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Posts Tagged ‘Chinese Paper’

It might be difficult for westerners to perceive that Chinese inventions have been responsible for some of the most important innovations to come about, but the fact is that this is completely true. The Chinese have suffered under the stereotypical belief by others that they are not technologically accomplished. Just for started however, and these are not all, the Chinese invented spaghetti, the wheelbarrow, the water powered blast furnace, kits, chopstick, paper, gunpowder the seismograph, the crossbow, a plethora of weapons and armaments including tear gas, paper money, chess, the compass..need I go on?

The most important Chinese inventions, the ones that have impacted the rest of the world that is to say, have been gunpowder, just think about war and armaments! Paper, printing (they invented moveable type, not John Gutenberg) and the compass. Although they are also credited with the creation of brandy and whiskey and these are pretty important innovations for some people.

Gunpowder has certainly made one of the biggest impressions on the world, it has been responsible for a hell of a lot more deaths than lives, and is one of the most important warfare discoveries of ancient times. It was invented by and alchemist who was actually trying to invent the elixir of life for a Chinese Emperor in the Tang Dynasty. Elixirs of life have been considered to be vital to the Chinese people for centuries.

Cai Lun, who was a Chinese Eunuch (probably to protect the harem of the Emperor) was the inventor of paper in 105 AD. To my way of thinking paper was a far more important discovery than gunpowder, but then I am a pacifist. Many centuries later in 751 AD Arab captured Chinese Paper makers after the defeat of the Chinese army at the Battle of Talas River and this is how paper making spread to the world.

Originally the compass was invented for religious purposes. When a new house was built the Chinese used a compass to ensure that the house was facing perfectly in harmony with nature. In other words, that it faced true North. The compass started life at a marked wooden circle which balanced a magnetic spoon on the top. We all know what an impact the compass has had on navigation techniques through the centuries.

Anesthetics have been used as far back as the 3rd century, this was a type of wine which had an anesthetic affect. The Chinese are world renowned for their knowledge of herbal medicines and acupuncture and this dates back millennia. 4000 year old skulls have been found in Heilongjiang, Qinghai and Henan provinces which indicate some kind of surgery may have taken place on them, the age of these skulls have been confirmed by Carbon Dating.

The Chinese invented a lot of stuff that has an impact on our everyday life. We can go on and on but the above is probably good enough for now.