Chinese Inventions

Porcelain

100

The Chinese invented a type of fine pottery called porcelain. By the 10th century, the Chinese were making porcelain of great beauty. Crafts-people learned how to paint pictures on porcelain. They also made colored glazes to decorate
their porcelain. It became a major industry in China.

Chinese Inventions

Period: 150 to Feb 12, 1400

Compass

300

The Chinese developed the first compass as early as the 3rd century B.C.E. The first Chinese compasses were pieces of a magnetic mineral called lodestone. By the Song dynasty, the Chinese were using this type of compass to help them navigate on long voyages. People still use the same kind of device today.

Paddle Boat

500

Have you ever paddled a canoe or other small boat? As you push your paddle through the water, the boat moves
forward. In the 5th century, the Chinese adapted this idea by arranging a series of paddles in a wheel. People walked
on a treadmill to turn the paddlewheel, which in turn moved through the water, moving the boat forward.

Canal Lock

Feb 12, 618

Another way the Chinese improved transportation was by developing a new type of canal lock, during the Song
dynasty. The Chinese used canals extensively to connect the many rivers. As the surrounding land sloped up, parts of
canals were at different levels. Before the improved locks were invented, the Chinese had to drag their boats up stone
ramps to reach water at a higher level. This was difficult and could damage the boats.

Woodblock Printing

Feb 12, 800

In about the 7th century, the Chinese invented a technique called woodblock printing. The printer first drew characters/symbols on paper. He then glued the paper to a wooden block. When the glue was dry, the printer carved out the wood around the characters, leaving them raised on the wood. To print from the block, the printer covered the characters with black ink. Then he spread paper over the block and smoothed it out with a brush.

Military Gunpowder

Feb 12, 850

This is gunpowder used by the Chinese. It was meant to be a medical medicine but turned out wrong and became what we know today as gunpowder.

Flamethrower

Feb 12, 950

By the 10th century, the Chinese had made the first weapon that used gunpowder: the flamethrower. Early flamethrowers contained gunpowder mixed with oil. The Chinese used them to spray enemies with a stream of fire.

Books

Feb 12, 1100

In the 11th century, during the Song dynasty, the Chinese
invented movable type. With the invention of movable type, printers no longer had to create a new set of woodblocks for each item they printed. This dramatically lowered the cost and labor of printing. Written materials became more widely available, and advances in printing helped spread learning
throughout China. Until the last century, all newspapers,
books, and magazines were printed using movable type.

Weapons

Feb 12, 1300

Between the 11th and 14th centuries, the Chinese created many other weapons using gunpowder. Artillery shells, for
example, exploded after being hurled at enemies by a war machine called a catapult. The sound of the exploding
shells confused the enemy and terrified their horses. Small bombs, or grenades, were lit and thrown by hand. In the 13th century, the Chinese used large bombs that were as explosive as modern bombs. Around the same time, they developed weapons much like today’s rifles.