Four Great Inventions of Ancient China 古代中国四大发明

The four great inventions of ancient China refer to papermaking, gunpowder, printing and the compass. The statement was first put forward by British sinologist Dr. Joseph Needham (1900-1995), which was later widely accepted by Chinese historians. The four great inventions of ancient China promoted the development of China’s economy, politics, and culture, which were introduced to the Western countries through various channels and had a substantial influence on world civilization. They are celebrated in Chinese culture for their historical significance and as symbols of ancient China’s advanced science and technology.

Papermaking 

The earliest form of Chinese characters were inscriptions on oracle bones of the Shang Dynasty, followed by inscriptions on ancient bronze objects, and it was not until the Spring and Autumn Dynasty that the Chinese characters were carved onto bamboo slips strung up by hemp cords（大麻绳索）. The Chinese characters were written on silk cloths during the Qin and the Han dynasties, and it was not until Cai Lun’s① (61-121) improved papermaking method in the Eastern Han Dynasty that paper was widely used throughout ancient China. In 105 AD, Cai Lun, a eunuch(宦官), invented paper from worn fishnet, bark(树皮) and cloth. These raw materials were relatively cheap, light, thin, durable and more suitable for brush writing. 

The papermaking technique spread to other countries subsequently. It was first exported to Korea in 384 AD. A Korean monk then took this skill with him to Japan in 610 AD. During a war between the Tang Dynasty and the Arab Empire, the Arabs captured some Tang soldiers and papermaking workers. Thus, a paper factory was set up by the Arabs. In the 11th Century, the skill was carried to India when Chinese monks journeyed there in search of Buddhist sutras(佛经). Through the Arabs, Africans and Europeans then mastered the skill. The first paper factory in Europe was set up in Spain. In the latter half of the 16th century, this skill was brought to America. By the 19th century, when paper factories were set up in Australia, paper making had spread to the whole world.

Gun Powder

Gunpowder is called Huo Yao in Chinese, meaning flaming medicine. Unlike paper and printing, the birth of gunpowder was quite accidental. It was first invented inadvertently by alchemists(炼金术士) while attempting to make an elixir of immorality(长生不老药). It was a mixture of sulfur (硫磺), saltpeter(硝石), and charcoal(木炭). 

At the end of the Tang Dynasty, gunpowder was being used in military affairs. During the Song and Yuan Dynasties, frequent wars spurred the development of cannons(大炮), and fire-arrows shot from bamboo tubes.

In the 12th and 13th centuries, gunpowder spread to the Arab countries, then Greece, other European countries, and finally all over the world.

    Printing 

    Inspired by engraved name seals(印章), Chinese people invented fixed-type engraved printing around 600 AD. The skill played an important role in the Song Dynasty but its shortcomings were apparent. It was time-consuming to engrave a model, not easy to store, and not easy to revise errors.

During the reign of Emperor Ren Zong②of the Northern Song Dynasty, Bi Sheng③invented movable, reusable clay type after numerous tests. Single types (单个字模) were made and picked out for printing certain books. These types could be used again and again for different books. Because of the large number of different characters in the Chinese written language, this technique did not have a dramatic impact at the time. However, today, this typesetting technique is regarded as a revolution in the industry. About 200 years later, this movable-type technique spread to other countries and sped up the development of world civilization.

Compass

During the Warring States Period, a device called  Si Nan became the forerunner of the compass. A Si Nan was a ladle-like（杓子状的）magnet on a plate with the handle of the ladle pointing to the south. In the 11th century, tiny needles made of magnetized steel were invented. One end of the needle points north while the other points south. The compass was thus created. The compass greatly improved a ship’s ability to navigate over long distances. It was not until the beginning of the 14th century that compass was introduced to Europe from China.

Abridged and revised from

http://www.chinahighlights.com/travelguide/culture/four-great-invention.htm

Notes:

① Cai Lun：蔡伦，中国古代四大发明中造纸术的改造者。作为一名古代宦官，他曾在昂贵的丝绸和竹板上书写过，但是，他改造了造纸术，用树皮、鱼网和竹子压制成纸。造纸术的发明彻底改写了后世中国乃至世界的历史，也使蔡伦屹立于古今中外的杰出人物之列。

② Ren Zong：宋仁宗赵祯，宋朝第四位皇帝。初名受益，宋真宗的第六子。宋仁宗在位四十二年，是宋朝皇帝中执政最长的一位，生性恭俭仁恕，在位及亲政治理国家的时期概括为“仁宗盛治”。

③ Bi Sheng：毕昇，中国古代发明家，活字版印刷术发明者。汉族，湖北黄冈英山人。初为印刷铺工人，专事手工印刷。毕升发明了胶泥活字印刷术，被认为是世界上最早的活字印刷技术。