18 famous inventions of ancient China

Gunpowder, compass, wheelbarrow, wine . are the famous inventions of ancient China, let's explore those inventions through the article below.

>>> "Unknowingly" inventions found in history

Great inventions of ancient Chinese people

18. Seismometer (year 132)

It can be affirmed that the first seismometer was able to detect earth tremors, invented by the scientist named Truong Hanh (78 - 139) in the Dong Han period. In 138, the device detected an earthquake in an area a thousand kilometers from Lung Tay. This is also the first time humanity has detected an earthquake. The modern seismic epoch only began to develop in Europe in 1848.

17. Seed sowing device (3500 before)

Chinese farmers started using seed equipment from the 2nd century BC. This device makes work easier and improves the output and quality of agricultural products in China.

16. Toothbrush (1498)

The first brush in China was made using rough horsehair, bone or bamboo.

15. Paper money (Account 8)

The first paper money was developed from ancient China, and they began using paper money as checks from the end of the 8th or early 9th century.

14. Umbrellas (1,700 years ago)

(Photo: Chinawhisper)

The invention of umbrellas can be traced back to the past 3,500 years ago in China. According to legend, Lu Ban - a carpenter made a parachute after seeing the children take lotus leaves to cover the rain. The umbrella he built has a flexible frame and is covered with a cloth.

13. Acupuncture techniques (2,300 years ago)

(Photo: Chinawhisper)

Based on China's 'Inner Economic Emperor ', acupuncture has been used extensively as a therapy in this country for a long time, even before being recorded in books. In addition, many types of acupuncture needles were discovered in the tomb of Trung Son Tinh Vuong - Luu Thang; He died about 200 years BC. This is clear evidence that acupuncture has been used in China more than 2,000 years ago. By the 16th century, acupuncture began to spread widely to Europe. After 1949, when the People's Republic of China was established, acupuncture was developed rapidly. It can be seen that although it was born a long time ago, until today Chinese acupuncturist art still has not lost its value, even more and more people around the world believe in it.

12. Mechanical watch (725)

(Photo: Chinawhisper)

The first mechanical watch was built by monk Nhat Hanh in 725. It operates by dripping water to turn the gears and complete a full rotation in 24 hours. Hundreds of years later, engineer To Tung (1020-1101) developed a more sophisticated watch in 1092, about 200 years before the mechanical watch appeared in Europe.

12. Tea production (2,737 BC)

(Photo: Chinawhisper)

According to myth, tea was first discovered by Shen Nong - the ancestor of Chinese agriculture in about 2,737 BC.

In the Tang Dynasty (618－907) tea became a popular drink in all walks of life. The book "Tra Kinh" written by Luc Vu in the Tang Dynasty explained the methods of making tea and tea, as well as details of different teas. This book is considered the first monograph in the world for tea. And the largest and oldest tea tree in the world is located in Linyi, China, with a date of about 3,200 years old. In this country, tea is considered a ' humid nation ', it is not merely a universal drink, but more importantly it represents a national culture.

11. Automatic printing techniques (960 - 1279)

(Photo: Chinawhisper)

Woodblock printing is a widely used technique in the Tang Dynasty. However, this printing technique is expensive and takes a lot of time. By the time of Song Dynasty (960 - 1279), Tat Thang , a craftsman (990–1051) invented loose letters (autonomous), making printing faster and easier.

First he carved every word on clay, then burned it hard on fire. These self-carved pieces will then be attached to an iron board to form a text. Then this board will be disassembled to remove the clay characters for reuse.

Woodblock printing, also known as printing press.(Photo: Chinawhisper)

Animated.(Photo: Chinawhisper)

First this printing technique was transmitted to Korea, Japan, and then through the Mongols to Western countries. The advent of self-printing techniques has accelerated the pace of cultural exchange and development among countries around the world, so it can be considered a great contribution of China to the world.

10. Gunpowder

Perhaps this is the most famous invention of ancient China. Around the sixth century, the Alchemists (also known as the Luyen's house, the monk, the astrologer, specialized in searching and mixing medicinal herbs, chemicals . hoping to find the remedy 'Immortal immortality ' rising to the Emperor', while tinkering, accidentally creating dynamite from sulfur and sulfur. The first gunpowder was created from a mixture of potassium nitrate, coal and sulfur. It was first described in 1044 in the military technical collection compiled by Zeng Goliang. However, at that time, explosives were only applied to firecrackers, fireworks for the festivals of the court and produced from imperial factories.

9. Compass

The first compass was called "the needle of the South" invented by the Chinese very early, as soon as people discovered the magnetic force and the magnet stone. Chinese people view the south as the direction of the kings, so use the word "just south" and not the north. The male needle is different from the compass today. It is shaped like a spoon cut out of a natural magnet and placed on a polished polished bronze base to reduce friction. (It was then known that copper is a metal with no effect on the magnetic field, and therefore, does not deflect the magnet needle). The round spoonful of the center of the copper base makes the center of the needle to the stretcher of the male needle around. After the spoon stood still (static balance) scooping the spoon only to the south. China is also considered the first country to use the compass in the maritime industry.

8. Paper

Before the invention of paper, people recorded documents that were painted in caves or carved on clay steles and then people used leather to store documents. Since the Chinese invented paper in 105, paper began to be widely used in China and until 750 new paper production techniques spread to Samarkand through Chinese prisoners in a border dispute. Paper was brought to Europe from the 12th century through cultural exchanges between Western Christianity and the Arabian East as well as through the Islamic period of Spain.

7. Pasta

Perhaps you will think that pasta must be thought of by Italians but it is not true that the ancient Chinese created this dish 4000 years ago. In 2006, archaeologists unearthed a residential area in Qinghai province and discovered a bowl of pasta buried 10 feet below the ground.

The first noodles made from millet seeds - grown in China for about 7000 years.

6. Wheelbarrows

A Han-era general Jugo Liang was said to be the first to build the idea of ​​a car with a wheel for transporting furniture. The first wheelbarrow has a simple design consisting of only pieces of wood assembled together. Initially, this vehicle served military purposes such as transporting weapons and food as well as making mobile barriers. Chinese people have kept this invention secret for centuries.

5. Seismic recorder

It can be affirmed that the first seismic record machine was invented by Chang Heng during the Han Dynasty - the 2nd century. Although the machine did not accurately predict the time of the seismic, it was true. it is a beautiful work with nine dragons surrounding the head down body and 9 frogs sitting below. Inside, a pendulum is hung motionless until the earthquake occurs. When an impact occurs, the pendulum will trigger the lever and a ball will escape from the dragon's mouth falling into the frog's mouth at the bottom.

4. Alcohol

Around the beginning of the 3rd century BC, the Chinese found a way to handle products such as vinegar and soy sauce using fermentation and distillation technology. Thereby, they invented alcohol by this method. Recent archaeological discoveries in Henan also show much evidence of Chinese wine.

3. Kites

In the 4th century BC, Gongshu Ban and Mo Di - an artist and a philosopher - created the first rudimentary kite. Over time, Chinese people have created and turned it into an entertainment medium. In addition, kites are also used for military purposes.

2. Glider

As mentioned above, kites were invented in the 4th century BC and by the 6th century, Chinese people developed and created kites large enough to carry people. The Chinese emperor used these kites as a "punishment" as well as a pleasure when he took prisoners on it.

1. Silk

The first silk weaving profession appeared in China from very early around 6000 BC. At first, only the king could use or give to others; however, silk was gradually used by Chinese social classes and spread to other parts of Asia. Silk quickly became a high-end commodity in places where Chinese merchants arrived, because it was durable and shiny. The demand for silk is high and it becomes a transnational business. In July 2007, archaeologists discovered patterns of finely woven and dyed silk fabrics in a tomb in Jiangxi Province from Eastern Zhou Dynasty, about 2500 years ago. .

The first evidence of silk trade was the discovery of silk thread in the hair of an Egyptian mummy. Silk was brought to the Indian subcontinent, Middle East, Europe and North Africa through the famous Silk Road.

Chinese kings tried to keep the silkworm farming secret to keep the Chinese monopoly. However, Koreans learned this profession around 200 BC, then the Khotan people around the first half of the 1st century AD and Indians around 300 CE