Chinese Inventions and Contributions
Inventions – a. Silk Comes from silk worms, was a valuable trade item
Inventions –b. Porcelain Created using many different designs, valuable trade item
Inventions – Porcelain - today
Inventions – c. Paper Used for books, printing
Inventions – d. Seismograph Detected earthquakes
Inventions - Seismograph
Inventions – e. Gunpowder Aesthetics, used for public displays
Inventions – Gunpowder - today
Inventions – f. Clock Marking the passage of time and the time of day
Contributions – g. Calendar Calculated the number of days in a year to 364 ¼
Contributions h. Acupuncture Medicine; balancing your “chi” or “life force” to get rid of body pains
Contributions – i. Examination system j. Civil service system The Civil service system ran the day to day business of government (workers had to pass the exam to work for the government) Used to regulate who works in the government (usually scholars –everyone studied these books - The Five Classics.)
Contributions j. Great Wall Military fortifications to prevent invasion *Wall is measured at 5500 miles long!
**Among the most noted Chinese contributions are two religions – Confucianism and Taoism! ** Religions are up next!