There were a large number of inventions in Sung Dynasty (Song Dynasty) of Chinese history. As everyone knows, three of four great inventions of ancient China were born in Sung Dynasty; they are compass, gunpowder and typography. These three great inventions had changed the process of the whole world civilization.

There were many advanced civil engineering in Sung Dynasty, for example Wind Power Mill. Build hydraulic engineering, carried out the planting of rice of two seasons in Sung Dynasty; various new type farm implements were invented in Sung Dynasty, for example new-type waterwheel, Pedal Plow and Rice Transplanting Wooden Horse; the cultivated area of tea was enlarged; the cotton became universal crop; the abacus became the businessman’s main computational tool; invented paper money in Sung Dynasty.

Sung Dynasty also has brilliant achievements in the astronomical field. The earliest astronomical clock and astronomical graph of the world appeared in Sung Dynasty. Astronomer Yang Zhongfu made The System of Astronomical Calendar, and took 365.2425 days as one year. There are only difference of 26 seconds between this number value and modern astronomical number value.

The government of Sung Dynasty paid much attention to medical science. The government department edited a lot of medical books, Holy Medicine Records was an encyclopaedia of medical science at that time; Holy Treat Methods included 16834 traditional Chinese medical science prescription; Zhenghe Herbal introduced 1558 kinds of traditional Chinese herbal medicine together; Vindication Records was earliest medical jurisprudence book in the world. This book included many medicolegal theory and practice, for example check wound, autopsy, blood group determine, check bone, check poison etc.

Sung Dynasty once invented Double Floodgate. This raised the efficiency of river transport. The quantity demand of iron products was very great in Sung Dynasty. Sung Dynasty invented two new iron-smelting methods. This caused the steel output to increase rapidly in Sung Dynasty. The main iron products were the weapon, tool, coin, farm implements, musical instrument etc in Sung Dynasty.

Sung Dynasty successful invented the earliest cannon and shell in the world. The cannon barrel was made of iron pipe. The shell was made of spherical pig iron. Stuffed sharp metal fillings and porcelain chips in the shell. In addition, archaeologists have already dug out the metal handgun of Sung Dynasty in Heilongjiang Province of China.

The navigation and shipbuilding technology of Sung Dynasty were the most advanced in the world at that time. According to the historical records, the length of the biggest ship was more than 100 meters in Sung Dynasty; the loading capacity exceeded 1500 tons; can carry thousands of people. Sung Dynasty has already begun to use the dock in shipbuilding, this was earlier than Europe for 500 years. The craftsman of Sung Dynasty could produce the model of ship at first according to the performance and use of the ship, and then draw the drawing of the ship according to the model. However, the simple drawing of ship did not appear in Europe until the 16th century. This lagged behind China for 400 years.

The government of Sung Dynasty attached importance to science and technology, so lot inventions were born in Sung Dynasty. Meanwhile, these inventions also promoted the development and prosperity of Sung Dynasty. Moreover, also bring a far-reaching influence on the human civilization.

The government of Sung Dynasty attached importance to science and technology, so lot inventions were born in Sung Dynasty. Meanwhile, these inventions also promoted the development and prosperity of Sung Dynasty. Moreover, also bring a far-reaching influence on the human civilization.

I think if Yuan Dynasty didn’t invade Sung Dynasty at that time, maybe present-day China still leads Europe for 500 years!

Note: Yuan Dynasty was set up by Mongolians. Yuan Dynasty only attached importance to the cold weapon, didn’t attach importance to science and technology.

China is the first country that used the gunpowder weapon in the world. Chinese army had already equipped gunpowder weapon formally in Sung Dynasty. Chinese had invented a lot of firearms with the development of gunpowder technology. The firearm expert Dai Zi (1649-1726) made great contribution in the aspect of continuous shot firearm invention in Qing Dynasty.

Dai Zi’s father is good at making weapon. Dai Zi influenced by father began to like machine-building in young period. Besides, he was good at calligraphy and painting. Dai Zi joined the army in 1674. He invented a kind of continuous shot firearm in the army — Continuous Shot Gun. This kind of gun can store 28 bullets after once filling. The gear design of Continuous Shot Gun is very ingenious. It can fill and fire bullet continuously, thus simplified the procedure of filling, improved the speed of shot greatly. This was a kind of very amazing invention at that time. Because its principle is similar to modern machine gun, someone called it “the first kind of machine gun in the world”.

Unfortunately, Dai Zi was framed by the treacherous court official. The emperor had listened indiscriminately to the slanderous talk and banished him to Shengjing (Shenyang now). He had lived for more than 30 years experiencing all kinds of hardships there, can only make a living by selling the calligraphy and painting.

The Continuous Shot Gun that he invented didn’t equip the army of Qing Dynasty. Lost gradually later. This left Chinese great regret.

As everyone knows, there is no perpetual motion machine in this world. But ancient Chinese had invented a kind of machine, or rather, invented a toy. The toy was named as “Drinking Bird”. It’s one of magical China inventions. And it is very interesting.

Someone once gave it to Einstein, and said to him: “The scientist says the Perpetual Motion Machine is impossible, let you look at this Perpetual Motion Machine of China now.” Einstein was surprised to the design of the Drinking Bird after he knew its principle. So the toy was known as “The toy that made Einstein surprised”.

The magical place of the toy is: The bird will stoop down and soaks the mouth into water when you apply a little water on the beak of the Drinking Bird. It stands upright again after drinking. And then it will repeat the action ceaseless. Really wondrous!

Certainly the toy isn’t a Perpetual Motion Machine, but it just like a Perpetual Motion Machine. I explain its physics principle: The internal liquid of Drinking Bird is ether (the liquid apt to volatilize). Its head becomes cold when you apply a little water on the beak of the Drinking Bird, cause the atmospheric pressure drops, the liquid of the tail rises along the pipe because of the suction. In this way the weight of the head is increasing, the weight of the tail is being lightened. Drinking Bird will stoop down to drink water; the ether will volatilizes and absorbs the heat of the air when Drinking Bird mouth is soaked in water. The temperature of the ether steam will rise, lead to the atmospheric pressure of head increases, besides, because of the weight of the liquid, the liquid of the head will flow into the tail under. And then the steam evaporation causes the head to become cold again.

It’s very amusing! Do not you think so?

I will collect more interesting Chinese inventions in the future!

Everybody knows there are four great inventions in ancient China. The value of four great inventions is generally acknowledged by the world. However, maybe you don’t know: there are hundreds of kinds of inventions in the ancient China, and some inventions are very interesting or special. I will collect these inventions then introduce them to everybody. I want to introduce 4 special inventions of ancient China.

1. Carriage that Drum Count Distance

There was a kind of carriage in ancient China. A wooden small dummy stood on the carriage, and hold one drumstick. The wooden small dummy will wave drumstick and beat the small drum in front of it whenever the carriage went a certain distance. So it is known as “Carriage that Drum Count Distance”.

Perhaps you will think it is very magical, I can tell you the principle: A line connect the hand of the wooden small dummy to a gear, the gear is connected with another gear, thus form one set gear group, the end connect with the wheel. When the carriage advances, the wheel drives the gear group, the gear group drives the wooden small dummy, the wooden small dummy will beat the small drum. In fact this is taxi of Ancient China.

2. Censer in Quilt

Perhaps you will think this is inconceivable. One copper container, put perfume and burning charcoal inside it, and then put it into quilt. This is “Censer in Quilt”. It was used for keeping warm in winter in ancient China. Its magic is: No matter how the censer rolls in the quilt, the annular support around censer can situate it in a horizontal position. You needn’t afraid the burning charcoal will fall. Very wonderful! I think this is an interesting China invention.

The following is two special medical inventions of ancient China.

3. Variolation

Prime minister Wang Dan’s son died of variola in Sung Dynasty (960 — 1279). Wang Dan didn’t hope others catch this kind of disease again. He invited the famous doctor from all parts of the country, attempted to find a certain treatment or prevention method. A Taoist priest coming from Mount Emei offered a method: Inject the vaccine of weakening toxicity into the mucosa of nasal cavity of healthy people, thus let people obtain immune ability to variola. This is variolation’s origin. Europe had this technology until the 16th century.

4. Autumn Stone

Because of its appearance looks like the crystalloid with the frost in autumn, ancient Chinese named it as “Autumn Stone”. In fact Autumn Stone is a kind of sex hormone that is drawn out from people’s urine. In the 11th century, famous doctor Zhang Sheng Dao detailed recorded the method that drew the Autumn Stone from people’s urine in his book Experience Prescription. People didn’t find that there was sex hormone in the urine until the 20’s of last century in Europe.

Zhu Ge Liang has another name “Kong Ming”. Zhu Ge Liang is a remarkable politician, strategist, diplomat, astrologer and inventor in the Three Kingdoms period of China. Zhu Ge Liang is a prime minister of Shu Kingdom. He is well-read and has miraculous intelligence. He assists the emperor of Shu Kingdom. In China, Zhu Ge Liang is widely known. It is said that Zhu Ge Liang is a versatile man, he masters Chinese handwriting, painting, music, astronomy, astrology, strategy, military science. Meanwhile, Zhu Ge Liang is a famous inventor too. There is much inventions in all his life.

1. Repeating Crossbow

This is a kind of fight weapon that Zhu Ge Liang invented. Generally speaking, the crossbow can only shoot an arrow once, it is very discommodious. However, the Repeating Crossbow can shoot ten arrows once that Zhu Ge Liang invented. The Repeating Crossbow is wider than the general crossbow, when the horizontal shooting, the range can reach 50 meters, lethality is extremely strong. The Repeating Crossbow’s arrow is arranged longitudinally in the arrow box, just like the modern pistol box magazine. Trigger once and shoot an arrow, this saves time, it can shoot the intensive arrow in a short period of time. Therefore, the lethality of the Repeating Crossbow is very great.

2. Battle Array of the Eight Diagrams

The historical data records, a kind of magical battle array which Zhu Ge Liang created, it is named the Battle Array of the Eight Diagrams. The soldiers arrange into shape of the Eight Diagrams. It is said that the Battle Array of the Eight Diagrams is changeable, the might is infinite, Once defeated 100,000 picked troops of the Wu Kingdom. But this tactics have already been lost now. Only drawing in now, but no one knows its meaning and tactics method.

3. Kong Ming Chess

In order to call away the soldier’s blues mood, Zhu Ge Liang has invented a kind of chess game — Kong Ming Chess. Kong Ming Chess rule is simple, it is a kind of intelligence game.

4. Kong Ming lamp

It is a kind of military transmission information’s lamp which Zhu Ge Liang invented. It can float in the sky. It utilizes the principle of the hot-air balloon. So, Zhu Ge Liang is the first man who finds the principle of the hot-air balloon in the world. Kong Ming lamp has been spreading till now, the purpose that the modern use Kong Ming lamp is that pray for blessing. People write down the wish of the blessing on Kong Ming lamp, and then let it fly away, symbolize the happiness, lucky and success.

5. Wooden Ox and Horse

This is a kind of very magical means of transportation that Zhu Ge Liang invented, it solves the problem of the army transportation food supplies. According to the records of historical data, this kind of tool structure looks like ox and horse. It is made of wood. There is a rope inside, both ends of the rope link tongue up leg. The Wooden Ox and Horse can walk automatically, do not need any energy. Each time walk 10 kilometers, and then turn the tongue once, it can continue walking again. I think that it is like the mechanical puppet today. That’s miraculous.

6. The Assault Vehicle

It is a huge assault weapon that Zhu Ge Liang invented. It is mainly used for destroying the city gate of the enemy army.

7. Kong Ming Lock

Zhu Ge Liang invented a kind of magical technology of wood intersect, at that time, this kind of method was applied to the Chinese building. Afterwards this kind of technology becomes a kind of toy. This is Kong Ming Lock. The Kong Ming lock is traditional Chinese Intelligence toy. This is a kind of three-dimensional piecing together toy, that’s very magical. It is a cross cube to look from exterior, but it is very difficult to disassemble and install. If you does not believe, can buy one and play.

8. Chinese Steamed Bun

The steamed bun is Zhu Ge Liang’s most important invention. The steamed bun has been one of the Chinese staple food until now, just like bread of Occident.

In a word, Zhu Ge Liang has had a lot of inventions in all his life, What I wrote is only a part among them, a lot inventions of his have already been lost. Now, in the minds of Chinese people, Zhu Ge Liang has already become the incarnation of intelligence.

1. Compass

The invention of the compass is the result of China ancient working people know to the object magnetism in the long-term practice. Because of productive labor, people have contacted the magnetic iron ore, have begun to know the magnetic knowledge. People have found the characteristic of the magnet pointing to direction. Through experiment and research in many ways, invented the Compass at last.

The Compass give play to important function in the navigation after introducing to Europe.

2. Gunpowder

The gunpowder is made of niter, sulfur and charcoal three kinds of materials mixing. In Qin Dynasty and Han Dynasty, when China ancient immortality pills expert make immortality pills with niter, sulfur and charcoal, etc., get enlightenment from the phenomenon of exploding accidentally, and then through numerous practices, have found the prescription of the gunpowder. In the Period of Three Kingdoms, a clever technician Jun Ma, invented “firecrackers”, Open the precedent that make use of the gunpowder.

In the Tang Dynasty, the gunpowder begins to be applied to the military affairs. People utilize the throwing stone machine, light the gunpowder bag and throw out, burn the enemy, this is the most primitive cannon. Later, people wrap up the globular gunpowder near the shaft head, light the line, then shoot with the bow to burn the enemy. During Song Dynasty, people filled the gunpowder in the thick bamboo tube, “an orientation stick behind the gunpowder, Light the line, cause the gunpowder burn in tube rapidly, fly to the enemy to explode. This is the first gunpowder rocket in the world. All these ones are firearm primitively. They are the ancestor of the modern arms.

3. Papermaking skill

The invention of papermaking skill is China’s contribution to the civilization of the world.

In Shang Dynasty more than 3500 years ago, there were characters carved on the tortoise-shell and beast’s bone in China, called the inscriptions on bones or tortoise shells. In Chun and Qiu period, Substitute the tortoise-shell and beast’s bone with the bamboo slice and wood slice, is called the bamboo slip. The bamboo slip is very cumbersome. The palace nobles write on silks in the Western Han Dynasty. The silks are easy to write, but the price is expensive, so, just the Royal noble can use it. In the Eastern Han Dynasty (A.D. 105), the papermaking skill inventor Lun Cai is on the basis of that forefathers weave silks experience, Have made into the vegetable fiber paper with bark, broken fishing network, rag, etc. raw materials. From then on, paper become to the material that generally write.

4. Typography

The typography is one of the most important four inventions in ancient China. The woodblock printing appear in Sui dynasty, it is that carve protruding Backward Chinese character on woodblock with knife, then brush Chinese ink-liquid, print on the paper. Print a kind of new book each time, the woodblock must be carved from the beginning, very slow. When carve woodblock if make mistakes, also carve one again, very bother.

In Sung Dynasty, word worker Bi Sheng (A.D. 1004 —— 1048), Use the clay with viscidity, make into the rectangle cube, carve the single Chinese characters on it, burn it with the fire, form the font. Then according to the article content, arrange the word, put it in iron frame sample and make into a printing plate, and then heats and flattens on the fire, can print. Take the font off after printing, can use next time. The printing skill is named the typography.

Though this printing method is primitive and simple, the same as modern typesetting and printing principle, the invention of typography makes the printing technology enter a new era.

In a word, China ancient four inventions, has left behind a magnificent chapter in the history of human science and culture. These great inventions once influenced and benefited the whole world, had promoted the advancing of human history.