ANCIENT CHINESE CONTRIBUTIONS

HUM111/032VA016-1128-001

December 22, 2012

ANCIENT CHINESE CONTRIBUTIONS

Ancient China has a glorious history and it is well known that China is the main source of a lot of innovative and ingenious inventions. They have invented things that we as modern Americans continue to use and depend on today. It seems as though the Ancient Chinese were extremely inventive and people all around the globe owe them an awful lot. The Ancient Chinese has given us inventions that have continued to shape the world, as we know it, today. Most of the things that we depend on today basically began with our Asian counterparts. The Ancient Chinese have contributed to the world the compass, papermaking, the movable-type print, gunpowder, porcelain, the mechanical clock, toilet paper, and silk. These inventions are just to name a few; however, the four most ingenious and innovative inventions made by the Ancient Chinese are the compass, papermaking, the movable-type print and gunpowder. First of all, the compass, invented by the Ancient Chinese in 220 BCE, was supposed to be able to harmonize environments and buildings in accordance with the geometric principles (cultural-china.com, 2007-2010). Originally, the compasses were not built for navigation, but the spoon shaped compass made of magnetic ore with a bronze plate which dated back to the Han Dynasty, was used to determine the best location ad time for a burial (Silverman, n.a.). The compass was also referenced to as the “South-pointer”, after it was improved and made round. The center was circular and it was believed to represent the Heavens, as the square plate represented the Earth. The spoon itself represented the Big Dipper (or Great Bear). The compass was an innovative contribution because it allowed ships, during the Sung Dynasty, to be able to navigate to places like Saudi Arabia. Also the compass helped open trade between the East and West by ships. If you need to print something, then you are going to need some paper, which brings us to the next innovative invention…papermaking. Papermaking allowed ancient China to develop widespread literacy a lot faster than the West. China was the first country in the world to make proper paper. It was first made during the Western Han Dynasty. Cai Lun, from the Eastern Han Dynasty, invented the first batch of paper musing fishing nets, tree bark, hemp, pieces of rope and rags (Liyao, 2011). The Han began using the paper to make maps. The Ancient Chinese used materials like pottery, animal bones and stones, bamboo or wooden strips and silk to write their characters on. Modern technologies has simplified the process, but Lun’s method is still used today-the suspension in water of softened plant fibers that are formed in molds into thin sheets, pressed, drained, dried while being bleached by the sun (Sayre, 2011 p. 226). Paper making was an innovative invention because it paved the way for us to have the textbooks that we have today and the paper that we use in class to take notes. It also helped the world to alter the way that it was recording and documenting key information that helped to keep track of vital information. Papermaking also brought forth a revolution in writing as well as paves the way for the invention of the printing technology. Third, the movable-type print was invented by Wang Zhen of the Northern Son dynasty and Hua Sui of the Ming dynasty. The first printing method, Woodblock, appeared over 2,000 years ago, which produced the world’s first printing. The Tang Dynasty began printing with carved blocks. Later on, in 1045, Pi Sheng of the Northern Song Dynasty invented the movable-type print, (Sayre, 2011 p. 570-571); this started a revolution in the history of printing. Printing consisted of four processes: making the types, composing the text, printing and then retrieving the movable types. The movable-type printing took almost 630 years to complete. Wang Zhen had made a model of the movable-type print by arranging the characters by rhyme scheme on a round table with compartments for the characters. Hua Sui perfected movable-type printing in 1490. He put the characters on bronze blocks. Finally in 1718, porcelain enamel began being used. Movable-type printing was an innovative invention because it allowed people other than the wealthy and scholars to possess books. Woodblock printing was time consuming therefore making the books expensive. The most important thing that came out of movable-type printing is that it allowed information to be widespread and it was able to be spread in masses. Lastly, gunpowder also known as black powder since the late 19th century is a mixture of sulfur, charcoal and potassium nitrate. This invention was an accident made by Chinese alchemists, who were trying to make an immortality elixir (cultural-chia.com, 2007-2010). It was first used for fireworks to ward off the evil spirits. Gunpowder became the destructive an explosive component that we know today. These Ancient Chinese alchemists invented gunpowder and other gunpowder based weapons were invented and given to military forces to invade the borders. However, the first firearms did not come into play until the 13th century and were first used by the Mongols. The formula originally made for gunpowder was very flammable but it was not capable of causing the big boom that we know of today. The 15th century brought about six perfected formulas, with 91% nitrate, which is what actually brought out the big BOOM. Gunpowder was an innovative invention because it is part of what helps our military get through the horrible missions that they have to go on to keep the country safe. While the invention of gunpowder and gunpowder based weapons has its down side due to all of the illegal uses of today, such as the senseless attacks in Connecticut, it is a very innovative invention for helping our military to protect the country and the people in this and surrounding countries. While I do not approve of the use of firearms for people outside of the military, I would have to say that I feel that neither myself, nor anyone else would be able to live or be safe without the invention of gunpowder. Gunpowder was supposed to be the answer for immortality, but instead it is the question of “why so many senseless deaths?” however, the use of gunpowder is what has allowed our military to bring to justice, Osama bin-Laden for the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the Twin Towers. I feel that gunpowder is what keeps our country safe today. It is most important in warfare. In conclusion, the Ancient Chinese have given us and taught us far more than we realize. It is actually surprising to see Ancient Chinese inventions that we still use today in our modern day technological society. This is the technological age but it is fascinating to know that some of these ancient Chinese inventions are irreplaceable. A large part of the world’s development is attributed to the Ancient Chinese. Without some of these inventions, I do not know where we as a society would be today. I think the world, as a whole, owes a great debt of gratitude to the Ancient Chinese for these great inventions that has paved the way for the technological things that we have today. We can continue to learn from the past of the Ancient Chinese by continuing to study their history.

References
Cultural-china.com (2007-2010). Top 10 greatest inventions of ancient China. Retrieved from http://kaleidoscope.cultural-china.com/en/10Kaleidoscope10695.html
Franklin Institute, (n.a.). Chinese Arts and Sciences: Chinese Inventions. Retrieved from http://sln.fi.edu/tfi/info/current/inventions.html
Liyao, L. (2011, March 4). Top 10 Greatest Inventions of Ancient China. Retrieved from http://www.china.org.cn/top10/2011-03/04/content_22054243_8.htm
Ray, K. (2004). Society for Anglo-Chinese Understanding: Chinese Inventions. Retrieved from http://www.sacu.org/greatinventions.html
Silverman, Susan, AC (n.a.). Smith College History of Science: Museum of Ancient Inventions - Compass, China, 220 BCE. Retrieved from http://www.smith.edu/hsc/museum/ancient_inventions/compass2.html