What are the four great inventions of China

Papermaking was invented in China in the early years of the Western Han Dynasty, and the paper unearthed in Tianshui, Gansu Province, in 1986 is the earliest paper known to date from the time of Emperor Jingdi of the Han Dynasty. In 105 A.D., Cai Lun of the Eastern Han Dynasty improved the art of papermaking and called it "Cai Hou Paper". Papermaking was a great revolution in writing materials.

Cai Lun's name is Jingzhong, a native of Guiyang. ...... Lun has talent, dedication and prudence, a number of Yan Yan, Kuang Bi gain and loss. ...... Lun is to create the intention, with tree skin, hemp head and cloth, fishnet as paper. Yuanxing yuan on the year, the emperor good its ability, since no one from the use, so the world salty "Caihou paper". --Hou Han Shu - Cai Lun biography

In the four great inventions of ancient China, the invention of paper has the most far-reaching impact on the development of civilization and social progress is also the most significant positive effect. The wide application of paper in social life has revolutionized the recording, dissemination and inheritance of information. --People's Edition History Textbook "Compulsory Three"

(2) Printing

Engraving appeared in the Sui and Tang dynasties. the Diamond Sutra, printed in 868, is the earliest surviving engraved printing in the world. in the early 11th century, Bisheng, a commoner of the Northern Song Dynasty, invented movable-type printing, more than four centuries before it was invented in Europe. Transmitted to Korea and Japan in the east and to Egypt and Europe in the west, the invention of printing was a major contribution to the spread and preservation of human culture. During the Song and Yuan Dynasties, China already had color printing technology. Shanxi Yingxian Wooden Pagoda, found in the Liao Dynasty, red, yellow and blue Buddha prints, which is the earliest discovery of China's earliest engraved color overprint prints.

Chinese printing came to the West via Persia.At the end of the 14th century, engraved woodblock prints appeared in Europe....... Around 1450, metal movable type made under the influence of Chinese movable type printing appeared in Germany to print books. After printing was introduced to Europe, it prepared the way for Europe's emergence from the dark Middle Ages as well as the emergence of the Renaissance movement. --People's Edition History Textbook "Compulsory Three"

Printing was also closely associated with the Reformation. ...... It strongly supported the renewal movement in the field of thought and culture. ...... As Western scholars have said, "Almost every achievement in the process of modern civilization in the Western world has been linked, in one way or another, to the introduction and development of the printing press". Light of the East - Four Great Inventions of Ancient China"

(3)Gunpowder

Invented by ancient Chinese alchemists, books in the middle of the Tang Dynasty recorded the method of making gunpowder. At the end of the Tang Dynasty, it was used in the military. The Southern Song Dynasty invented the "sudden fire gun", the 13th century into Arabia and Europe. The invention and spread of gunpowder changed the pattern of warfare in the Middle Ages, and was an epoch-making event in the military.

With the invention of gunpowder in China, Europeans would have had to shed more blood to break through the feudal castles of the Middle Ages. The use of gunpowder and firearms facilitated the victory of the European bourgeoisie over the feudal aristocracy on the one hand, and promoted the development of mining and metal manufacturing in Europe on the other.

(4)Compass

In the Warring States period, people made the instrument "Sinan" to indicate the direction, and later they made the compass by using the principle of magnetic guiding. In the Northern Song Dynasty, the compass was used for navigation, and in the 13th century, it was introduced to Arabia and Europe. The invention and spread of the compass provided important conditions for European navigators to explore new routes.

The compass is used to determine the direction of the military and economic life has an important role, especially for the development of the cause of navigation is of great significance ...... compass for the Ming Dynasty navigator Zheng He voyage to East Africa and other places to provide the conditions. As far as the world is concerned, the invention and application of the compass provided a technical guarantee for Columbus' voyage to discover America and Magellan's circumnavigation of the world. I-people's version of the history textbook "compulsory three"

About the second half of the 12th century, the compass was introduced to Europe through Arabia, promoting the development of European navigation. ...... Since then, the world pattern has been broken, the development of the Americas and the capital accumulation of European countries in the leap, the compass westward transmission is like pumping open the floodgate of the era, the backwardness of the European Middle Ages and dirt in the capitalism of the overwhelming torrent is gone. --Ma Mingzhong, "China's Four Great Inventions and Their Impact on World History"