Archive for category Chinese Great Inventions
Four Great Inventions in Ancient China
Posted by ancient chinese culture in Chinese Great Inventions on December 7, 2010
The Four Great Inventions in Ancient China refer to the four most important inventions in ancient China, namely Gunpowder, Compass, Paper-making and Movable Type Printing. They have not only had a profound impact on the development of Chinese civilization, but also advanced the development of world civilization.
The history of compass can date back to the period of Warring States (475BC~221BC). During that time, working people used an instrument called Sinan, the earliest form of compass, to find their way.
Movable Type Printing, invented by Bi Sheng in the 1040s, is a way of printing that allows individual characters to be arranged to form words.
Four Great Inventions of Ancient China – Papermaking
Posted by ancient chinese culture in Chinese Great Inventions on December 2, 2010
Papermaking is one of the Four Great Inventions of Ancient China. Its history can date back to the Western Han Dynasty (206BC-23AD) when Cai Lun invented a way to make paper from hemp, fishnet, bark, rags, etc. Paper made in this way was light, thin and durable. In earlier times, paper was made from hemp fibers, so it was quite uneven, thick and coarse.
Due to the lower price of new raw material, paper was much cheaper than before. What’s more, it was much easy to get writing. With this kind of paper, knowledge can be passed widely and quickly to the common people. Read the rest of this entry »
Four Great Inventions in Ancient China – Gunpowder
Posted by ancient chinese culture in Chinese Great Inventions on November 10, 2010
Gunpowder is one of the Four Great Inventions in ancient China. Its history can date back to the 8th century Tang dynasty.
However, this great invention was discovered by accident. For centuries, there were a large number of alchemists financed by governments to seek the elixir of immortality. They experimented from time to time and around 850 AD., when they mixed 75 parts saltpeter with 15 parts charcoal and 10 parts sulfur together, the mixture exploded. Therefore, the gunpowder was discovered. Read the rest of this entry »
Chinese Imperial Examination System
Posted by ancient chinese culture in Chinese Great Inventions on October 31, 2010
Chinese Imperial Examination System refers to an examination system of selecting the administrative officials for the ancient Chinese bureaucracy. Ancient Chinese who wanted to be an official had to pass multiple of examinations first.
Its history can date back to the period of Sui Dynasty (581~618). During the period of Tang Dynasty (618～907), the system had been further consolidated and perfected. The system came to an end during the period of Qing Dynasty (1636~1911).
Usually, the formal examinations were divided into “Xiangshi” (Provincial Examination), “Huishi” (Metropolitan Examination) and “Dianshi” (the Palace Examination which was tested by the Emperor). Read the rest of this entry »
Four Great Inventions in Ancient China – Movable Type Printing
Posted by ancient chinese culture in Chinese Great Inventions on October 7, 2010
Movable Type Printing, invented by Bi Sheng in the 1040s, is one of the four great inventions in ancient China.
Regarded as the great technological revolution in printing history, its history can date back to the period of Northern Song Dynasty (960~1127). Its early form was woodblock printing.
Though it is much more efficient than hand copying, the process of printing is quite complicated. Firstly, workers will make rectangular blocks with clay. Secondly, they engrave an individual Chinese character on each of the block and then burn the blocks with fire. Having been hardened by fire, these blocks will be put into iron frames and the printing Read the rest of this entry »
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