Four Great Inventions
The Four Great Inventions are the four most important inventions in the history of China. They are celebrated in Chinese culture for their historical importance. They are seen as symbols of China's advanced science and technology.[1]
| Four Great Inventions | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||
| Five major steps for making paper, outlined by Cai Lun in AD 105 | |||||||
| Traditional Chinese | 四大發明 | ||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 四大发明 | ||||||
| Literal meaning | four great inventions | ||||||
| |||||||
The Four Great Inventions are:
These four discoveries had a big impact on the development of Chinese civilization. They also had a big impact on global technology.[6] Some modern Chinese scholars have argued that other Chinese inventions had an even bigger impact on civilization.[7]
References
- ↑ "The Four Great Inventions". China.org.cn. Retrieved 2007-11-11.
- ↑ "Four Great Inventions of Ancient China: Compass". ChinaCulture.org. Archived from the original on 2007-04-09. Retrieved 2007-11-11.
- ↑ "Four Great Inventions of Ancient China: Gunpowder". ChinaCulture.org. Archived from the original on 2007-08-28. Retrieved 2007-11-11.
- ↑ "Four Great Inventions of Ancient China: Paper". ChinaCulture.org. Archived from the original on 2007-10-18. Retrieved 2007-11-11.
- ↑ "Four Great Inventions of Ancient China: Printing". ChinaCulture.org. Archived from the original on 2007-08-25. Retrieved 2007-11-11.
- ↑ Francis Bacon wrote of the importance of these technologies to the medieval world: "Printing, gunpowder and the compass: These three have changed the whole face and state of things throughout the world; the first in literature, the second in warfare, the third in navigation; whence have followed innumerable changes, in so much that no empire, no sect, no star seems to have exerted greater power and influence in human affairs than these mechanical discoveries." Novum Organum, Book I, CXXIX
- ↑ "Do We Need to Redefine the Top Four Inventions?". Beijing Review (35). 2008-08-26. Retrieved 2008-11-04.
