Chinese Inventions

Silk

Silk fabric was developed as early as 6000 B.C, definitely 3000B.C, back in China. Records give credit to a Chinese empress Xi Ling-Shi for inventing silk. Silk was made from silkworms and were usually given to kings to wear as royal clothes. As silk use grew, with its comfort and looks, silk soon grew in demand and became a staple of pre-industrial international trade. Silk was so rare, that the Chinese strived to keep the secret hidden to keep up their silk monopoly. Nevertheless, the secret reached Korea about 200 B.C and broke Chona’s monopoly on silk. Silk was important to the Chinese because it gave them a source of wealth and a new type of clothing. Silk influences us today bacause it is still used as cloth and is as spcial to us as it was to the Chinese.

Seismograph

To measure earthquakes, the Chinese used their invention of the seismograph. The seismograph was invented in 132 by Zhang Heng, initially called the Houfeng Didong Yi. The seismograph consisted of a bronze urn-shaped object with artificial dragons lining up the sides. When an earthquake strikes, a pendulum inside it knocks down a metal ball into an artificial frog’s mouth. The frog the ball fell into determines which direction the tremor came from, and the ringing caused by the seismograph alerted people that an earthquake happened nearby. This invention was important to the Chinese because it helped keep the Chinese well protected and alert to any earthquake nearby. The seismograph influences us today by alerting us of any nearby earthquakes and allowing us to help the victims more quickly and effectively.

Fireworks

            Fireworks were invented in China from 206 B.C to 220 A.D. Fireworks used gunpowder, another Chinese invention, to work and were originally used to scare away evil spirits with its loud noises and to pray for joy and prosperity. Taoist monks discovered how to create fireworks when they worked with gunpowder and stumbled upon the recipe. From then on, fireworks were used in almost every special occasion from births to weddings. In China, pyrotechnicians (firework masters) were well respected being able to display dazzling displays of light and sparks. These fireworks provided entertainment and decoration for the Chinese and even influence us today by giving us the same priveledges they gave to the Chinese.

Umbrella

            The collapsable umbrella was invented in China during Cao Wei about 1700 years ago. The first umbrella was probably made by tying large leaves to bough-like ribs. Some people think that the idea of the umbrella came from the tent, which in a way works the same way as an umbrella. However, the tradition existing in China is that it originated in standards and banners waving in the air, hence the use of the umbrella was often linked to high ranking (though not necessarily royalty in China). The umbrella was important to the Chinese because it provided protection from rain and sun and showe ranking among the Chinese people. The umbrella influences us today by also protecting us from the weather and because we still use them today.