﻿{"id":7198,"date":"2025-03-27T14:01:45","date_gmt":"2025-03-27T13:01:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fabiopetrella.it\/?p=7198"},"modified":"2025-03-31T14:54:22","modified_gmt":"2025-03-31T12:54:22","slug":"si-nan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fabiopetrella.it\/en\/si-nan\/","title":{"rendered":"SI NAN"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The origins and function of the Si Nan: the ancient mystical instrument, symbol of imperial power, that unites Heaven and Earth and maintains the order and prosperity of the kingdom.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Si Nan is the original mystical instrument brought by the &#8216;Lady of the Nine Heavens&#8217; and presented to the Yellow Emperor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fabiopetrella.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Beidou_Star.gif\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"421\" height=\"206\" src=\"https:\/\/www.fabiopetrella.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Beidou_Star.gif\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7178\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Mystical connection between Vega, the Big Dipper, and Polaris: the 9 sacred stars &#8211; By whipsandchains (talk) \u2013 I (whipsandchains (talk)) created this work., Public Domain, https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?curid=28614261<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Thanks to the Si Nan, the Yellow Emperor was able to decipher the cosmic codes of the Universe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fabiopetrella.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Chinese_woodcut_Famous_medical_figures_The_Yellow_Emperor_Wellcome_L0039314-scaled.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"683\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.fabiopetrella.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Chinese_woodcut_Famous_medical_figures_The_Yellow_Emperor_Wellcome_L0039314-683x1024.jpg\" alt=\"si nan\" class=\"wp-image-7181\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.fabiopetrella.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Chinese_woodcut_Famous_medical_figures_The_Yellow_Emperor_Wellcome_L0039314-683x1024.jpg 683w, https:\/\/www.fabiopetrella.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Chinese_woodcut_Famous_medical_figures_The_Yellow_Emperor_Wellcome_L0039314-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.fabiopetrella.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Chinese_woodcut_Famous_medical_figures_The_Yellow_Emperor_Wellcome_L0039314-768x1152.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.fabiopetrella.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Chinese_woodcut_Famous_medical_figures_The_Yellow_Emperor_Wellcome_L0039314-920x1380.jpg 920w, https:\/\/www.fabiopetrella.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Chinese_woodcut_Famous_medical_figures_The_Yellow_Emperor_Wellcome_L0039314-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.fabiopetrella.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Chinese_woodcut_Famous_medical_figures_The_Yellow_Emperor_Wellcome_L0039314-1365x2048.jpg 1365w, https:\/\/www.fabiopetrella.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Chinese_woodcut_Famous_medical_figures_The_Yellow_Emperor_Wellcome_L0039314-707x1061.jpg 707w, https:\/\/www.fabiopetrella.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Chinese_woodcut_Famous_medical_figures_The_Yellow_Emperor_Wellcome_L0039314-scaled.jpg 1707w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The Yellow Emperor \u2013 By Gan Bozong (Tang period, 618-907) \u2013 https:\/\/wellcomeimages.org\/indexplus\/obf_images\/e8\/29\/4845db3d25005264675b835ef923.jpg (hi-res image)Gallery: https:\/\/wellcomeimages.org\/indexplus\/image\/L0039314.htmlWellcome Collection gallery (2018-03-28): https:\/\/wellcomecollection.org\/works\/gzz3jzkn CC-BY-4.0, CC BY 4.0, https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/w\/index.php?curid=33926688<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The earliest divination plate, dating back to 4000 BC (6000 years ago), is called the &#8220;Si Nan Luo Pan.&#8221; It consists of a simple magnetized spoon in the center of a square divination plate: a symbol of wisdom representing the union of Heaven and Earth. The round plate in the center represents Heaven, and the square perimeter represents Earth, while the spoon represents the Big Dipper constellation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fabiopetrella.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Model_Si_Nan_of_Han_Dynasty-1.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"839\" height=\"573\" src=\"https:\/\/www.fabiopetrella.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Model_Si_Nan_of_Han_Dynasty-1.jpg\" alt=\"si nan\" class=\"wp-image-7183\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.fabiopetrella.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Model_Si_Nan_of_Han_Dynasty-1.jpg 839w, https:\/\/www.fabiopetrella.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Model_Si_Nan_of_Han_Dynasty-1-300x205.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.fabiopetrella.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Model_Si_Nan_of_Han_Dynasty-1-768x525.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.fabiopetrella.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Model_Si_Nan_of_Han_Dynasty-1-707x483.jpg 707w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 839px) 100vw, 839px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Square plate, round plate and spoon \u2013 Han Dynasty (206 BC-220 AD) ladle or sinan model indicating south, made with magnetized lodestones \u2013 CC BY-SA 3.0, https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/w\/index.php?curid=553022<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The rim of the plate is inscribed with 10 celestial stems, 8 trigrams, 12 earthly branches, and signs of 24 different directions. The combination of the 10 celestial stems and 12 earthly branches forms the Chinese sexagenary calendar. These numbers are employed chronologically in calculations to indicate the particular qualities that arise in hours, days, and months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fabiopetrella.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Heaven_stem_relation.png\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"644\" height=\"720\" src=\"https:\/\/www.fabiopetrella.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Heaven_stem_relation.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7186\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.fabiopetrella.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Heaven_stem_relation.png 644w, https:\/\/www.fabiopetrella.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Heaven_stem_relation-268x300.png 268w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 644px) 100vw, 644px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The ten celestial stems conceived as the corners of two intersecting pentagons, being related to the yin yang polarity of the five elements. \u2013 By \u5289\u53c3\u967d \u2013 Own work by uploader\/\u4e0a\u50b3\u8005\u672c\u8eab\u4f5c\u54c1, Public domain, https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/w\/index.php?curid=4823615<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>It is said that the spoon always stops pointing south when it is rotated. The spoon is shaped like the Big Dipper and always points towards the pole star in the south. This constellation was particularly sacred as its last two stars point towards the pole star.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fabiopetrella.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Suzhou_star_cartography-scaled.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"904\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.fabiopetrella.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Suzhou_star_cartography-904x1024.jpg\" alt=\"si nan\" class=\"wp-image-7191\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.fabiopetrella.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Suzhou_star_cartography-904x1024.jpg 904w, https:\/\/www.fabiopetrella.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Suzhou_star_cartography-265x300.jpg 265w, https:\/\/www.fabiopetrella.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Suzhou_star_cartography-768x870.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.fabiopetrella.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Suzhou_star_cartography-920x1042.jpg 920w, https:\/\/www.fabiopetrella.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Suzhou_star_cartography-1356x1536.jpg 1356w, https:\/\/www.fabiopetrella.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Suzhou_star_cartography-1808x2048.jpg 1808w, https:\/\/www.fabiopetrella.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Suzhou_star_cartography-707x801.jpg 707w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 904px) 100vw, 904px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Suzhou Star Map &#8211; Per Wang Zhiyuan and Huang Shang \u2013 http:\/\/www.babelstone.co.uk\/China\/Images\/1247Planisphere.jpg, Dominio public, https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/w\/index.php?curid=38305831<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The emperor was the earthly counterpart of the North Star, around which all other stars revolved. Confucius had said, &#8220;He who governs virtually can be compared to the North Star, which maintains its place when other stars revolve around it.&#8221; This is also why the ruler (the emperor) always sits facing south so that there is always a connection to the cosmic energy of the North Star. All visitors to the emperors must sit to his south so that the stars can revolve around his head. Therefore, the officials around the emperor were seen as inhabitants of the constellation that revolved around the North Star. And so the Si Nan was seen as a mystical instrument used NOT for navigation but as a tool to empower the emperor with the governance of fortune.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fabiopetrella.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Jade_Emperor._Ming_Dynasty-691x1024.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"691\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.fabiopetrella.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Jade_Emperor._Ming_Dynasty-691x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7193\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.fabiopetrella.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Jade_Emperor._Ming_Dynasty-691x1024.jpg 691w, https:\/\/www.fabiopetrella.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Jade_Emperor._Ming_Dynasty-203x300.jpg 203w, https:\/\/www.fabiopetrella.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Jade_Emperor._Ming_Dynasty-768x1138.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.fabiopetrella.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Jade_Emperor._Ming_Dynasty-920x1363.jpg 920w, https:\/\/www.fabiopetrella.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Jade_Emperor._Ming_Dynasty-1037x1536.jpg 1037w, https:\/\/www.fabiopetrella.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Jade_Emperor._Ming_Dynasty-707x1047.jpg 707w, https:\/\/www.fabiopetrella.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Jade_Emperor._Ming_Dynasty.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 691px) 100vw, 691px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The emperor\u2019s throne and the constellations \u2013 By Anonymous \u2013 Daoist deity: Jade Emperor. Boston: Museum of Fine Arts., Public domain, https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/w\/index.php?curid=10288375<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>It was also a geomancy tool used to align palaces, cities, and houses in harmony with the Earth&#8217;s forces. Emperors in ancient times used the Si Nan to guide the country in the right direction, especially during periods when it was disoriented by fraudulent lies told by manipulative officials seeking to steal power gradually. The Si Nan had always suggested good sense to the emperor when making critical decisions. Its use helped maintain harmony and prosperity within the Chinese empire.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The origins and function of the Si Nan: the ancient mystical instrument, symbol of imperial power, that unites Heaven and Earth and maintains the order and prosperity of the kingdom. The Si Nan is the original mystical instrument brought by the &#8216;Lady of the Nine Heavens&#8217; and presented to the Yellow Emperor. Thanks to the Si Nan, the Yellow Emperor&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false},"categories":[19,27,26],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v21.0 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>SI NAN - fabiopetrella<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The origins and function of the Si Nan: the ancient mystical instrument, symbol of imperial power, that unites Heaven and Earth\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fabiopetrella.it\/en\/si-nan\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"SI NAN - fabiopetrella\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The origins and function of the Si Nan: the ancient mystical instrument, symbol of imperial power, that unites Heaven and Earth\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.fabiopetrella.it\/en\/si-nan\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"fabiopetrella\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-03-27T13:01:45+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-03-31T12:54:22+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.fabiopetrella.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Beidou_Star.gif\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"fabio\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"fabio\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.fabiopetrella.it\/en\/si-nan\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.fabiopetrella.it\/en\/si-nan\/\",\"name\":\"SI NAN - 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