Top 10 Things That Are Firstly Invented By Chinese

In this day and age, when everything seems to be made in China, it's easy to think that China only makes cheaper copies of things that already exist since Chinese is one of the best countries in technology.

That may be true at this point, but it is also true that the Chinese are responsible for numerous inventions that have shaped history because they are useful and easy to use.

It would have taken many more centuries for technology and culture to reach their current state without the advancements made by the ancient Chinese. So, let's learn more about the important inventions made in China.

Top 10 Famous Things That Are Firstly Invented By Chinese

• The first method for making paper
• The first prints
• Fireworks and gunpowder
• The holistic approach to treatment
• Forks and chopsticks
• Compasses
• Paper money
• Iron steel smelting processes
• The first hangover and alcohol
• Mechanical clocks

1. The first method for making paper

According to historical records, Chinese pulp paper predates all other types of paper and was used as early as the second century B.C. However, mass production was only possible in 105 A.D. when Cai Lun improved the technology.

Cai Lun was a court eunuch who came up with a method that involved submerging mashed tree bark, linen, hemp, and fishnets in water and letting them naturally dry and bleach in the sun.

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The subsequent invention would not have been as useful without him.

2. The first prints

The woodblock prints and the movable prints are also Chinese inventions, although the movable prints were invented much later.

Carving the Chinese characters onto the surface of the wood and applying dye to them is the basic idea behind the woodblock print.

In terms of the movable print, the idea was first proposed in 1088 A.D., but it was only put into practice 210 years later, in 1298 A.D.

The characters of the movable print are arranged on the surface of a rounded table with niches, in contrast to the woodblock print, where the characters are arranged based on their rhyme schemes.

The earliest evidence of the process comes from a page of hemp paper that dates back to 660 A.D. At the

3. Fireworks and gunpowder

The majority of us are aware that the Chinese invented gunpowder, a development without which it would be more difficult for people to kill each other today.

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We wouldn't, on the other hand, have fireworks. However, the discovery was made by accident and was made in the 9th century B.C. Gunpowder was originally used as a spirit warding powder.

Around 200 years later, Chinese alchemists were able to perfect six highly flammable formulas for the compound, which opened up some of its potential as a weapon.

Early gun powder was still highly flammable, making it ideal for arrow tips and even basic flamethrowers, even though they were unable to make it explode.

4. The holistic approach to treatment

Despite the fact that they are not generally credited with the invention of medicine, the Chinese are unquestionably the inventors of holistic procedures.

In the fourth century, the imperial court even had a separate department of dieticians who were tasked with assisting the emperor and the nobles in selecting the components of meals.

In addition, Hu Sihui's trial-and-error research was the basis for the publication of a book in the fourth century A.D. that details the applications of various foods for treating a variety of conditions.

At the same time, Chinese holistic medicine offered treatments for hormonal imbalances, which have been the subject of widespread discussion ever since 1100 A.D.

5. Forks and chopsticks

If you thought the Chinese used chopsticks exclusively for eating, you should probably know that forks were first invented.

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Even though the precise date of their invention is unknown, these dining tools were discovered in the graves of nobles and appear to be an indicator of the person's social standing.

Evidence suggests that the first bone forks, which had two or three prongs, were made around 4,200 B.C. Additionally, it must be noted that the fork was only used in Europe 4,000 years later.

However, since the majority of traditional Chinese dishes are typically sliced into small pieces, chopsticks gained more popularity due to their effectiveness.

6. Compasses

Similar to gunpowder, the earliest compasses were discovered by accident and were not based on magnets, making them the first compass in recorded history.

In fact, they used a heated metal submerged in liquid to generate magnetic forces and used divination.

The Pointing Chariot, a 3rd-century a.d. compass that relies on a complex axis and gear system, has also been found by archaeologists. Shen Kuo came up with the magnetic needle compass in 1088, and in 1119, Chinese naval forces used a version that could accurately show where the North was.

7. Paper money

began as receipts, and the first bank notes of this kind were used in the 7th century A.D. Although only the wealthy and powerful class initially used paper money for transactions, the shortage of copper made this type of money more desirable than standard metal coins.

However, it wasn't until the 11th century that the woodblock prints were invented that the national paper currency became a reality.

8. Iron steel smelting processes

The earliest variations of the iron and steel smelting processes were developed by Chinese metallurgists in the fifth century B.C. You see, the smelting of these metals flourished between 202 B.C. and 557 A.D., right after private businesses were taken over by the state, creating a monopoly.

The method is thought to have been invented by Qiwu Huaiwen.

9. The first hangover and alcohol

If no one is to blame for your Sunday hangover, you can blame the Chinese.

Legendary creators of the alcohol distillation process, Du Kang and Yi Di discovered the first evidence of 5 percent alcohol beverages in 2000 B.C., but it wasn't until approximately 1000 years later that they discovered stronger alcohol (11 percent) made from cooked grains.

10. Mechanical clocks

Yi Xing, who was also a monk and a mathematician, is credited with developing the fundamental idea for the mechanical clocks we use today. Even though his water-dripping system may appear to be basic, subsequent enhancements adhere to the same fundamental principles as the original.

Su Song would come up with a more complicated mode 200 years later.