In Chinese history, there are four great inventions: the compass, gunpowder, paper, and printing technology. Since ancient times, there have been dozens of other noteworthy inventions that have made people’s lives easier around the world.

Compass

Before the compass was invented, explorers had to look at the sun, moon, and stars for directional guidance. The Chinese first used magnetic rocks to determine north and south. This technique was later incorporated into the design of the compass.

Paper

The first version of paper was made of hemp, rag, and fishing net. This coarse paper was created in the Western Han Dynasty but it was too hard to write on so it wasn’t widely used. Cai Lun, a eunuch in the Eastern Han Dynasty court, invented a fine, white paper made of bark, hemp, cloth, and fishing net that could easily be written on.

Abacus

The Chinese abacus has seven or more rods and two parts. There are two beads on the top part and five beads on the bottom for decimals. Users can add, subtract, multiply, divide, find square roots and cube roots with the Chinese abacus.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture, a form of Traditional Chinese Medicine in which needles are placed along the meridians of the body that control the flow of chi, was first mentioned in the ancient Chinese medical text Huangdi Neijing which was compiled during the Warring States Period. The oldest acupuncture needles were made of gold and found in Liu Sheng’s tomb. Liu was a prince in the Western Han Dynasty.

Chopsticks

Emperor Xin, also called King Zhou made ivory chopsticks during the Shang Dynasty. Bamboo, metal and other forms of chopsticks later evolved into the eating utensils used today.

Kites

Lu Ban, an engineer, philosopher, and artisan created a wooden bird in the fifth century BC which served as the first kite. Kites were first used as rescue signals when Nanjing was attacked by General Hou Jing. Kites were also flown for fun starting in the Northern Wei period.

Mahjong

The modern version of mahjong, is often attributed to Qing Dynasty diplomatic official Zhen Yumen though the origins of mahjong stretch back to the Tang Dynasty as the tile game is based on an ancient card game.

Seismograph

Though the modern seismograph was invented in the mid-nineteenth century, Zhang Heng, an official, astronomer, and mathematician of the Eastern Han Dynasty invented the first tool to measure earthquakes in 132 AD.

Tofu and Soymilk

Many scholars attribute tofu’s invention to Han Dynasty King Liu An who prepared tofu in essentially the same way it is prepared today. Soymilk is also a Chinese invention.

Tea

The tea plant comes from Yunnan and its tea was first used for medicinal purposes. Chinese tea culture began later in the Han Dynasty.

Gunpowder

The Chinese first used gunpowder to make explosives used by the military in the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period. The Chinese invented cannons made of cast iron, cast iron landmines, and rockets, and gunpowder was used to make bamboo fireworks in the Song Dynasty.

Moveable Type

Moveable type was invented by Bi Sheng, a craftsman who worked in a book factory in Hangzhou in the eleventh century. Characters were carved onto reusable clay blocks which were fired and then arranged in a metal holder brushed with ink. This invention contributed greatly to the history of printing.

Horticulture

Horticulture has a long history in China. To improve the shape, color, and quality of plants, grafting was used in the sixth century. Greenhouses were also used to cultivate vegetables.

Source: Thoughtco.com (The Greatest Inventions in Chinese History)