Inventions: Many

Inventors: ancient Chinese people

Sometimes, to invent things for the future, we need to look to the past. So, let us look back to the time when ancient Chinese inventors were inventing and designing prolifically.

First of all, ancient Chinese people were brilliant and versatile, they made significant contributions to science in the areas of physics, chemistry, engineering, maths, astronomy, seismology, meteorology and many others.
The golden period was roughly between 600 AD and 1500 AD – that is when a lot of these inventions took place.

So, let us take a look at some of these inventions – some of them are going to be surprising to you!

Invention of Compass

The compass is known as Si Nan in China, and the early version of the compass was invented as a combination of a metal spoon and a square bronze plate. It is speculated that this was made during the Qin dynasty.

Invention of Gun Powder

It is believed that the gun powder was invented around the 8th century, during the time of the Tang dynasty. They developed a formula of combining saltpeter and sulphur with charcoal. The result was the world’s first form of gun-powder! By the time of Song dynasty, the chinese started using this in rifles and cannons, and the result was devastating.

Invention (?) of Silk

Silk has been used by people all over the world for so many years, but it is believed that the Chinese are the first to start using it. This was around 2700 BC. There is a story about an empress (Si Ling Chi) discovering silk by accident. The story is that a silkworm cocoon fell into her tea, and saw the amazing transformation. Once she found this, they started working on it, and finally managed to extract and weave usable silk cloths from this. For around 2800 years, it is believed that this whole sericulture affair was kept secret by the Chinese.

Invention of Paper currency
The earliest documentation of anyone using paper currency is around 800 BC, and again, it is the Chinese who were using it at that time.

Innovations in Agriculture

One of the major inventions in this area by the Chinese was the growing of crops in rows, They were the first to find that if crops were grown in rows, they tended to mature faster. A rotary winnowing (winnowing is the process of separation of the husks and stalks from the grains) fan was invented by the Chinese around 4th century BC.

Invention of kite (its early form)

It is believed that the Chinese started flying some form of kites two thousand years back. These ancient kites used to emulate the shapes of birds and other flying objects.

Invention of seismograph

The first version of seismograph is believed to have been created by a Chinese astronomer of the Han dynasty, named Chang Heng. He designed a vessel made of cast bronze. This vessel had nine dragons facing nine different directions (so, it should have been 40 degrees apart), and each dragon had a ball in its mouth. Below each dragon, there was a frog sitting with its mouth open. When there was any seismic activity, the corresponding ball from the dragon’s mouth will fall into the mouth of the frog sitting below, this indicating a seismic activity and its direction.

These are just a few of the important inventions belonging to ancient China – there are more!