Four Ancient Chinese Inventions That Changed the World

Introduction

Eight inventions of the ancient Chinese include paper money, gunpowder, papermaking, the compass, printing, the noodle, the abacus, and the kite (No author, 2005). Of these, four that can be considered particularly ingenious are the compass, gunpowder, paper money, and the noodle. This paper takes a closer look at those four inventions — their origins and what they have meant for society. All four have had deep and lasting ramifications, as the initial ideas behind each were expanded upon over time, ensuring their contribution to civilization endures even today.

Gunpowder: An Accidental Explosive

Gunpowder was invented in the 9th century by mixing sulfur, charcoal, and saltpeter. It was apparently discovered by alchemists attempting to create gold (Helmenstine, 2012). Gunpowder was the first explosive device, and although its usefulness was limited by the high level of smoke it produced, different mixtures of ingredients could reduce that smoke. From gunpowder, a number of further inventions emerged, including exploding cannonballs and hand grenades. Many weapons in use today derive from this ancient invention. That a mixture of chemicals resulted in such a product is perhaps not surprising, given that the intent was apparently not to produce anything explosive at all — yet gunpowder, which was often produced in pellet form, still ranks as one of the most impressive of Chinese inventions.

It is believed that the compass was invented during the Qin Dynasty. As with gunpowder, compasses were not originally invented for the purpose for which they are best known today. Lodestone is a material "composed of iron oxide that aligns itself in a north-south direction" (Bellis, 2012) according to the location of the magnetic poles. Fortune tellers used lodestone in the construction of their fortune-telling boards. When this concept was improved upon, it took the form of a magnetized needle. At that stage, these devices were used for navigation, and by 1050 they were helping ships find their way at sea.

The Compass and the Revolution in Navigation

The invention of the compass revolutionized sea travel. Before its development, navigation was accomplished by reading the stars. While skilled navigators were able to make long ocean journeys by this method, it was easier and safer for ships to stay close to the shore. With the compass, greater exploration over longer distances became possible, opening up the world to levels of discovery that had not been achievable before.

Papermaking was invented by the Chinese, and they would later invent paper money, said to have originated in the 7th century. Paper money as a concept was innovative because it allowed for the easy transport and storage of wealth — particularly the former. Money in the form of gold or other metals had served as a store of value for millennia. In fact, the Chinese word for money today is colloquially "kuai," meaning "piece." For traders and nobility, however, coins presented serious logistical problems: thousands of coins were heavy and difficult to move, and slow-moving caravans carrying coin were easy targets for bandits. Paper money offered a practical solution, being lightweight, harder to counterfeit, and easier to transport.

Conclusion

China claims thousands of useful inventions, and it would be as impossible to list them all here as it would be to discount the valuable contribution these inventions make to society today. That so many Chinese inventions date from ancient times makes them all the more impressive.