The most important inventions of ancient China
The top 3 according to 0 votes from people: Papermaking · The compass · Gunpowder. (Updated Jun 1, 2024.)
Besides the "Four Great Inventions" of papermaking, the compass, gunpowder and printing, ancient China also invented silk, porcelain, paper money, the seismoscope and tofu. Which one had the biggest impact on the world?
Automatically translated (original in 简体中文). See the original
Top 20
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1
Papermaking
One of the Four Great Inventions, improved by Cai Lun in the Eastern Han.
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2
The compass
First called the "south-pointer", later used for navigation.
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3
Gunpowder
Invented by Tang dynasty alchemists.
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4
Printing
From Tang woodblock printing to Bi Sheng's movable type.
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5
Silk
Silkworm farming and reeling; the Silk Road is named after it.
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6
Porcelain
In English, "china" also means porcelain.
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7
Paper money
The Northern Song jiaozi was one of the world's first paper currencies.
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8
The seismoscope
Zhang Heng's instrument for detecting earthquakes.
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9
The armillary sphere
An ancient astronomical instrument showing the movement of the heavens.
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10
The kite
Possibly first used for military signalling.
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11
The wheelbarrow
A handy tool for carrying goods.
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12
The crossbow
A long-range weapon widely used by the Warring States period.
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13
Cast iron
China mastered iron casting very early.
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14
Lacquerware
Fine objects coated with natural lacquer.
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15
Tofu
Legend credits Liu An, King of Huainan in the Western Han.
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16
Tea
The habit of drinking tea spread from China to the whole world.
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17
The toothbrush
The bristle toothbrush appeared in ancient China.
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18
Xiangqi (Chinese chess)
A board game played for a thousand years.
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19
The arch bridge
The Sui dynasty Zhaozhou Bridge is the world's oldest surviving open-spandrel stone arch bridge.
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20
The fan
Fans have a long history in China.
How is this ranking ordered? By people's votes: each ▲ adds a point and each ▼ takes one away. Anyone can vote and add what is missing.
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