Hiji shinanguruma [The Secret Compass], was written by Wada Senryūshi and published in the twelfth year of the Kyōhō era [1727], in the city of Ōsaka, Japan. It was originally a set of three books.

The Japanese original title of the book derives its meaning from hiji [secret], and shinanguruma [south-pointing chariot]—a device which originated in ancient China. The mechanical device used differential gears, and carried a movable pointer to indicate south, no matter how the chariot turned. It was supposedly used as a compass, but in the context of this book, it was invoked to symbolise guidance to knowledge.

The Secret Compass offers a most intriguing glimpse into the breadth of scientific and practical knowledge that was made accessible to everyday people of the Edo period. Within its pages are found matters indispensable to daily life, encompassing the arts of sustenance, healing, and craftsmanship.

In its nature and purpose, this work bears notable resemblance to the practical compendiums of the West, such as Cooley’s Cyclopædia of Practical Receipts and Collateral Information in the Arts, Manufactures, Professions, and Trades, Sixth Edition, Volume II (1880), and Dick’s Encyclopedia of Practical Receipts and Processes (1870). Like The Secret Compass, these books were conceived for the benefit of everyday people, seeking to distill the wisdom of their respective times into a form that might be easily comprehended and applied.

The aim of The Secret Compass was to equip people with the knowledge necessary for the enhancement of their daily pursuits. The breadth of subjects addressed within its pages is vast, touching upon numerous aspects of life.

Yet, this book offers far more than mere technical instruction. It transports the modern reader on a captivating voyage of cultural discovery, opening a window to the past, wherein one might observe the very fabric of Japanese Edo period life—its customs, challenges, and the ingenious methods by which the people of that age sought to better their existence.