Gunpowder, compass, wheelbarrow, wine… are among the famous inventions of ancient China. Let’s explore these inventions in the article below.
>>> Accidental inventions discovered in history
Great Inventions of Ancient China
- 20. Porcelain (581 – 618)
- 19. Iron Smelting Techniques (1050 BC – 256 BC)
- 18. Seismometer (132)
- 17. Seed Drill (3500 BC)
- 16. Toothbrush (1498)
- 15. Paper Money (8th Century)
- 14. Umbrella (1,700 years ago)
- 13. Acupuncture (2,300 years ago)
- 12. Mechanical Clock (725)
- 11. Tea Production (2737 BC)
- 10. Woodblock Printing Techniques (960 – 1279)
- 9. Gunpowder
- 8. Compass
- 7. Paper
- 6. Noodles
- 5. Wheelbarrow
- 4. Wine
- 3. Kites
- 2. Gliders
- 1. Silk
20. Porcelain (581 – 618)
Porcelain is another great invention of ancient China. It is said to have first appeared during the Shang Dynasty (1600 BC – 1046 BC) and flourished during the Tang Dynasty (618 – 906). By the Song Dynasty (960 – 1279), the technology for producing porcelain reached a peak of exquisite craftsmanship, styles, patterns, glazes, and techniques. This product was later popularized across global markets through the Silk Road.
19. Iron Smelting Techniques (1050 BC – 256 BC)
Archaeological evidence suggests that iron smelting techniques were developed in China as early as the 5th century BC during the Zhou Dynasty (1050 BC – 256 BC). During the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, continuous warfare created a prosperous phase for iron smelting. By the Han Dynasty (202 BC – 220 AD), the government had monopolized the iron industry, achieving a high level of proficiency in forging weapons and household items.
18. Seismometer (132)
It can be confirmed that the first seismometer capable of detecting earth tremors was invented by the scientist Zhang Heng (78 – 139) during the Eastern Han Dynasty. In 138, this instrument detected an earthquake occurring 1,000 kilometers away in Longxi. This was also the first time humanity discovered an earthquake. Modern seismometers only began to develop in Europe in 1848.
17. Seed Drill (3500 BC)
Chinese farmers began using seed drills as early as the 2nd century BC. This device made work easier and improved both the yield and quality of agricultural products in China.
16. Toothbrush (1498)
The first toothbrush in China was made using coarse horsehair, bones, or bamboo.
15. Paper Money (8th Century)
The first paper money was developed in ancient China, where they began using it in the form of promissory notes by the late 8th century or early 9th century.
14. Umbrella (1,700 years ago)
(Photo: Chinawhisper)
The invention of the umbrella can be traced back 3,500 years in China. According to legend, Lu Ban – a carpenter, created the umbrella after seeing children using lotus leaves to shield themselves from the rain. The umbrella he made had a flexible frame covered with fabric.
13. Acupuncture (2,300 years ago)
(Photo: Chinawhisper)
According to the Chinese text “Huangdi Neijing”, acupuncture has been widely used as a therapeutic method in China for a long time, even before it was documented. Additionally, many acupuncture needles were discovered in the tomb of King Liu Sheng of Zhongshan, who died around 200 BC. This is clear evidence that acupuncture was practiced in China over 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 developed rapidly. It can be seen that despite its long history, Chinese acupuncture continues to hold value today and is increasingly embraced by people worldwide.
12. Mechanical Clock (725)
(Photo: Chinawhisper)
The first mechanical clock was invented by monk Yi Xing in 725. It operated by allowing water to drip and turn gears, completing one full rotation in 24 hours. Hundreds of years later, engineer Su Song (1020-1101) developed a more sophisticated clock in 1092, about 200 years before mechanical clocks appeared in Europe.
11. Tea Production (2737 BC)
(Photo: Chinawhisper)
According to legend, tea was first discovered by Shennong – the ancestor of agriculture in China around 2737 BC.
During the Tang Dynasty (618-907), tea became a popular beverage across all social classes. The book “Tea Classic” written by Lu Yu during the Tang Dynasty explained the methods of brewing and enjoying tea, as well as details about different types of tea. This book is considered the first scholarly work on tea in the world. Furthermore, the largest and oldest tea tree in the world is located in Linxiang, China, estimated to be around 3,200 years old. In China, tea is regarded as “national beverage,” signifying not just a common drink but also an important cultural symbol.
10. Woodblock Printing Techniques (960 – 1279)
(Photo: Chinawhisper)
Woodblock printing was a widely used technique during the Tang Dynasty. However, this printing method was very costly and time-consuming. By the Song Dynasty (960 – 1279), Bi Sheng, an artisan (990–1051), invented movable type, making printing faster and easier.
He first carved individual characters onto clay, then fired them to harden. The movable type characters were then attached to an iron plate to form a text. Afterward, the plate could be disassembled to reuse the clay characters.
Woodblock printing, also known as relief printing. (Image: Chinawhisper)
Compass. (Image: Chinawhisper)
The printing technique was first transmitted to Korea and Japan, and later spread to Western countries through the Mongols. The advent of movable type printing significantly accelerated cultural exchanges and development between countries worldwide, marking a major contribution of China to the world.
10. Gunpowder
Gunpowder is arguably the most famous invention of ancient China. Around the 6th century, alchemists (also known as metallurgists, Taoists, and astrologers, who experimented with various substances in hopes of discovering the elixir of immortality for the Emperor) accidentally created explosives from saltpeter and sulfur. The first gunpowder was made from a mixture of potassium nitrate, charcoal, and sulfur. It was first described in 1044 in a military technical collection compiled by Zeng Goliang. However, at that time, explosives were only used for fireworks and celebrations in the imperial court, produced in royal workshops.
9. Compass
The first compass, known as a “south-pointing needle,” was invented by the Chinese long before the concept of magnetism was understood. The Chinese viewed the south as the emperor’s direction, hence the term “south-pointing needle” instead of “north-pointing needle.” The ancient south-pointing needle differed from modern compasses; it was shaped like a spoon cut from a piece of natural magnet and placed on a polished bronze base to reduce friction. (At that time, it was known that bronze did not affect magnetic fields, thus not deflecting the needle’s direction). The spoon-shaped pointer would balance and point south when still. China is also recognized as the first country to use the compass in maritime navigation.
8. Paper
Prior to the invention of paper, humans recorded documents through cave paintings or inscriptions on clay tablets, and later, on animal skins. Once the Chinese invented paper around 105 AD, it began to be widely used in China, and it wasn’t until 750 AD that the papermaking technique spread to Samarkand through Chinese prisoners during a border conflict. Paper reached Europe in the 12th century through cultural exchanges between Christian Westerners and Arab Easterners, as well as through Muslim-controlled Spain.
7. Noodles
You might think that pasta was invented by Italians, but in fact, the Chinese created this dish over 4,000 years ago. In 2006, archaeologists excavated a site in Qinghai province and discovered a bowl of noodles buried 10 feet underground.
The first noodles were made from millet, which has been cultivated in China for about 7,000 years.
6. Wheelbarrow
General Zhuge Liang of the Han Dynasty is credited with the idea of a one-wheeled cart for transporting goods. The first wheelbarrow had a simple design made from wooden pieces joined together. Initially, this vehicle served military purposes, transporting weapons and provisions, as well as acting as a mobile barricade. The Chinese kept this invention secret for many centuries.
5. Seismograph
The first seismograph was invented by Zhang Heng during the Han Dynasty in the 2nd century. Although the device could not predict the exact timing of earthquakes, it was a beautiful creation featuring nine dragons surrounding it, with their heads bowed, and nine frogs sitting below. Inside, a pendulum hung motionless until an earthquake occurred. When an earthquake happened, the pendulum would trigger levers, releasing a ball from the mouth of a dragon into the mouth of a frog below.
4. Wine
Around the early 3rd century BC, the Chinese discovered ways to process products like vinegar and soy sauce through fermentation and distillation. This led to the invention of wine. Recent archaeological discoveries in Henan have also revealed substantial evidence of ancient Chinese wine production.
3. Kite
In the 4th century BC, Gongshu Ban and Mozi, an artist and philosopher, created the first primitive kite. Over time, the Chinese innovated and transformed it into a form of entertainment. Kites were also used for military purposes.
2. Glider
As mentioned earlier, kites were invented in the 4th century BC, and by the 6th century, the Chinese had developed large kites capable of carrying people. The Chinese emperor used these kites as a form of “punishment” and amusement by having prisoners fly on them.
1. Silk
The art of silk weaving likely began in China as early as 6000 BC. Initially, silk was reserved for emperors or gifted to others; however, over time, it was gradually adopted by various social classes in China and spread to other regions of Asia. Silk quickly became a luxury commodity in places where Chinese merchants ventured due to its durability and lustrous beauty. The demand for silk soared, leading to a transnational trade industry. In July 2007, archaeologists discovered finely woven and dyed silk samples in a tomb in Jiangxi province dating back to the Eastern Zhou Dynasty, approximately 2,500 years ago.
The earliest evidence of silk trade was found in the form of silk threads in the hair of an Egyptian mummy. Silk was introduced to the Indian subcontinent, the Middle East, Europe, and North Africa through the famous Silk Road.
Chinese emperors made efforts to keep sericulture a secret in order to maintain a monopoly on silk production. However, Koreans learned the craft around 200 BC, followed by the people of Khotan in the first half of the 1st century AD, and Indians around 300 AD.
