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Circa 1500 BC (16th Century BC): Medical Acupuncture
Acupuncture was a process of healing the body. The idea came about in the Shang Dynasty period by special physicians. It was first used for medical purposes but it eventually became used for health and relaxation purposes. Acupuncture is a therapy process that involves sticking needles into certain and precise parts of the body to stimulate them. It is believed to be a good way to keep healthy. -
Circa 1200 BC (13th Century BC): Chopsticks
Chopsticks are ancient utensils created by the Chinese used to pick up and eat food without the use of hands. They are two sticks equal in length which are made out of wood, bamboo or porcelain and most recently plastic, steel or silver. They always come in pairs and are held by the dominant hand between the thumb and fingers. Chopsticks were strongly recommended by the great Chinese philosopher Confucius. -
Circa 600 BC (7th Century BC): Crossbow
The crossbow was most likely invented by military strategist Sun Tzu although he attributed them to an inventor named Q’in. The crossbow was invented as a weapon for defence and possibly hunting. It consists of a stick or board with a bow and string at the end of it. The string is then pulled back and aimed at the target then released which triggers the machine to shoot bolts, arrows or ammunition. -
Late 300 BC (4th Century BC): Umbrella
Parasols, now known as umbrellas were designed by the Chinese to provide shade from the sun. The Chinese were also the first to waterproof their umbrellas for use as protection from the rain. They waxed and lacquered their paper parasols to use against the rain. Inspired by the canopy of a tree, the first umbrellas were made out of leaves and tree branches which developed into paper parasols and then fabric umbrellas as we have today. -
Circa 200 BC (Early 3rd Century BC): Magnetic Compass
The magnetic compass was invented around the Qin Dynasty in China. The compass was designed on a square slab which had markings. The pointing needle was a spoon shaped device made out of the same mineral called Lodestone, with a handle that would always point south. Compasses were first used in Feng Shui and by 1000 AD they were widely used on ships, enabling them to navigate without stars. -
Circa 550 AD (6th Century AD): Kite
There are many stories and legends as to who came up with the idea of the kite so it is unclear as to who invented the original kite. One legend suggests that when a Chinese farmer tied a string to his hat to keep it blowing away in a strong wind, the first kite was created. It is also said that Chinese philosophers Mozi and Lu Ban came up with the kite. Kites are now flown all over the world for entertainment and children especially enjoy this activity. -
Circa 750 AD (8th Century AD): Paper Money
Paper money was first called “flying money” because of its light weight and the fact that it could blow out of someone’s hand so easily. Paper money was a draft rather than real money. It was soon very quickly adopted by the government for tax payments and by approximately 1024 AD the Song Dynasty was the first to issue real paper money but it did it so cautiously, issuing small amounts and used in a limited area. The idea of money was to trade it in for something that was needed. -
10th Century AD: Gunpowder
Chinese scientists discovered that an explosive mixture could be produced by combining sulphur, charcoal and potassium nitrate. The explosive mixture called Huoyao or Gunpowder was used by the military in the 900’s during the Tang Dynasty. Gunpowder was first created to treat skin diseases starting off as an idea for internal life by the Emperor Wu Di but it soon became an attack weapon against the enemy. -
Early 11th Century AD: Spinning Wheel
Silk spinners needed a method to deal with long silk thread to create clothes and other necessities. The Spinning wheel was developed around 1035 AD as the demand for silk fabric increased. It started off as a simple circular machine, operated by one person who wound fine fibres of silk into thread. It consisted of a wheel which stretched and fixed up the fibres and a drive belt caused the wheels to spin hence its name the Spinning wheel. -
Late 11th Century AD: Smallpox Inoculation
Smallpox is a deadly virus which causes skin blisters to dry and create crater shaped scars. Inoculation works by introducing a weak for of a disease to stimulate the human body to fight off the disease. The technique of inoculation first was publicly recognized when the son of Wang Dan (an important leader) died of smallpox. Hoping to prevent the death of other people, he summoned physicians from all over China. A daoist monk introduced the technique of inoculation to the physicians.
