Ancient Chinese Inventions and Chinese Culture - Essay Example

? ANCIENT CHINESE INVENTIONS Introduction Question China has a well established ancient and magnificent past, from feudal periods, ending in 222 BC through the three Imperial and transitional epochs, until the Modern age, with above 4000 years of dynastic controls. China has also been celebrated in the history of nations for its many breathtaking and valuable inventions that have highly been influential in the world. From spaghetti to the gunpowder innovations, china has left a mark in the world history. Most Chinese inventions were not adopted by the western mostly European nations for a long period although they were not common with the Chinese populations. Inventions are integral in peoples’ lives as they assist in making work and life easier. In the modern world, we disregard many things and do not concentrate to understand that most of today’s advances are based on past inventions. Such inventions have tremendously accelerated human progress and laid a concrete foundation for the basis of contemporary discoveries. The Chinese culture is one of the few worldwide cultures that can be credited for their immense contribution to the advancement of human progress. Among the Chinese inventions that I rate as the greatest of the ancient nation are gunpowder, tea, compass, paper, pasta, alcohol, wheelbarrow, kites, seismograph and printing (Challen, 2005). These inventions are among those that I rate in top ten as they are offering significant contributions and influence in the modern world. Question 2: I believe that the following four ingenious inventions are among the best innovative forms, to arise from the ancient Chinese populations. Gunpowder is one of the legendary Chinese inventions, the compass which is an integral directional component, tea which is a worldwide beverage and alcohol which is a prominent social drink. Although all the mentioned ten inventions are significant to society, these four inventions stand out because of their daily importance in people’s lives, both at work or at home. Question 3: The four inventions that I nominated from the selected ancient Chinese inventions are integral because of their useful contributions’ and relevance in the modern world. Gunpowder Arguably, the most recognized ingenious Chinese invention, gunpowder was accidentally invented by alchemists who were searching for a concoction to achieve human immortality (Challen, 2005). Contrary to what the alchemists wanted to obtain, which is human immortality, they ironically ended up achieving quite the opposite, an invention that could easily kill. First gunpowder was created from a mixture of saltpeter, sulfur and charcoal and was considered as the most significant military technique compiled by Zeng Goliang. It was used to create gunpowder explosions, which were also used for the fireworks. The Chinese used gunpowder as indicator flames and firecrackers prior to proposing it for the military use in elementary grenades. With time, the gunpowder technology spread to the other parts of the world, especially the Europe. It was used during the Mongol war. The Europeans used the gunpowder in cannons (Clark, 2012). Although the Chinese possessed early knowledge of explosives, as well as the rules of their application, they did not practice weaponry expansion to the extent which the Western nations reached. The Europeans ironically managed to overpower the Chinese by using cannons with gunpowder that were invented by the Chinese. In the modern world, gunpowder is used by the government forces to fight criminals and terrorists, to ensure the safety of the population (Diamond, 2007). Gunpowder is used in bullets which is a lethal weapon that can kill in an instant. The Compass It sometimes leaves me to wonder, where the world could be, if there was no compass. The compass ensures that we are always headed to the right direction and that people do not get lost. This is one of the inventions that the Chinese have helped in the world development. The Chinese produced the compass to point or guide to the true south, which they believed was the cardinal direction and they were created from lodestone (Clark, 2012). In the modern world, the compass has grown to become one of the dependable items that populace utilize, in their daily lives. Whether we are giving out directions, or we are studying, the compass is an integral component, in people’s lives. Through direction, the airplanes manage to fly people to their various destinations, people hike the mountains and woods, and people are differentiated from different nations. The compass is not only vital in understanding the issue of direction and destinations but also in understanding the time differences existing worldwide. It is because of the Chinese’s compass invention that aspect of time and direction, as well as night and day, is comprehended. Tea Tea is one of the universally drunk beverages. It is one of the contributions that the Chinese people and their culture contributed to the world. Tea drinking’s origin can be traced back to China before its spread worldwide. From China tea spread to other continents where it acquire several different names such as tea or chai depending on the means it used to reach its destination; that is by land or sea (Kleeman and Barrett, 2005). Tea is usually made from a mixture of processed tea leaves, water and milk, and it is usually used during breakfast time or on cold seasons. Tea is mostly preferred to coffee drinking, because of its low caffeine content, and its health benefits, since its flavonoids are integral for the heart, and help in cancer reduction. Tea is considered as an input to happiness, health and wisdom mostly in the east, the benefits of tea are many and varied. Tea has been found through studies carried out to help with diabetes, enhance weight loss, comprises low cholesterol as well as result in mental awareness (Thangham, 2006). This has made it popular among its users; thus it is an essential contribution that the Chinese have offered the world, and they should be applauded for such a significant accomplish that has helped many globally. Alcohol It is one of the controversial in terms of its effects but nonetheless, vital contribution by the Chinese to the universe. By the third century, the Chinese were able to ferment food products, such as vinegar and soy sauce, through a fermentation process, and distillation, and subsequently, alcoholic spirits production began. Nowadays, alcohol has become people’s ingenuity, offering joy and sorrow equally. Alcohol has become a social drinking that is enjoyed by many; however its abuse has also contributed to dire consequences such as alcoholism and vehicle accidents. However, the world should be grateful to the Chinese for this contribution that has become many people’s preferable drink (Thangham, 2006). Question 4: Of the four inventions, the one I cannot do without is tea. Anyone who has become used to taking tea can attest that this beverage is one of the best, not only in terms of refreshment, but also as a source of food. Its values both in health and as a cash crop are immense to people has it contributed to economic merits as well as body nourishment. I cannot imagine my life without taking tea because it has such an enormous feeling after taking it that brings joy and grand health. References Challen, P. C. (2005). Life in ancient China. New York: Crabtree Pub. Clark, J. (2012, June). Top ten Ancient Chinese Inventions. HowstuffworkPp 1-12. Retrieved from < http://history.howstuffworks.com/asian-history/10-ancient-chinese-inventions5.htm> Diamond, J. (2007, June). Invention is the mother on necessity. The New York Times Magazine. Retrieved from < http://partners.nytimes.com/library/magazine/millennium/m1/diamond.html> Kleeman, T. F., & Barrett, T. (2005). The ancient Chinese world. Oxford: Oxford University press. Thangham, V. C. (2006, June). 10 best inventions of the ancient Chinese.digitaljournal.com. Retrieved From Read More