Diptych dial. Boxwood dial consisting of two leaves that fold together when not in use. On leaf Ia is a lunar volvelle, marked by Chinese characters. Six further Chinese characters in red paint read: 'Moon plate' and 'Combined Sun and Moon dials'. The volvelle is used with a brass screw pin, which is stored in a hole in the upper leaf. Leaf Ib features a vertical dial, within which four Chinese characters read: 'The tiny shadow [i.e. time] is precious'. Leaf IIa displays the horizontal dial. In the centre of the dial is a grey metal compass with the cardinal points marked in black around it (red for South). Down the sides of the dial are 13 holes for setting the angle of the lunar dial. There is a broken red string gnomon that was originally attached between the two leaves.

Leaf IIb carries instructions for the dial's use in Chinese characters: 'Sundial: direct red needle towards the South. Observe the string's shadow and so find the time. Moon dial: insert brass screw [into the central hole in the lunar volvelle]. Adjust the rotatable disc to the day and observe the needle's shadow to find the time'. This is followed by characters giving the name of the maker and the place from which he came: 'Xin-An, Xiu-Li, Fang Xiu-Shui'. This dial is very similar to AST0292, with the inclusion of a lunar volvelle on the upper leaf, and instructions for use on the reverse side.

For more information regarding this dial please refer to the OUP & NMM catalogue, 'Sundials at Greenwich'.