Ancient Chinese Inventions
China is a well developed country. China has a long history of innovation and has been essential in many fields for centuries. In this blog i want to tell you about some ancient inventions of China. Here are top 12 inventions of China:
1. Paper Making 105 AD
Chinese inventor Cai Lun invented paper in the 2nd century AD. This invention revolutionized communication and information storage. The creation of paper affects human history. Paper has been around in China since 105 AD, but a eunuch named Cai Lun (c. 50 AD – 121 AD) made a new invention and spurred its adoption. Its technology later spread to Central Asia and the world via the Silk Road.
2. Movable type printing 960-1279 AD
Bi Sheng invented movable type printing in the 11th century and was an essential forerunner of Gutenberg's printing press in Europe. The Chinese invented the printing press during the Tang Dynasty (618-907). Bi Sheng later developed a type of mobile clay in the 11th century. He cast the characters in clay and made them out of leather. The letter is then attached to a metal plate to print one page, which is then torn off and returned to another page. This printing technique quickly spread throughout Europe, into the Renaissance, and then throughout the world.
3. Gunpowder 1000 AD
Chinese alchemists discovered gunpowder in the ninth century. It was first used for medicinal and mystical purposes and later became essential to warfare. Gunpowder (a mixture of salt, charcoal, and sulfur) was initially developed for medicinal purposes. Still, it was later used as a weapon during the Tang Dynasty and played an essential role in warfare. Interestingly, the Chinese often used this invention for fireworks, while Europeans made guns and rifles and ruled China from the mid-1800s.
4. Compass 1100 AD
A compass is a direction guide. The compass was invented in the Han Dynasty (2nd century BC) for divination purposes and later became necessary for navigation. It affects navigation and search. It was first used in Feng Shui, the layout of the house. By 1000 AD, Chinese ships used sea compasses that allowed them to navigate. Arab traders who went to China may have learned these tools and brought them to the West.
5. Alcohol 2000 BC－1600 BC
In 2013, a 9000-year-old pottery found in Henan province revealed the presence of alcohol 1000 years before Arabian. Alcohol is known as Jiu in Chinese and is often used as a spiritual offering to Heaven and the Earth or ancestors in ancient China. Study shows that beer with an alcoholic content of 4% to 5% was widely consumed in ancient China and was even mentioned on oracle bone inscriptions of the Shang Dynasty (1600 BC–1046 BC).
6. Tea Production 2,737 BC
The Chinese are credited with the discovery of tea, and its cultivation began around 2737 BC. It later became a cultural and social phenomenon in China and beyond. The Chinese have a long history of growing and brewing tea for medicinal and social purposes. The world's oldest and largest tea tree is located in Lincang, China, and is approximately 3,200 years old.
7. Silk 6000 years ago
Silk production is an invention from ancient China. Silk is one of the oldest fibers and originates in China as far back as six thousand years ago, around 2700 BC. It played an essential role in the Silk Road trade. The Silk Road trade facilitated the spread of silk throughout the world. The Chinese were skilled at weaving and kept a secret that the West had to pay the same amount of gold to buy silk. In ancient times, silk was a very important product produced in China, and for centuries, merchants carried this vital product from China to the East, creating the famous Silk Road.
8. Umbrellas 1,700 Years Ago
The creation of umbrellas dates back to China, 3,500 years ago. According to legend, the first umbrella was created by Chinese wood craftsman and manufacturer Lu Ban. Inspired by children using leaves to protect themselves from the rain, he created an umbrella by making a flexible frame and covering it with a cloth.
9. Porcelain 581 – 618 AD
Chinese craftsmen during the Tang Dynasty created porcelain, a type of ceramic known for its strength, transparency, and beauty. Porcelain is one of the most famous products of ancient China. The earliest porcelain appeared in the Shang Dynasty (1600-1046 BC) and flourished in the Tang Dynasty (618-906 BC). During the Song Dynasty (960–1279), porcelain production technology reached an unprecedented height due to its focus on shape and the tactile experiences of the glaze. Chinese porcelain was highly prized worldwide, and the Silk Road introduced many artworks to the West.
10. The Kite 3,000 years ago
Kites were invented in ancient China and were initially used for military signaling. Over time, they became famous for recreation and artistic expression. The first kites were made of wood and were called wooden kites. In the early days, kites were used for military purposes such as sending messages, measuring distances, measuring wind direction, and sending signals. At the same time, kite flying was developed as entertainment and is now famous worldwide.
11. The toothbrush China invention 1498
The toothbrush was invented by the Chinese in 1498. In addition to the handle, they made toothbrushes from hair bristles with bone or bamboo handles. It was later brought to the New World by Europeans.
12. Paper money in the ninth century AD
The ancient Chinese first invented paper money, which began using folded cash in the late eighth century AD or early in the century. Letters of credit are used as unique letters of credit or bills of exchange. Merchants could deposit money in the capital and receive "exchange vouchers" that could be exchanged for coins in other cities.
The Chinese created countless inventions that helped shape world history. Without the ancient Chinese inventions, it would have taken centuries for humanity to reach today's point. These developments have profoundly affected human history, affecting technology, culture, and daily life around the world.