also made into the shape of the Big Dipper 7 star, which is called Sinan. It may also be because of this tool called "Sinan", so later we have the saying of compass. After getting used to it, no one actually cares why it is not called North compass, because South and North are opposite. If you know the north, you must know the south.
Why didn't the ancients call it "Si Bei" or "compass"? This is related to China's understanding of location. In ancient Chinese culture, the south is Yang and the north is Yin. All living people respect Yang. In ancient China, "south" has always been the master of the north-south direction and facing the South as the throne, and there is the saying that "the south is the king and the north is the north", that is, those facing the south are called emperors, while those facing the north are ministers who worship the king, and the emperor's sitting and discussion are all facing the south. The doors and windows of the main house are open to the south. Therefore, the direction is mainly South.
Having said so much, it is actually caused by history, culture and cultural habits. That is, it is customary to call the compass in China. Of course, it can also be called the North compass. It is called the North compass in foreign countries and military fields. So, do you understand?