Top 10 Ancient Chinese Inventions

China has a rich and fascinating culture that has flourished over thousands of years. Most of the history of China is marked by the particular dynasties that ruled the land.

During these dynasties, the Chinese invented many useful and valuable items that are still used today.

The Chinese are responsible for a multitude of inventions and innovations that left a lasting impression on the world.

Without the Chinese, everything from warfare, navigation, timekeeping and even popular drinks would look much different.

Today, we rank the ten best innovations and inventions of Ancient China.

1. Silk- over 5,000 years ago

Silk played a significant role in the history of not only China but of Europe and Asia as a whole.

The Chinese were the first culture to cultivate and use the silkworm to fashion clothing and other valuable goods.

The advent of silk also led to an explosion in trade. The famous “silk road” was a trade route that spread over two continents.

The silk road lasted thousands of years and played a major role in the spread of culture throughout Europe and Asia.

2. Tea- Around 5,000 years ago

As you will read throughout this list, the Chinese gave the world many everyday drink items.

The oldest drink that the Chinese cultivated and invented was tea.

Legend says that Emperor Sheng Nung was boiling water when tea leaves suddenly floated into his water pot which gave off a pleasant smell that the Emperor found intriguing.

The actual history of tea was medicinal in the early years of Chinese cultivation.

It wasn’t until the 4th century A.D. that the Chinese began drinking tea as an everyday pleasure, rather than a cure for a malady.

Through trade and word of mouth, tea drinking spread throughout Europe and Asia, and it continues to be a popular drink to this day.

3. Alcohol- at least 2000 B.C.

The history of alcohol in China is difficult to date.

Archeologists believe that as far back as 9,000 years ago, they have discovered proof that the Chinese were using honey and grapes to make a type of beer.

These archeologists have found residue on pottery and other items that back this claim.

Over time, the Chinese became master crafters of rice wine and other spirits that played a significant role in their religious ceremonies.

Eventually, the spirits began to be used in the everyday course of life rather than just for religious services.

Once again, the Chinese became exporters and spread their alcoholic spirits throughout the continent.

4. Iron Smelting- around 1000 B.C.

China has been smelting iron for over three thousand years; they were also the first culture to produce cast iron.

The Chinese developed an iron smelting process that was far ahead of any other culture around during the period.

Many historians believe that the Chinese were producing iron in such a way that would not be seen in Europe for another thousand years at least.

The impressive aspect of the Chinese process of iron smelting was the temperatures that these ancient furnaces could reach; it was unheard of for ancient cultures to reach over 1000 degrees C.

The Chinese use of iron allowed the Chinese to develop sophisticated weaponry far beyond any surrounding culture.

5. Acupuncture- around 100 B.C.

It is believed that the Chinese have been using this needle method of healing for much longer than the 2000 years of written history on the subject.

The Chinese believed that the act of puncturing the skin would heal all types of maladies that a person was suffering.

Many modern doctors scoff at the idea of acupuncture, but it is still practiced by millions of individuals worldwide.

6. Paper-100 B.C.

In ancient Egypt and other early cultures, ancient scrolls and other writing surfaces were created.

But the first creators of what we could describe as paper were the Chinese.

Dating back to around the turn of the common era, the Chinese developed a method of paper production that led to the widespread use of paper.

It was during the Han dynasty that court officials used mulberry and hemp fibers to produce a reliable writing surface.

7. Mechanical Clock- 725 A.D.

There have been many different times to track devices throughout history, from sundials and hourglasses to the sophisticated clocks used today.

The Chinese contribution to timekeeping is a vital one; it was a Chinese inventor that created what is believed to be the first mechanical clock.

Yi Xing created a clock powered by water that moved a mechanism that kept the hands moving and tracked time correctly.

8. Gunpowder- around 1000 A.D.

Arguably the most important Chinese contribution to the world is the advent of gunpowder.

Depending on one’s point of view, the invention of gunpowder can be seen as important and world-changing in both positive and negative ways.

The Chinese developed gunpowder with a basic mixture of three elements, sulfur, charcoal, and saltpeter.

Mixing these three elements together produces a chemical reaction that could propel projectiles long distances. While gunpowder was used in warfare early in its conception, it took the innovation of the gun to change the face of warfare forever.

The Chinese fine-tuned their invention and eventually the use of gunpowder in weapons spread throughout Asia and Europe over the next hundreds of years.

9. Magnetic Compass- Around 1000 A.D.

The history of the compass is indeed confusing and difficult to ascertain.

It is believed though that the Chinese invented the magnetic compass for maritime navigation around 1000 A.D. Chinese sailors used the compass to navigate the waters.

Trade always played a vital role in the history of China and the compass allowed Chinese maritime traders to safely, and moderately quickly, make their rounds.

10. Rockets- 13th century A.D.

The Chinese took their invention of gunpowder to the next level during the Song Dynasty when the rocket was created as a weapon around 1200 A.D.

Originally called the “fire arrow” both Chinese and Mongolian armies used the rocket in their conquests.

Through the spread of trade and the spread of the Mongolian conquests, the rocket eventually found its way to Europe for use in medieval warfare.

Truly a world-changing invention, the rocket’s history is not just in battle.

Chinese fireworks are arguably the most beautiful and widely used fireworks to this day.

The act of celebrating by blasting rockets into the air was a Chinese innovation and is still applied in the United States and around the world to celebrate major holidays.

Conclusion

The best measure of a culture is the lasting impact it has had on its surrounding cultures and the world as a whole.

The Chinese created so many objects and innovations that not only changed the world at the time of their inventions but continue to impact societies today.

From the act of brewing and creating teas and alcoholic beverages to the ongoing warfare that uses gunpowder, ancient Chinese inventions and innovations left an indelible mark on the world.