China had the oldest culture in the world and is the cradle of many great finds that changed the world in which we live in, inventions that even today have wide application. “Four great finds of ancient Chine” is the popular name for compass, gun powder, paper and printing. T
These four discoveries have great historic meaning due to their great influence on the development of culture and science of China and the world. These four inventions greatly influenced the development of Chinese civilization and have been so popularized, but there are other great inventions of Chinese inventors that, also, had a great influence on humanity and have wide application even today. Some of most meaningful are: metal bell for which it is believed that it was invented in China 2000 years B.C. and still has a wide application today. Ancient paddles were created in China 5000 years B.C. and are very similar to those that are used today. In China first ceramic urns were found, that date back to 7000 years B.C. Scientists believe that the irrigation system was created in China 6000 years ago.
10COMPAS
Appearing around the 4th century BC, they were used in determining direction for Feng Shui. They were built using lodestone, a natural magnet.
09SHIP´S RUDDER
In China from around the 1st century BC, but not seen in the West until 1180 AD. They had fairly advanced designs including the ability to lift out the water.
08TOILET PAPER
Used from the 6th century by the elite, 1300 years before the rest of the word. By the 14th century 10 million packages were made every year in the Zhejiang province alone.
07MOVABLE TYPE PRINTING
Not only was paper invented by the Chinese, but they revolutionized printing. Bi Sheng discovered reusable prints, changing the ways in which books could be produced.
06GUNPOWDER
Texts referring to gunpowder date back to 800AD, it saw in fireworks and signal flares. It was refined during wars with the Mongols, creating the first grenades and cannon.
05ALCOHOLIC DRINKS
9000 year old pottery from China shows evidence of ALCOHOL. By the 13th century it was one of their treasury´s largest sources of income.
04IRON AND STEEL SMELTING
Iron smelting was developed in the early 5th century BC, with steel appearing around 380 AD. The state monopolized it early on, creating a smelting bloom (furnace).
03SEISMOGRAPH
Seismograph created in the early 2nd century to detect earthquakes. A pendulum inside the device would trigger a mechanism to point out the direction of the earthquake´s epicenter.
02PAPER CURRENCY
Paper was first used around 600-900AD, more than 500 years before Europe. Mostly in the form of private bills of credit, they were abolished in 1455 for several hundred years.
01KITES AND HANG GLIDERS
Kites and hang gliders were first made around 400BC in the shape of an eagle, designs were improved for centuries. Around 500AD hang gliders started being used, often with an enemy strapped to one being thrown off a cliff.
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