Great Four Chinese Inventions

Smart inventors learn from the best and we have to go halfway around the world to find four of the greatest inventions of all time. China has been at the forefront of numerous great inventions. Although there are many other inventions, the big four known for showing ancient China being highly advanced in science. These are known as the Four Great Inventions of China and include gun powder, the compass, printing and paper.

Inventor Tip:

Registering your idea early could be vital to keeping your rights. Sometimes it's a race to the patent office, as was the case with the telephone with two patents being filed the very same day. Do you even know the name of the OTHER guy?

The Invention of Gun Powder

Sulphur and saltpeter where mixed with charcoal creating gunpowder, however it was not intended as a weapon. This mixture was first used for non destructive reasons, to cure skin diseases and fumigate homes. Eventually they began experimenting, filling tubes with this powder until they found the true power of this substance they created.

The Accidental Invention of the Compass

Ancient Chinese fortune tellers used lodestones which where made of iron oxide which aligns north-south. They eventually noticed that instead of pointing out life direction, they were better used for physical orientation instead. Later on they would create magnetized needles which would then be put to use for directions, particularly useful to ships on voyages.

Improving the Chinese Invention of Paper

Bamboo paper was the first kind invented in China and is still widely used in Chinese calligraphy and painting. Cai Lun was the one who improved on this invention. He improved the technique of making paper, and used a variety of substances including tree bark, hemp, etc.

Many Steps Until Printing Was Perfect

The process of printing was invented, as many things are, in steps. The Chinese first created block printing, where an entire page of text was carved into a wood block, inked, and transferred to paper. This a very lengthy process, for a block had to be carved for each page in a book. The Chinese put an emphasis on improving the printing process because the state authorities put an emphasis on the need for their people to be educated. So that they could more easily get these texts out to the population, they invented moveable type printing. Bi Sheng carved individual letters into blocks of wood, and attached them to an iron plate. These letters could be easily removed from the plate so they were reusable.

Other Important Chinese Inventions

A few other Chinese inventions that have had a great impact in the world are the rudder, the parachute, and row crops. Before the invention of the rudder, ships would only be able to turn with the use of oars, which took a great deal of energy on the part of the crew. Where would we be without the parachute? It is used both for a variety of government applications and for just an exciting thrill. Row crops were a huge advance in the agricultural field. Planting crops in perfectly straight rows allowed for larger, faster growing crops. You may think that the best inventions have already been done, but the world is still waiting for yours.