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Zhen Lu (Needle Path)
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| A Zhen Lu enroute from Wenzhou to Zhenla
recorded by Zhou Dawen | Chinese people invented Zhen Lu (needle path) in
the Song Dynasty (960-1279). A kind of voyage logging in fact, Zhen Lu
was so named because the marine compass,
the magnetic needle to be exact, was the main navigation tool at that time.
Formed by a piecemeal accumulation of navigation experiences, Zhen Lu
gradually developed into special books on navigation.
"Zhen Lu," rather than being the route taken by the compass'
magnetic needle, was the logging of sea routes taken by a ship from one place to
another. Guided by the marine compass, the ship could sail to a destination in
different directions at different points.
When connected and drawn on the paper,
these points would form a route, which was the said "Zhen Lu." From
place A to B, different sea routes had different Zhen Lu. Sometimes,
even the same route had varying Zhen Lu to and from a place. Therefore, Zhen
Lu was necessary for a successful voyage.
Generally, a Zhen Lu would include the starting place, the sailing
direction, the mileage, and the destination. For sailing at night, the records
on celestial navigation boards also had to be included.
Author: Jessie
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