Top 10 Great Ancient Chinese Inventions

Explore the top 10 great ancient Chinese inventions, from the revolutionary movable type printing and porcelain to early compasses, seed drills, and deep drilling techniques. Discover how these innovations shaped agriculture, navigation, industry, and daily life, influencing the world long before similar technologies reached the West.

1. Printing—Movable Type (Song Dynasty: 960–1279 AD)

• Paper was invented by the Chinese, attributed to Cai Lun (circa 50–121 AD).
• The first printed book with woodcuts appeared in 868 AD.
• Bi Sheng developed reusable clay-fired movable type around 1000 AD, centuries before Gutenberg’s press in Europe.

2. Toilet Paper (Sui Dynasty: 581–618 AD)

• First documented use of paper for hygiene dates to 589 AD.
• By the 14th century, around 720,000 sheets were produced annually.
• Europeans continued using leaves or corncobs until the 19th century.

3. Porcelain (Sui Dynasty: 581–618 AD)

• Invented during the Sui dynasty and perfected by the Tang dynasty (618–906 AD).
• Notable porcelain production by Tao-Yue used white clay from the Yangtze River.
• Chinese porcelain was highly valued worldwide until Europeans produced their own in 1708.

4. Harnesses for Horses (Age of Division: 220–581 AD)

• Early throat harnesses limited horses’ strength by pressing on their necks.
• By the 5th century, the Chinese developed the horse collar, greatly enhancing agricultural productivity.
• The invention spread to Europe around 970 AD, leading to an agricultural revolution.

5. Ship’s Rudder (Han Dynasty: 202 BC–220 AD)

• Pottery models show Chinese use of rudders as early as the first century AD.
• Innovations like balanced and fenestrated rudders were developed long before Europe adopted similar technologies.
• These advancements allowed for greater naval control and maneuverability.

6. Deep Drilling (Han Dynasty: 202 BC–220 AD)

• Chinese engineers drilled boreholes up to 4,800 feet deep using derricks and iron drills.
• Natural gas was piped through bamboo to fuel salt production and possibly lighting.
• Europeans did not develop deep drilling technology until the 18th century.

7. Iron Plows (Han Dynasty: 202 BC–220 AD)

• The Chinese developed adjustable iron plows, increasing agricultural efficiency.
• This innovation did not reach Europe until the 17th century, contributing to the Industrial Revolution.

8. The Seed Drill (Han Dynasty: 202 BC–220 AD)

• The seed drill allowed for uniform planting, improving crop yield and efficiency.
• While invented in China in the 2nd century BC, it was not widely adopted in Europe until the mid-1800s.

9. Compass (Feudal Period: 4th Century BC)

• Early Chinese compasses used lodestones and were first used for divination.
• By 1040 AD, thermoremanence compasses were developed for maritime navigation.
• This technology was “rediscovered” in Europe around 1600 by William Gilbert.

10. Row Planting (Feudal Period: 6th Century BC)

• Planting crops in rows increased growth, simplified weeding, and reduced wind damage.
• Though documented in China by 240 BC, it took over 2,200 years for this technique to be adopted in the Western world.