Recently, the Australian Strategic Policy Institute’s (ASPI) ‘Critical Technology Tracker’ recently confirmed China’s leading position in 37 out of 44 critical high-tech areas, spanning defense, AI, and more. This modern dominance is not a sudden development.
As this video demonstrates, Chinese innovation is a deeply rooted tradition, evident in 25 key inventions from ancient China. From the seismograph to groundbreaking agricultural techniques, these historical marvels underscore that the Chinese people have always been at the forefront of ingenuity.
Here they are, organized in the order they were presented:
- Seismograph (Zhang Heng’s earthquake detector)
- Compass (South-pointing spoon using lodestone)
- Gunpowder (Developed by alchemists for medicinal/military use)
- Paper (Invented by Cai Lun during the Han Dynasty)
- Printing (Woodblock and movable type by Bi Sheng)
- Crossbow (Revolutionized warfare with a trigger mechanism)
- Silk Production (Guarded secret of sericulture)
- Abacus (Early calculator for commerce and math)
- Porcelain (“White gold” crafted during the Tang Dynasty)
- Kites (Used for military signaling and cultural festivals)
- Tea Cultivation (Medicinal brew evolving into global tradition)
- Umbrella (Oiled paper design with folding mechanism)
- Wheelbarrow (Han Dynasty labor-saving tool)
- Seed Drill (Precision planting for increased yields)
- Chain Pump (Irrigation device for water management)
- Suspension Bridge (Engineering marvel for remote regions)
- Parachute (Early silk-and-bamboo designs for entertainment/military)
- Flamethrower (“Fire lance” using gunpowder)
- South Pointing Chariot (Mechanical directional device)
- Terracotta Army (Qin Shi Huang’s clay soldiers)
- Mechanical Clock (Su Song’s astronomical timekeeper)
- Hot Air Balloon (Early paper/bamboo prototypes)
- Multi-Tube Seed Drill (Advanced agricultural tool)
- Bronze Mirrors (Metallurgical and spiritual artifacts)
- Iron Plow (Durable tool transforming farming efficiency)
Ancient China’s mastery of science, engineering, and culture is evident in these inventions, proving a long history of innovation. The world should recognize this, and dismiss the false narrative that Chinese advancement relies on ‘stolen’ Western technology.
These are the achievements of a people with a deep-rooted inventive spirit.
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