Inventions made in China. Ancient Chinese inventions

Ancient China is one of the most vibrant ancient civilizations, which became the cradle for the development of many sciences. This civilization left a huge legacy of scientific ideas, inventions and technologies, which the entire modern world uses to this day.

The ancient Chinese civilization is credited with many discoveries and inventions, such as the discovery of gunpowder and the technology of making paper. Other significant technologies invented by this culture were firearms, seismoscope (a device for predicting earthquakes). These discoveries are attributed to Zenghe Henge, who was also named Houfeng Didong Yi. Inventions that are regarded as the greatest discoveries of ancient Chinese civilization - the compass, papermaking technology, printing and gunpowder, are still one of the most important achievements of mankind.

Compass

The compass was one of the most important technological discoveries ancient China, which promoted and assisted research sponsored by the Chinese government. The invention of the compass made China one of the most powerful countries in the world. The Chinese Empire was indeed called powerful and remained in this title until the end of the monarchy in China.

The origin of the compass can be dated back to the 4th century BC. A book called "The Book of the Devil's Valley Master" describes the natural magnet accordingly. "Magnetite was the first substance used by the Chinese for a compass." And this compass was first invented during the Song Dynasty. Records dated between 1040 – 1044, describing an invention made of magnetite as a direction indicator. This invention, or more correctly called the compass, looked like a small fish and was kept on a piece of wood dangling in a bottle of water. Official records of the Song Dynasty read as "a fish-shaped stone that pointed to the south."

Chinese explorers have used the compass for centuries to help conduct trade with distant lands. The compass was also widely used in land exploration. Chinese writers describe it as "a landmark in the darkness of the night." The writer, philosopher and scientist Shen Kuo first described the structure of the dry compass, which had a magnetic needle, in his book published in 1088. The principle of operation was the same, but the dry compass did not float in a bottle, but was attached to a wooden box. And although such a compass was more convenient to use, the cost of this device was much more expensive. The wet compass was used until the Europeans introduced the dry one.

Paper making

Unfortunately, the dynasty to which the invention of paper belongs is not known. But it is known that this discovery greatly advanced the development of science and created many advantages - it contributed to the preservation of the works of philosophers, scientists and writers of ancient China. Paper, which was invented in ancient China, was not only used as a writing medium, but creative Chinese innovators also used it as a raw material for manufacturing bags as well as banknotes.

The history of the invention of paper supposedly falls during the reign of the Han dynasty, which reigned from 202 to 220 AD. The court scientist Kai Lun set himself the goal of creating paper. To do this, he used mulberries, flax fibers, scrap materials such as old rags and hemp waste, and even fishing nets to tie the fibers together.

Some archaeological evidence, however, suggests that paper in ancient China may have been invented during the 8th century BC.

This immature form of paper was not originally suitable for writing, and was originally used as a wrapping medium. At the end of the 3rd century AD, this raw material became a popular writing material, and in the 6th century it was even used as toilet paper.

Tea was the favorite drink of the Chinese people even in the Teng Dynasty (618 AD - 907 AD). The Chinese came up with the idea of using paper to make tea bags, which preserved the taste and smell of the drink. The government of the Song Dynasty (960 AD - 1279 AD) was the first to use paper to make banknotes.

Printing

The invention of printing is regarded as one of the most important inventions of mankind, thanks to the fact that books became cheaper and more accessible. Cheaper books guaranteed the prosperity of culture and science. Many dynasties, courtiers and scholars from ancient China contributed to the development of printing. Printing technology dates back to around 868 BC. with the release of the first printed book, The Diamond Sutra. The book was printed with wooden keys. It was considered one of the Song Dynasty's most important contributions to technology. The writer Shen Kuo, who was also a courtier, announced that printing would be used to spread knowledge. Bi Sheng, an artisan, invented movable ceramic printing.

Powder

One of the destructive inventions of ancient Chinese civilization is gunpowder. The invention of gunpowder led to the invention of firearms and the emergence of new wars on the Asian continent. In the 9th century AD Chinese alchemists, who were looking for the elixir of eternal life, accidentally discovered the explosive properties of gunpowder. In the 10th century, Asia began to use grenades, the first imperfect bombs and firearms on the battlefield.

Among all the invented technologies of ancient China, gunpowder and firearms are regarded as the most useful, popular and, of course, the most destructive. Many scientists and inventors played significant roles in the development of science in ancient Chinese civilization. The Chinese also showed their technological developments in the field of agriculture, textile industry, design of various structures, medicine and even archaeology. Unfortunately, many of these discoveries have not survived to this day.

China is home to many significant inventions of human civilization. In particular, the Chinese invented a compass, paper, gunpowder and many other necessary things. It recently became clear that the ancient Chinese could create reservoirs using complex cascades of water dams as early as 5 thousand years ago. /website/

This week, Chinese archaeologists managed to find the remains of ancient hydraulic structures. The discovery was made near the city of Hangzhou, in Zhejiang province. Scientists have discovered a system of 11 dams, the length of which exceeds six kilometers. “This is thus the largest such archaeological discovery in the entire world,” said Liu Bin, head of the Zhejiang Institute of Archeology.

So far, archaeologists have excavated 3 of the 11 dams discovered. Total area the complex may be almost 10 square kilometers. According to the researchers, the system could be used to irrigate land, protect against floods, or move goods across water. Initial studies showed that the structure was built 4.7-5.1 thousand years ago.

Other Chinese inventions

This is not the first find confirming engineering and scientific discoveries ancient Chinese. Many original technologies in the fields of mechanics, hydraulics, astronomy and other fields were invented in China. During the Warring States Period (403-221 BC), the Chinese had the most advanced technology in metallurgy.

The Chinese have also excelled in cooking. While people in other regions ate mostly meat and vegetables, the Chinese preferred more refined cuisine. During excavations in China, noodles about four thousand years old were discovered. It resembled modern lagman noodles, which are made by “repeatedly rolling and stretching the dough with your hands.” The noodles were made from two types of millet grains grown in China for over seven thousand years.

Of course, one of the most famous and useful inventions of China is paper. According to the Chinese chronicles of the Eastern Han Dynasty, paper was invented by the Han Dynasty court eunuch Cai Long in 105 AD. However, archaeologists in the vicinity of Dunhuang found paper that dates back to 8 AD. Initially, paper was used for packaging, then for writing, and later toilet paper appeared.

The advent of paper led to printing, which was also created by the ancient Chinese. The oldest known example of woodblock printing is a Sanskrit sutra printed on hemp paper between approximately 650 and 670 CE. However, the first printed book The Diamond Sutra, created during the Tang Dynasty (618-907), is considered to be of standard size.

The compass is also one of the great inventions of the ancient Chinese. A description of the attraction of iron by hematite is found in ancient Chinese treatises. The compass was invented during the Song Dynasty (960-1279) and was used to indicate the direction of travel in deserts. However, its first prototype appeared earlier, during the Han Dynasty (202 BC-220 AD). True, it was not used for orientation, but for fortune telling.

Because China suffered periodic earthquakes, the Chinese created the world's first seismograph. The device was created by the imperial astronomer Zhang Heng during the Han Dynasty. Moreover, the master made the seismograph incredibly beautiful. It was a vessel with nine dragons depicted on it. The dragons were located on equal distance from each other, and under each dragon there was a frog with its mouth open.

A copy of Zhang Heng's seismograph. Photo: Kowloonese/wikipedia.org/CC BY-SA 3.0

Inside the vessel was a pendulum, which was set in motion by an earthquake. As a result, a ball fell into the dragon's mouth, indicating the epicenter of the earthquake. After this, the ball fell into the mouth of a frog sitting under the dragon. This device existed for about 1.5 thousand years until more modern devices were invented.

The Chinese created many more great inventions such as the bell, crossbow, tea, silk, steamer, porcelain and much more. The powerful and original Chinese civilization has made an invaluable contribution to the history of world art and culture. However, from the beginning of the 20th century, civilization began to decline. In 1949, with the coming to power communist party Traditional Chinese culture has almost completely disappeared.

Great inventions in China make our lives easier every day. China is home to some of the most significant inventions of human civilization, including 4 (four) great inventions of ancient China: paper, compass, gunpowder and printing.

What else did the Chinese invent:

Original technologies in the field of mechanics, hydraulics,
mathematics applied to the measurement of time,
inventions in metallurgy,
achievements in astronomy,
technologies in agriculture,
design of mechanisms,
music theory,
art,
seafaring
warfare.

The most ancient period of Chinese civilization is considered to be the era of the existence of the Shang state, a slave-owning country in the Yellow River valley. Already in this era, ideographic writing was discovered, which, through long improvement, turned into hieroglyphic calligraphy, and a monthly calendar was compiled in basic terms.

Chinese culture has made a huge contribution to world culture. At the turn of the millennium, paper and ink were invented. Also at about the same time, writing was created in China. Rapid cultural and technological growth in this country began just with the advent of writing.

Today it is the property of global culture, just like any other national culture. Inviting millions of tourists every year, this country willingly shares with them its cultural attractions, telling about its rich past and offering a lot of travel opportunities.

Inventions of ancient China that had a great influence on subsequent inventions around the world, in modern world we take for granted.

Optical fiber cables deliver enormous amounts of information at the speed of light to anywhere in the world. You can sit in your car and use your voice to tell your GPS system which direction to go. We are very comfortable in the 21st century.

Advances and inventions have accelerated human progress so much that everything that follows seems to have been built on the foundation laid by the very first inventions.
Perhaps no other ancient culture has not contributed as much to progress as the Chinese. Below are greatest inventions ancient China.

Invention of paper making technology in China

It is still not entirely clear who was the first to come up with the idea of transferring thoughts onto paper, transforming them into written speech. To this day, there are fluctuations between the Sumerians in Mesopotamia, the Harappans who lived in modern Afghanistan and the Kemites in Egypt.

However, it is known that the first languages appeared about 5,000 years ago. One could even say that they appeared earlier, if we mean their artistic expression, such as rock paintings. As soon as languages began to develop, people began to write in anything that could survive for a relatively long period of time. Clay tablets, bamboo, papyrus, stone are just a small part of the surfaces on which ancient people wrote.

The situation changed dramatically after a Chinese man named Cai Lun invented the prototype of modern paper. Which in the future conquered the whole World.

Artifacts such as ancient stuffing material and wrapping paper, dating back to the 2nd century. BC The oldest example of paper is a map from Fanmatan near Tianshui.

In the 3rd century. paper was already widely used for writing instead of more expensive traditional materials. The paper production technology developed by Cai Lun was as follows:

a boiling mixture of hemp, mulberry bark, old fishing nets and fabrics was turned into a pulp, after which it was ground to a homogeneous paste and mixed with water. A sieve in a wooden cane frame was immersed in the mixture, the mixture was scooped out with the sieve, and the liquid was shaken to drain. At the same time, a thin and even layer of fibrous mass was formed in the sieve.
This mass was then tipped onto smooth boards. Boards with castings were placed one on top of the other. They tied the stack together and placed a load on top. Then the sheets, hardened and strengthened under the press, were removed from the boards and dried. A sheet of paper made using this technology was light, smooth, durable, less yellow and more convenient for writing.

Huiji paper note printed in 1160

Their origins go back to trade receipts during the Tang Dynasty (618-907), which were preferred by merchants and traders to avoid dealing with a large number copper coins for large commercial transactions.

During the Song Empire (960-1279), the central government used this system to monopolize salt production, and also because of copper shortages: many mines closed, a huge outflow of copper money from the empire occurred to Japan, Southeast Asia, Western Xia and Liao. This prompted the Song Empire at the beginning of the 12th century to issue state paper money along with copper ones in order to ease the situation of the state mint and reduce the cost of copper.

At the beginning of the 11th century, the government authorized sixteen private banks in Sichuan Province to print banknotes, but in 1023 it confiscated these enterprises and created an agency to supervise the production of banknotes. The first paper money had a limited circulation area and was not intended to be used outside of it, but once it was backed by gold and silver from government reserves, the government initiated the issuance of national banknotes. This happened between 1265 and 1274. The contemporaneous state of the Jin dynasty also printed paper banknotes from at least 1214.

Invention of printing in China

It was only a matter of time before the invention of printing and printing presses in China. Since paper production was increasing every day. The emergence of printing in China had a long history.

Since ancient times, stamps and seals have been used to identify individuals in China. government official or master. Even today, a personal seal will replace the owner’s signature in China, and cutting out seals is not only a craft, but also a refined art.

It is known that already in the Han era, wooden “seals of the gods” with spell texts carved on them in a mirror-inverted image were common. Such seals became the immediate predecessors of the boards from which books began to be printed.

The first mentions of printing texts date back to the 7th century. The oldest known examples of printed books date back to the first half of the 8th century. The widespread distribution of printed books dates back to the reign of the Sunn dynasty (X-XIII centuries). The absence of state censorship of books favored the development book market. By the 13th century, more than a hundred family publishing houses operated in the two provinces of Zhejiang and Fujian alone.

The oldest known example of woodblock printing is a Sanskrit sutra printed on hemp paper between approximately 650 and 670 BC. AD However, the first printed book with a standard size is considered to be the Diamond Sutra, made during the Tang Dynasty (618-907). It consists of scrolls 5.18 m long.

Printing gave impetus to the development of fonts and binding.

Typesetting fonts

Statesman and the Chinese polymath Shen Kuo (1031-1095) first outlined the method of printing using typeface in his work“Notes on the Brook of Dreams” in 1088, attributing this innovation to the unknown master Bi Sheng. Shen Kuo described process production of baked clay type, printing process and production of typefaces.

Binding technology

The advent of printing in the ninth century significantly changed the technique of weaving. Towards the end of the Tang era, the book evolved from rolled up scrolls of paper into a stack of sheets resembling a modern brochure. Subsequently, during the Song Dynasty (960-1279), the sheets began to be folded in the center, making a “butterfly” type binding, which is why the book has already acquired a modern look.

The Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) introduced the stiff paper spine, and later during the Ming Dynasty sheets were stitched with thread. Printing in China has made a great contribution to the preservation of the rich culture that has developed over centuries.

Invention of the compass in China

The invention of the first compass is attributed to China, during the Han Dynasty (202 BC - 220 AD), when the Chinese began using magnetic iron ore oriented north-south. True, it was not used for navigation, but for fortune telling.

IN ancient text“Lunheng”, written in the 1st century. BC, in chapter 52, the ancient compass is described as follows: “This instrument resembles a spoon, and if it is placed on a plate, its handle will point to the south.”

A more advanced compass design was proposed by the already mentioned Chinese scientist Shen Ko. In his “Notes on the Brook of Dreams” (1088), he described in detail the magnetic declination, that is, the deviation from the direction of true north, and the structure magnetic compass with a needle. The use of a compass for navigation was first proposed by Zhu Yu in the book “Table Talk in Ningzhou” (1119).

The magnet has been known to the Chinese since ancient times. Back in the 3rd century. BC they knew that a magnet attracts iron. In the 11th century The Chinese began to use not the magnet itself, but magnetized steel and iron.

At that time, a water compass was also used: a magnetized steel needle in the shape of a fish 5-6 cm long was placed in a cup of water. The needle could be magnetized through strong heating. The fish's head always pointed south. Subsequently, the fish underwent a number of changes and turned into a compass needle.

The compass began to be used in navigation by the Chinese back in the 11th century. At the beginning of the 12th century. The Chinese ambassador, who arrived in Korea by sea, said that in poor visibility conditions, the ship steered solely according to the compass attached to the bow and stern, and the compass needles floated on the surface of the water.

The invention of gunpowder in China

Gunpowder is rightfully considered the most famous ancient Chinese invention.. Legend has it that gunpowder was created by accident when ancient Chinese alchemists were trying to create a mixture that would grant them immortality. Ironically, they managed to create something with which they can easily take a person’s life.

The first gunpowder was made from a mixture of potassium nitrate (saltpeter), charcoal and sulfur. It was first described in 1044 in a book about the most important military techniques compiled by Zeng Guoliang. The book says that the discovery of gunpowder happened a little earlier, and Zeng described three various types gunpowder, which the Chinese used in flares and fireworks. Much later, gunpowder began to be used for military purposes.

Gunpowder barreled weapons, according to Chinese chronicles, were first used in battles in 1132. It was a long bamboo tube into which gunpowder was placed and then set on fire. This “flamethrower” caused severe burns to the enemy.

A century later in 1259, a gun was first invented that fired bullets - a thick bamboo tube, which contained a charge of gunpowder and a bullet. Later, at the turn of the XIII - XIV centuries. Metal cannons loaded with stone cannonballs spread throughout the Middle Kingdom.

The invention of gunpowder brought about a number of unique inventions such as burning spear, land mines, sea mines, arquebuses, exploding cannonballs, multistage rockets And rockets with aerodynamic wings.

In addition to military affairs, gunpowder was also actively used in everyday life. Thus, gunpowder was considered a good disinfectant in the treatment of ulcers and wounds, during epidemics, and it was also used to poison harmful insects.

Fireworks

However, perhaps the most “bright” invention in China, which appeared thanks to the creation of gunpowder, are fireworks. In the Celestial Empire they had a special meaning. According to ancient beliefs, evil spirits are very afraid of bright light and loud sounds. Therefore, since ancient times on New chinese year There was a tradition in the courtyards of lighting fires from bamboo, which hissed in the fire and burst with a crash. And the invention powder charges, undoubtedly, scared the “evil spirits” seriously - after all, in terms of the power of sound and light they were significantly superior old way.

Later, Chinese craftsmen began to create multi-colored fireworks by adding gunpowder various substances. Today, fireworks have become an indispensable attribute of New Year celebrations in almost all countries of the world. Some believe that the inventor of gunpowder or the harbinger of the invention was Wei Boyang in the 2nd century.

What other inventions were made by the Chinese?

In 403 – 221 BC The Chinese had the most advanced technology in metallurgy, including blast furnaces and cupola furnaces, and the forge and puddling process were known during the Han Dynasty (202 BC - 220 AD). Using a navigation compass and using it, known from the 1st century. helm with a sternpost, Chinese sailors achieved great success in steering a ship on the high seas, and in the 11th century. they sailed to East Africa and Egypt.

As for water clocks, the Chinese have used an anchor mechanism since the 8th century, and a chain drive since the 11th century. They also created large mechanical puppet theaters powered by a water wheel, a spoked wheel, and a vending machine driven by a spoked wheel.

The contemporaneous cultures of Peiligang and Pengtoushan are the oldest Neolithic cultures of China, they arose around 7 thousand BC. Neolithic inventions of prehistoric China include sickle-shaped and rectangular stone knives, stone hoes and shovels, the cultivation of millet, rice and soybeans, sericulture, the construction of earthen structures, houses plastered with lime, the creation of the potter's wheel, the creation of pottery with cord and basket designs, creating a ceramic vessel with three legs (tripod), creating a ceramic steamer, as well as creating ceremonial vessels for fortune telling.

Seismoscope - invented in China

During the late Han era, imperial astronomer Zhang Heng (78-139) invented the world's first seismoscope, which noted weak earthquakes over long distances. This device has not survived to this day. Its design can be judged from the incomplete description in “Hou Han Shu”. Although some details of this device are still unknown, the general principle is quite clear.

The seismoscope was cast from bronze and looked like a wine vessel with a domed lid. Its diameter was 8 chi (1.9 m). Around the circumference of this vessel were placed the figures of eight dragons or only the heads of dragons, oriented in eight directions of space: the four cardinal points and intermediate directions.

The dragons' heads had movable lower jaws. Each dragon has a bronze ball in its mouth. Eight bronze toads with their mouths wide open were placed next to the vessel under the heads of the dragons. The vessel likely contained an inverted pendulum, similar to that found in modern seismographs. This pendulum was connected by a system of levers to the movable lower jaws of the dragon heads.

During an earthquake, the pendulum began to move, the mouth of the dragon, located on the side of the epicenter of the earthquake, opened, the ball fell into the toad’s mouth, producing a strong noise, which served as a signal for the observer. As soon as one ball fell out, a mechanism inside was activated to prevent other balls from falling out during subsequent pushes.

The story of testing a seismoscope

Zhang Heng's seismoscope was sensitive even to detect small tremors passing over a distance of hundreds of li (0.5 km). The effectiveness of this device was demonstrated shortly after its manufacture. When the ball first fell from the dragon's mouth, no one at court believed that it meant an earthquake, since the tremors were not felt at that moment.

But a few days later a messenger arrived with news of an earthquake in the city of Longxi, which was located northwest of the capital at a distance of more than 600 km. Since then the duty officials The astronomical department was to record the directions of origin of earthquakes. Later, similar instruments were built many times in China. Three centuries later, the mathematician Xintu Fan described a similar instrument and may have made it. Ling Xiaogong made a seismoscope between 581 and 604 AD.

Tea has been known in China since ancient times. In sources dating back to the 1st millennium BC. There are references to a healing infusion obtained from the leaves of the tea bush. The first book on tea, Classic Tea, written by the poet Lu Yu, who lived during the Tang Dynasty (618-907), talks about various methods growing and preparing tea, the art of drinking tea, where the tea ceremony came from. Tea became a common drink in China already in the 6th century.

The legend about Emperor Shen Non.

According to another legend, Emperor Shen Non was the first to try tea by chance. Leaves from a wild camellia growing nearby fell into the boiling water. The aroma that wafted from the drink was so tempting that the emperor could not resist taking a sip. He was so amazed by the taste that he made tea a national drink.

Initially Chinese teas were only green. Black tea appeared much later, but here too the Chinese were pioneers. And as new fermentation technologies developed, white, blue-green, yellow, and red teas emerged.

Chinese silk

China is the birthplace of silk. Even the Greek name for China is Seres, from which most of the names of China are derived. European languages, goes back to the Chinese word Si - silk.

Weaving and embroidery have always been considered an exclusively female activity in China; absolutely all girls, even those from the highest class, were taught this craft. The secret of silk production has been known to the Chinese since ancient times. According to legend, to breed silkworms, Chinese women were taught how to process silk and weave from silk threads by Xi Ling, the wife of the first emperor Huang Di, who, according to legend, reigned more than 2.5 thousand BC.

Chinese porcelain

Chinese porcelain known all over the world and highly valued for its extraordinary quality and beauty, the word “porcelain” itself means “king” in Persian. In Europe of the 13th century. it was considered a great treasure; the treasuries of the most influential persons contained examples of Chinese ceramic art, inserted by jewelers into gold frames. There are many myths associated with it, for example, in India and Iran it was believed that Chinese porcelain has magical properties and changes color if poison is mixed into food.

Suspension bridges - an invention of ancient China

Since ancient times, the Chinese have paid great attention to the construction of bridges. Initially, they were built only from wood and bamboo. The first stone bridges in China date back to the Shang-Yin era. They were built from blocks laid on overpasses, the distance between which did not exceed 6 m. This method of construction was used in subsequent times, having undergone significant development. For example, during the Song Dynasty, unique giant bridges with large spans were built, the size of which reached 21 m. Stone blocks weighing up to 200 tons were used.

Suspension bridges were invented in China, with the links of their chains made of malleable steel instead of woven bamboo. Cast iron was called “raw iron,” steel was called “great iron,” and malleable steel was called “ripened iron.” The Chinese were well aware that during “ripening” iron loses some important component, and described this process as “loss of life-giving juices.” However, without knowing chemistry, they could not determine that it was carbon.

In the 3rd century. BC suspension bridges have gained popularity. They were built mainly in the southwest, where there are many gorges. The most famous Chinese suspension bridge is the Anlan Bridge in Guanxiang. It is believed that it was built in the 3rd century. BC engineer Li Bin. The bridge has a total length of 320 m, a width of about 3 m and is composed of eight spans.

Other Chinese inventions

Archaeological finds of trigger mechanisms give reason to believe that crossbow weapons appeared in China around the 5th century. BC The archaeological materials found are bronze devices of some kind of arrow-throwing weapon. In the famous dictionary “Shi Min” (Interpretation of Names), created by Lu Xi during the Han Dynasty in the 2nd century. BC, it is mentioned that the term "ji" is used to apply to this type of weapon, which resembles a crossbow.

Throughout long history When riding horses, people did without support for their feet. Ancient peoples - Persians, Medes. The Romans, Assyrians, Egyptians, Babylonians, and Greeks did not know stirrups. Around the 3rd century. The Chinese managed to find a way out of the situation, By that time they were already quite skilled metallurgists and began to cast stirrups from bronze and iron.

The decimal system, fundamental to all modern science, first arose in China.. Evidence can be found confirming its use dating back to the 14th century. BC, during the reign of the Shang Dynasty. An example of the use of the decimal system in Ancient China is an inscription dating back to the 13th century. BC, in which 547 days are designated as "five hundred plus four tens plus seven days." Since ancient times, the positional number system was understood literally: the Chinese actually put counting sticks in the boxes assigned to them.

Ancient China made an invaluable contribution to the development of science and technology. The entire richness of their culture is amazing, and it is impossible to overestimate its importance for world culture. Many of the discoveries made by Europeans were much later, and technologies long kept secret allowed China to flourish and develop for many centuries independently of other countries. All inventions made in China directly affect subsequent inventions in the world.

Chinese civilization has given humanity many inventions, without which we cannot imagine our lives today. Everyone knows that it was from the Celestial Empire that they came into our everyday life:

paper,
powder,
porcelain,
silk.

However, ancient Chinese scientists and inventors created a lot of other equally useful things. Many Chinese discoveries were made again by Western scientists, but much later.

Inventions of Ancient China

Compass

It was in China that magnetized iron was first used to determine the cardinal directions. The estimated date of creation of the compass is still unknown to scientists. According to some estimates, the first compasses could have appeared between the 3rd century. BC e. and X century n. e. Initially, the compass was a metal spoon, the handle of which always pointed north. Thanks to this invention, Chinese travelers could accurately determine their position in space without any landmarks. This was especially convenient if the traveler was in the middle of the desert or sea. However, the first compasses were used not only in navigation, but also in construction. Chinese architects designed palaces and temples in accordance with the rules of Feng Shui. In those days, people believed that in order for only positive energies to enter the erected building, and for its inhabitants to be happy, rich and healthy, windows, doors and rooms must be correctly oriented to the cardinal points. This rule is still observed even in atheistic China; many large companies invite feng shui specialists to work, whose tasks include the correct layout of rooms and arrangement of furniture.

Typography

Residents of Europe and Russia usually associate the invention of the first printing press with the name of the German master Johannes Gutenberg, who lived in the 15th century. But few people know that the first printing devices in the world appeared in China. However, book printing was not as popular here as in Europe. Preference was given to manuscripts. This may be due to the fact that the hieroglyphic system is too complex for printing, as well as the special attitude of the Chinese to the art of calligraphy.

At first, woodblock printing was used to print books: text and engravings were cut out in a mirror image on a wooden board. Then the board was covered with paint and an imprint was made on paper. Using woodcut printing, designs could also be applied to silk fabric. It was quite difficult to print large works in this way, so the first typesetting boards appeared in the 11th century. At first, typesetting impressions were made from clay, and then they were replaced by bronze type.

Ethanol

Since ancient times, people have known that fermented grains and fruits have an intoxicating effect. On the territory modern China Alcohol production began in the 7th millennium BC. e. Over time, the Chinese learned to subject plant materials to fermentation and distillation, producing different types of wines, tinctures and sauces.

Kite

It is believed that the first kite appeared in China in the 5th century BC. e. The very fact that the inhabitants of Ancient China were able to create such a design suggests that these people had an understanding of the basic laws of aerodynamics. In those days, the Chinese did not treat kites as simple toys. From the first years of its appearance, this invention was used Chinese army: by using kite it was possible to deliver an important message to a besieged fortress. And a snake filled with gunpowder and set on fire immediately turned into formidable weapon. Some resourceful Chinese have even learned to fish using kites. It was enough to simply tie the bait to the structure and wait for the bite.

More than two millennia later, the principle of the kite became the impetus for the development of modern aircraft construction.

Umbrella

The umbrella we are used to, made of water-repellent fabric and metal, was patented in the 1850s in England. However, the history of this ingenious invention began much earlier and on the other side of the world. According to scientists, the first umbrellas appeared independently of each other simultaneously in China, Egypt and India about 3,200 years ago. Initially, they were intended only for protection from the sun and only the richest and most influential citizens could have them. Umbrellas were made from feathers, paper or large leaves. The owners of the very first umbrellas very rarely carried them in their hands. During walks, umbrellas were held by servants accompanying their master. If a dignitary or emperor had to sit in one place for a long time, the umbrella was simply attached to the back of his chair or throne.

Toothbrush

Since ancient times, people have cared about the cleanliness of their teeth. The first toothpicks and brushes used for oral hygiene appeared in prehistoric times. For a long time chewing blades made of wood, mastic or bamboo were used to clean teeth. But at the end of the 15th century, the first modern brushes appeared in China. The Chinese thought of attaching tufts of boar bristles to a bamboo or bone handle. Although the materials used to make toothbrushes have changed greatly over the past five centuries, the shape of the brush itself has remained the same.

Wheelbarrow

The wheelbarrow, without which no farmstead today can be imagined, also came into our everyday life from China. Such a simple device had a very long and interesting history. The first wheelbarrows appeared in the 1st century BC. e. and began to be used in military affairs. There are no extensive river networks in China, and in ancient times almost no pack animals were bred here. Therefore, during military operations, the question of methods of supplying the army and transporting goods was quite acute. In the end, the problem was solved. The army began to use a structure that was a wooden flooring with two handles, mounted on one wheel. For a long time, wheelbarrows, as real advanced military technology, were even hidden from the enemy.

Unlike the European car, the Chinese one was much more convenient and maneuverable. If the European wheelbarrow had one small wheel in front, which is why the worker had to partially take the weight of the load on himself, then the Chinese wheelbarrow had a much larger wheel and was located in the center. Thanks to this engineering solution, the person transporting the load could only push the structure in front of him. In some cases, for speedy movement, small sails were even attached to the wheelbarrows: such a design on a smooth road could reach speeds of up to 60 km/h. The cars were very comfortable and roomy. They did not require the construction of such wide roads as in countries where goods were transported by horses and oxen. The whole of China was entangled in a network of narrow winding paved paths, on which two workers with wheelbarrows could easily pass each other.

Until the beginning of the twentieth century, wheelbarrows were one of the main devices for transporting goods for the Chinese. Often they were even used as a means of transport: up to 5-6 people could ride on a wheelbarrow driven by one worker.

Mechanical watch

People have found ways to measure time even before our era. At first, time was determined simply by the position of the heavenly bodies. The first clocks were solar (appeared in Egypt) and water (appeared in Babylon). Perhaps in some regions already in the middle of the 1st millennium BC. e. operating principle was developed hourglass. Shortly before the beginning of the 1st century AD. e. The Chinese borrowed clepsydra from the Middle East. But at the beginning of the 7th century, China invented its own completely new type of watch. Their creator was the Buddhist monk Yi Xing. He came up with a complex design that displayed the time of sunrise and sunset, the movement of celestial bodies and time. Yi Xing's device was both a clock and a small planetarium. The clock was driven by the power of water. Two and a half centuries later, Yi Xing's clock was improved by replacing water with mercury.

Cast iron

According to archaeological research, cast iron was known to the Chinese from the middle of the 1st millennium BC. e. Already in this era, China had many technological innovations and techniques that made it possible to achieve great success in metallurgy. Here:

built blast furnaces,
used a horn,
used stack casting technology, thanks to which it was possible to produce up to hundreds of identical products at a time,
They made chill molds - metal molds for casting.

In fact, cast iron is iron ore enriched with carbon. The higher the carbon content in cast iron and the fewer impurities, the stronger the metal. Mass production of cast iron products began after the Chinese began using coal as fuel. Unlike wood, coal made it possible to maintain very high temperatures in smelting furnaces. Iron ore placed in special pipes, which were then placed in burning coal. Since the pipes were closed, the raw materials did not come into contact with the sulfur produced by burning coal. Therefore, Chinese cast iron was pure and durable.

Many useful items were made from cast iron: agricultural implements, horse harness, cannons, dishes, mouthpieces, coins and even children's toys.

The production of cast iron led to a number of new important discoveries. Firstly, thanks to cast iron cookware, which was ideal for evaporating salt, the salt industry began to develop rapidly in China. The scale of salt development expanded every year, and new mines were created throughout the country. Apparently, during salt mining, the Chinese discovered natural gas. Scientists have not been able to establish the exact date of this amazing discovery. But already in the notes of Marco Polo (13th century) there are references to the fact that the Chinese used gas as fuel.

Steel

The discovery of cast iron soon led to the advent of steel. To obtain steel from cast iron, it is necessary to clean it, among other things, of excess carbon. Chinese craftsmen reduced the amount of carbon in metal by injecting oxygen into the raw material. To make steel products stronger, they were subjected to hardening: white-hot metal was instantly cooled in water. Repeating this procedure many times made it possible to obtain ultra-strong products.

Many techniques discovered by ancient Chinese metallurgists are still used in heavy industry. Some of them, for example, formed the basis of the operating principle of an open-hearth furnace.

Varnish

ABOUT beneficial properties The resin produced by lacquer wood became known to the Chinese back in the 5th-4th millennium BC. e. Objects coated with such resin became protected from exposure to water and various chemicals, temperature changes, corrosion.

The varnish was collected by making cuts in the bark of trees. Since freshly collected varnish contains a lot of water, it was boiled to evaporate excess moisture. To prevent the mass from becoming too thick, crabs were added to the container with varnish. Their shells contain a substance that prevents the resin from thickening.

Over time, mineral dyes, metals and various organic substances began to be added to the resin. This is how the Chinese received a whole range of colored varnishes. In the Middle Ages, in order for the varnish to adhere better to the surface being treated, purified resin began to be mixed with vegetable oils. Paper products were coated with varnishes, jewelry, imperial tombs, wooden utensils and much more. Even before the advent of our era, a fashion for painted nails appeared among the Chinese nobility. Both women and men took care of the manicure. Long (up to 25 cm) bright nails were a sign that their owner did not engage in hard manual labor. In some cases, nails were an amulet that protected a person from the evil eye and evil spirits.

The four great inventions of ancient China - this is how the famous researcher of Chinese culture Joseph Needham dubbed paper, printing, gunpowder and a compass invented in the Middle Ages in his book of the same name. It was these discoveries that contributed to the fact that many areas of culture and the arts, previously accessible only to the rich, became the property of the general public. The inventions of ancient China made long-distance travel possible, which made it possible to discover new lands. So, let's look at each of them in chronological order.

Ancient Chinese Invention No. 1 - Paper

Paper is considered the first great invention of ancient China. According to Chinese chronicles of the Eastern Han Dynasty, the Han Dynasty court eunuch is Cai Long in 105 AD.

In ancient times, in China, before the advent of paper, bamboo strips rolled into scrolls, silk scrolls, wooden and clay tablets, etc. were used for writing notes. The most ancient Chinese texts or “jiaguwen” were discovered on tortoise shells, which date back to the 2nd millennium BC. e. (Shang Dynasty).

In the 3rd century, paper was already widely used for writing instead of more expensive traditional materials. The paper production technology developed by Cai Lun consisted of the following: a boiling mixture of hemp, mulberry bark, old fishing nets and fabrics was turned into pulp, after which it was ground to a homogeneous paste and mixed with water. A sieve in a wooden cane frame was immersed in the mixture, the mixture was scooped out with the sieve, and the liquid was shaken to drain. At the same time, a thin and even layer of fibrous mass was formed in the sieve.

This mass was then tipped onto smooth boards. Boards with castings were placed one on top of the other. They tied the stack together and placed a load on top. Then the sheets, hardened and strengthened under the press, were removed from the boards and dried. A sheet of paper made using this technology was light, smooth, durable, less yellow and more convenient for writing.

Ancient Chinese Invention No. 2 - Printing

The advent of paper, in turn, led to the advent of printing. The oldest known example of woodblock printing is a Sanskrit sutra printed on hemp paper between approximately 650 and 670 CE. However, the first printed book with a standard size is considered to be the Diamond Sutra, made during the Tang Dynasty (618-907). It consists of scrolls 5.18 m long. According to scholar of traditional Chinese culture Joseph Needham, the printing methods used in the calligraphy of the Diamond Sutra are far superior in perfection and sophistication to the miniature sutra printed previously.

Set fonts: The Chinese statesman and polymath Shen Kuo (1031-1095) first outlined the method of printing using set font in his work "Notes on the Brook of Dreams" in 1088, attributing this innovation to the unknown master Bi Sheng. Shen Kuo described the technological process for producing baked clay type, the printing process, and the production of typefaces.

Bookbinding Technique: The advent of printing in the ninth century significantly changed the technique of bookbinding. Towards the end of the Tang era, the book evolved from rolled up scrolls of paper into a stack of sheets resembling a modern brochure. Subsequently, during the Song Dynasty (960-1279), the sheets began to be folded in the center, making a “butterfly” type binding, which is why the book has already acquired a modern look. The Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) introduced the stiff paper spine, and later during the Ming Dynasty sheets were stitched with thread.

Printing in China has made a great contribution to the preservation of the rich culture that has developed over centuries.

Ancient Chinese Invention No. 3 - Gunpowder

Gunpowder is believed to have been developed in China in the 10th century. It was first used as a filling in incendiary projectiles, and later explosive gunpowder projectiles were invented. Gunpowder guns, according to Chinese chronicles, were first used in battles in 1132. It was a long bamboo tube into which gunpowder was placed and then set on fire. This “flamethrower” caused severe burns to the enemy.

A century later, in 1259, a gun that fired bullets was invented for the first time - a thick bamboo tube into which a charge of gunpowder and a bullet was placed.

Later, at the turn of the 13th-14th centuries, metal cannons loaded with stone cannonballs spread in the Celestial Empire.

However, perhaps the most “bright” invention that appeared thanks to the creation of gunpowder are fireworks. In the Celestial Empire they had a special meaning. According to ancient beliefs, evil spirits are very afraid of bright light and loud sounds. Therefore, since ancient times, on the Chinese New Year, there was a tradition in the courtyards of burning bonfires made of bamboo, which hissed in the fire and burst with a bang. And the invention of gunpowder charges undoubtedly frightened the “evil spirits” seriously - after all, in terms of the power of sound and light, they were significantly superior to the old method. Later, Chinese craftsmen began to create multi-colored fireworks by adding various substances to gunpowder.

Today, fireworks have become an indispensable attribute of New Year celebrations in almost all countries of the world.

Ancient Chinese Invention No. 4 - Compass

The first prototype of the compass is believed to have appeared during the Han Dynasty (202 BC - 220 AD), when the Chinese began using magnetic iron ore oriented north-south. True, it was not used for navigation, but for fortune telling. In the ancient text "Lunheng", written in the 1st century AD, in chapter 52, the ancient compass is described as follows: "This instrument resembles a spoon, and when placed on a plate, its handle will point to the south."

The description of a magnetic compass for determining the cardinal directions was first set out in the Chinese manuscript “Wujing Zongyao” in 1044. The compass worked on the principle of residual magnetization from heated steel or iron blanks, which were cast in the shape of a fish. The latter were placed in a bowl of water, and weak magnetic forces appeared as a result of induction and residual magnetization. The manuscript mentions that this device was used as a heading indicator paired with a mechanical “chariot that points south.”

A more advanced compass design was proposed by the already mentioned Chinese scientist Shen Ko. In his “Notes on the Brook of Dreams” (1088), he described in detail the magnetic declination, that is, the deviation from the direction of true north, and the design of a magnetic compass with a needle. The use of a compass for navigation was first proposed by Zhu Yu in the book “Table Talks in Ningzhou” (1119).

Note:

In addition to the four great inventions of ancient China, the craftsmen of the Celestial Empire gave our civilization the following useful things: the Chinese horoscope, drum, bell, crossbow, erhu violin, gong, martial arts “wushu”, qigong health gymnastics, fork, noodles, steamer, chopsticks, tea , soy cheese tofu, silk, paper money, nail polish, bristle toothbrush, toilet paper, kite, gas cylinder, Go board game, playing cards, porcelain and much more.