What type of legal description is characterized by using a beginning point and directional bearings?

The type of legal description characterized by using a beginning point and directional bearings is metes and bounds. This method of legal description is one of the oldest and most descriptive ways to delineate real property boundaries. It involves a detailed narrative that starts at a specific point known as the "point of beginning" and then describes the property lines using measured distances (the "metes") and directions, which can include angles or compass headings (the "bounds").

This approach allows for a very precise description of irregularly shaped parcels of land, making it particularly useful in areas where land has not been subdivided into uniform plots. The use of specific features, such as trees or roads, can also be incorporated into the metes and bounds description, further aiding in identifying the boundaries of the property.

In contrast, the rectangular survey system relies on a grid system with established lines of longitude and latitude, while the lot, block, and subdivision method uses a specific numbering system for lots within a defined subdivision. Assessor's parcel numbers are administrative identifiers used by local governments to track properties for tax purposes rather than serving as a legal property description method. Thus, metes and bounds is the correct answer for a legal description involving a starting point and directional bearings.