Chinese Inventions and Scientific Achievements

Study Notes

Ancient Chinese Inventions

The Four Great Inventions: papermaking, printing (movable type), the compass, and gunpowder.
Cai Lun improved papermaking during the Han dynasty.
Bi Sheng invented movable type printing during the Song dynasty.
A simple compass called the si nan was created during the Warring States period.
A more sophisticated compass, the luo pan, was developed during the Song dynasty.
Taoist alchemists accidentally discovered gunpowder while trying to make immortality pills.
Gunpowder's initial use was in fireworks during the Tang dynasty.
Military applications of gunpowder emerged later in the Tang dynasty.
Gunpowder was introduced to Arab regions in the 13th century.
Zhang Heng invented the di dong yi, the world's first seismograph.
Zu Chongzhi calculated pi to seven decimal places.
Deng Xiaoping proposed that science and technology are primary productive forces.

Modern Chinese Scientific Achievements

China detonated its first nuclear bomb in 1964.
China detonated its first hydrogen bomb in 1967.
China launched its first satellite in 1970.
Chang'e 5 is China's first lunar exploration satellite.
The core BDS-3 constellation system was deployed in 2020.
The Tian Gong space station was completed in 2022.
Quan Xuesen is known as the "Father of Two Bombs and One Star".
Zhu Rong is China's first Mars rover.
Yang Liwei was China's first person in space.
Liu Yang was China's first woman in space.

New Four Great Inventions

High-speed rail, mobile payment, e-commerce, and shared bicycles.
Fuxing trains can reach 400 km/hr.
International Astronomical Union named asteroid 11812 DongQiao.
The professor is from BIT.
Asteroid 1997GQ27 is named beiligongxing (北理工星).

Chinese Education

Confucius is credited with starting private schools in China.
Kong Zi advocated for universal education.
Yue Lu, Bai Lu Dong, Song Yang, and Ying Tian Fu were four prominent academies.
Double First-Class involves top universities and specialized courses.
The ke jiu zhi was the world's first, longest-running civil service examination system.
Gao kao is the national college/university entrance examination.

Chinese Festivals

2024 is the year of the Dragon.
The Chinese New Year begins on the first day of the lunar calendar.
福 (Fu) means luck or fortune.
New Year's Eve (chú xī) involves a special dinner.
The Lantern Festival is on the 15th day of the first lunar month, featuring dumplings.
Guessing riddles is a Lantern Festival activity.
Qingming Festival, around April 5th, is a time to remember the dead.
The Dragon Boat Festival, on the 5th day of the 5th lunar month, commemorates Qu Yuan.
The Mid-Autumn Festival, on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month, involves moon gazing and eating mooncakes.
Chinese Valentine's Day is on the 7th day of the 7th lunar month.
ChongYang Festival is also known as the "Old People Festival".

Description

Explore the fascinating world of ancient Chinese inventions such as papermaking, the compass, and gunpowder. Discover the remarkable scientific achievements that have shaped modern China, including significant contributions in various fields. Test your knowledge about the innovations and thinkers that have advanced science and technology throughout history.