Now, I love Chinese food. I mean, who doesn’t? Weird people who don’t like lots of soy sauce and yummy carbs like rice and rice noodles? But what have the Chinese given to us, really? Fortune cookies? Jokes about children working in sweatshops? I’d like to think that they have accomplished more than that in their long history, and sure enough, they have…
(Editor’s note: The title was changed to Things China Invented First, from Things China Did First – we trust this still holds the spirit of the list.)
10. Government-Issued Paper Money
Paper money was first introduced in the 7th century as a way for wealthy merchants to avoid having to carry large quantities of heavy copper coins. Original banknotes were essentially bank slips with the amount of total money available to the merchant written on them, like our deposit receipts. These notes were initially used only by the very wealthy, but eventually they were circulated by the Song Dynasty when there was a shortage of copper coins. They were called jiaozi. These notes did not replace copper coins- they were organized by region (rather than having a national currency) and were more like credit notes with a time limit. A national currency was introduced in the 11th century using another Chinese original, woodblock printing.
9. Printing
The Chinese initially developed two types of printing: woodblock printing and movable type. Woodblock printing is created by carving a design or character text into a block of wood, covering the relief with dye, and printing the relief onto the fabric or paper. The earliest existing example of woodblock printing is on a piece of hemp paper, dating from around 660 AD. It is also the medium of choice for the oldest printed book, the Diamond Sutra printed in 868 AD during the Tang Dynasty.
The other type of printing is the predecessor of typesetting, called movable type. It was a process in the making for 630 years. It began as a theory by Chinese scientist, Shen Kuo during the Song Dynasty in 1088 AD. The theory wasn’t put into practice until 1298 AD when official Wang Zhen of the Yuan Dynasty created a model arranging the characters by rhyme scheme on a round table with compartments for the characters. In 1490, Hua Sui perfected movable type by putting the characters on bronze blocks instead of wood or clay. The final tweak was added in 1718 when porcelain enamel was used.
8. Paper
If you’re going to print, then you need paper, or some sort of printable medium, and pulp paper became popular because it was cheaper and faster to make than other mediums, such as silk, bamboo strips, or clay tablets. There is evidence of pulp paper making that dates back to the 2nd century BC. Then, in 105 AD, a Han court eunuch named Cai Lun improved the process (he is often credited as the inventor of paper). His process involved mashing up tree bark, hemp, linen and fishing nets and adding water until a wooden frame with a sieve of interwoven weeds could be immersed and removed from the mixture. The frame was then hung out to dry and bleached in the sunlight.
7. Gunpowder
Gunpowder’s invention was actually an accident by Chinese alchemists in the 9th century. One of its first uses outside of the lab was for fireworks, which were used to ward off evil spirits starting in the 10th century. However, since at least 1044, it has been used as the destructive and explosive component that we all have come to know. It was originally used in flamethrowers (no joke), flame tipped arrows, and a “gunpowder-whip-arrow,” for which I can’t think of a modern equivalent. The first firearms did not appear until the 13 century, and were used heavily by the Mongols in their exploits. The first recorded formula for gunpowder was relatively tame as it was not capable of exploding but still very flammable. By the 15th century though, they had perfected 6 formulas for gunpowder, some with up to 91% nitrate, the chemical that makes gunpowder go BOOM.
6. Compass
The first iron compasses created during the Han Dynasty were not used for navigation. In fact, they were used to divine the future in large bowl-like compasses that used a spoon-like instrument. A thermoremanence compass, which uses a heated metal object in water to produce a magnetic force, was documented in 1044. There was also the South Pointing Chariot, circa 3rd century AD, which was a figure on a chariot that would always point south, originally without the use of magnets. This compass instead operated on a differential gear system, much like you find in a car now. Shen Kuo was able to describe magnetic declination and the use of a magnetic needle compass in 1088, while Zhu Yu offered the use of the true north compass for naval use in 1119.
5. Coffins, Tree coffins, Urns
The Chinese ancients seem to have been some of the first who were concerned with burying their dead. Chinese emphasis on showing respect for elders and ancestors by caring for your own body (which they provided you with by giving you life) was just as important as showing respect for theirs when they passed away. Evidence for the earliest coffins and urns have been found in China. The oldest coffin is dated around 5000 BC and holds a four year old girl. The thickness of a coffin and the number of coffins were reflections of wealth or nobility. Also, the earliest known tree trunk coffins, or boat coffins, were of the Songze culture and the Dawenkou culture, recorded dates between 4000-3000 BC and 4100-2600 BC respectively.
4. Fork and Chopstick
While many people attend an Asian restaurant and attempt to eat with the traditional chopsticks, it would actually be more traditional to use the fork that they provide for their diners. Bone forks have been discovered at multiple burial sites dating from the Xia Dynasty, which was in power from 4205-1760 BC. Europeans wouldn’t start using forks until roughly 4000 years later. Forks were an exclusive dining tool for the ruling class, and came in two- and three-pronged varieties like they do now. However, due to the nature of Chinese food customs, chopsticks became popular and much easier to come by. Because Chinese culture did not permit that meats should resemble their living form, it was cut into bite-sized pieces. Also, the communal nature of Chinese eating habits made chopsticks an easier tool to maneuver. Not only that, but the chopstick could pick up or divide virtually any cuisine that was presented, thereby making it a much more effective utensil than the fork.
3. Holistic Health
Even more surprising to me than the invention of the fork, was that Chinese medicine was on to some major health points before their time, such as good health through proper diet. In the 4th century, the royal courts had Imperial Dieticians to guide the royal family down the road to healthy eating. In the Han Dynasty, Zhang Zhongjing found out through trial and error that certain foods would address symptoms of poor health. Imperial Dietician Hu Sihui published a similar book in 1330 that put together information on healthy diets dating from the 3rd century.
Not only were they proponents of a variable diet, they were also the first endocrinologists, meaning that they were clued in to and could address hormone imbalances before everyone else. In 1110 BC, they were able to extract sex hormones from urine using gypsum and natural soaps like saponin. They could then use these extracted hormones to treat a wide variety of sex hormone issues, from erectile dysfunction to menstrual cramps (dysmenorrhea).
2. Restaurant Menu
The biggest reason that the Chinese beat other cultures to the finish line here is because they already had a handle on paper by the time the Song Dynasty rolled around. Due to even ancient China’s expansive populated regions that would trade with each other, hungry merchants could find an abundance of food to eat, but were not familiar with a lot of it. Thus, the menu was born to provide a guide for hungry merchants and foreign travelers. Menus popped up where ever food was sold: temples, brothels, theaters, and tea houses as well as typical food stalls and restaurants.
1. Toilet Paper
The classic over versus under debate is much older than previously thought. Its first mention is by official Yan Zhitui in 589 BC, again because the Chinese were ahead of the game when it came to paper manufacturing. Their purpose is stated quite clearly by an Arab visitor in 851 AD, who remarks that the Chinese wipe themselves with paper, while the rest of the world was using water, their hands, wood shavings, lace, or the ever popular Roman “sponge on a stick.” The Chinese even one-upped themselves, and proceeded to perfume their poo paper for the royal family in 1393. (Actual ancient toilet paper not represented in art above.)
50 Comments
Love your article! Equipment and tools aside, most food including rice, noodles, ice-cream, tea were invented by the Chinese too!
thank you i liked it
this was cool thank you it really helped with my project
Means China is contributing to the world from the start and the most useful contribution is “toilet Paper”. 🙂 Hahahahah
When I was writing this originally, I wanted to title it “Top 10 Things You Didn’t Know China Invented” but in the end, it was changed. Toilet paper just seems like one of those things that doesn’t seem like it should have an origin, like drinking cow’s milk or Post-its! 🙂
Your last two pictures seem do not match the titles.
Really? What would you suggest?
Things that China invented first is redundant. You can invent something second. You should think harder about your list titles
There is more going on than you know. Titles are also used for securing search traffic which helps pay for the site and the articles you get to criticize every day. Sometimes our madness has a method.
Madness: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJOLwy7un3U 😀
You mention “whip arrows” in your discussion of gunpowder. Takes me back; I remember making these things as a kid. Which tells you something about their range and power; but they might have been useful: cheap, easy to produce, nice for unaimed volleying.
http://slinging.org/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1257014504/15. is a site dealing with these (and other sling instruments).
It also seems to me that the Chinese invented a repeating cross-bow.
The Chinese invented many things that are the predecessors to weapons and technology that are used today. You could make a lot of top ten lists with just their military advancements!
China invented toilet paper ?? China has now become my seecond favorite country next to The United States
It is odd that on many travel sites they warn you to take your own if you visit China as most toilets do not provide toilet paper.
I would also add silk and tea to the list.
I thought That Mongolians were Invented Paper Money.. Not Chinese
The Mongol empire was a part of the Chinese empire, and the Yuan Dynasty (the Mongols) was one of the dynasties to encourage paper money as a currency. When I went to look up information, I found an interesting factoid that the first emperor to really “enforce” paper money was Kublai Khan, who was a Mongol! If his currency wasn’t accepted by somebody, apparently he would order them to death.
No. Chinese Empire was Part of Mongol Empire..
Nonetheless, the Chinese invented paper money before the Mongols took over China, by the Song Dynasty.
China was a part of Mongol Empire! There was never any chinese empire! Mongols ruled china during Yuan Dynasty (Mongols), paper money invented by mongols!
If you can do it better, by all means, please submit a list. 🙂
Wow, you guys are a lot nicer than the posters over at listverse.com. They get downright MEAN.
People on this list are pretty tame so far, but if you check out the 1000th list, you can see where there have been a couple of nasty wars in the comment boards. Heck, people got kind of nasty in the comments of my first list about words that you thought were English (or something to that effect.)
Well.. I’m a fan of both sites, and I sometimes make a comment at Listverse, too. (Don’t ban me please for that, TopTenzMaster, I said I like BOTH sites.) I must agree that the flame wars at LV get pretty bad sometimes…
You know, I used to block all mentions of Listverse.com because I know Jamie (owner of LV) didn’t allow comments about Toptenz.net (as I was told by others), but I have gotten over that and I belive LV is a very good site, so why not give credit. I allow links to many sites from Toptenz.net The Internet is a big enough place for many quality sites. I feel LV and Toptenz.net are both good sites. I have personal issues with Jamie, but that doesn’t mean LV isn’t a good site. It is and congrats to Jamie for being smart enough and hard working to build it into an empire of sorts.
I keep a tight rein on the comments because I don’t want to turn this site into a flame war site and I like to keep my site PG-13 for my own peace of mind and as a good example that a site can be clean and still fun and popular.
I don’t know what your “personal issues” with JamieF are, although I suspect that has something to do with the fact that you’re a Christian and he’s an Atheist. Maybe it’s something else, I don’t know. But let me tell you: your site is brilliant! Having said that, I cannot lie and say Jamie’s site is bad… I wish well to both Toptenz and Listverse in the future 😀
I had no idea Jamie was an Atheist. He has been dishonest with me in the past (years ago), but I have forgiven him and moved on. I honestly don’t read LV now, so I can’t speak with personal experience to its current status, but when I read it many years ago, I liked it then. I assume from its large following, LV must be doing something right. 😉
One more thing: no, wait, 2 things:
1. if my memory serves, I actually found Toptenz because someone mentioned it at the Listverse chatroom.. so there goes your argument that JF would have banned mentioning Toptenz.
2. I am a nobody, but I’d like to have you as a Facebook fiend, TopTenzMaster. Sorry, I meant a friend. Well, whichevah. 😀
Oh, the comments here can get mean, I just take the time to remove any hostile, attacking and insulting comments (I’m sure I have missed a few over the past 4 years. Life it too short to invest time into hurting people, just because you can be anonymous. Glad you find the atmosphere less aggressive here at Toptenz.net.
China may have invented the toilet itself:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/851957.stm
One thing China did not invent was the fortune cookie, that most famous of treats featured at Chinese-American restaurants. 🙂
I never knew. I wonder if they serve fortune cookies in China now?
From Wikipedia: Fortune cookies are often served as a dessert in Chinese restaurants in the United States and some other countries, but are absent in China. The exact provenance of fortune cookies is unclear, though various immigrant groups in California claim to have popularized them in the early 20th century, basing their recipe on a traditional Japanese cracker. Fortune cookies have been summarized as being “introduced by the Japanese, popularized by the Chinese, but ultimately … consumed by Americans.”
It would be interesting to know if they do nowadays.
Here’s a humorous video from 4 years ago:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bp4IGgQoVQE
Thanks for pointing that out. I knew that they weren’t a traditional Chinese custom, which is why I chose to make fun of people thinking that they were. However, sometimes it’s hard to remember that not everyone shares one’s own personal knowledge base! 🙂
I cannot read this list. It seems to be in some foreign script that I do not recognize. Mandarin, perharps? Time for Google Translate!
oh….
i meant to say this list is too chinese in chinese…
It would be so clever…..
Leave the cleverness to the Chinese, clearly! 🙂
yo this website mad awesommmmeeeee thnks for all the facts 🙂 😉
Using Google translate: ????????
😀
Oh, question marks? Those was Chinese characters when I posted…
Oh, I get it, the same thing happened to Ricardo. Damn! 😀
Sorry, I would have to edit some core files to make this work and then remember to do it every time I did an update. The effort is appreciated.
????????!!
I guess Chinese characters don’t work on this blog.
What no props from our usually disgruntled international crowd, who feels that we focus too much on the USA? An all China list get’s nothing? I’m a bit disappointed. 😉
This was a fascinating list, I thought. The fork threw me for a loop.
This list is not American enough. We all know Americans did these things first. As a side note, someone really needs to find a way to convey sarcasm in text.
Good list though, nice to take a break from all the Olympic lists(sorry I only visit every couple days).
How about these options:
Sarcastic comment – LOL
Sarcastic comment – :-p
~Sarcastic comment~
Here are more options: http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=sarcasm%20marks
Or you can spend $1.99 and download the SarcMarc – http://mashable.com/2010/01/15/sarcmark/
Don’t you want us (the international crowd) to read your site, TopTenzMaster? This list was great, although the author forgot that China (probably) also invented Kung Fu movies. Or maybe it was Hong Kong, who knows? Some of the lists focusing on the USA on this site are good as well. They’re just not that relevant to us “foreigners”. 😀
Great list, love the irony of your introduction. Some people still think China is a third world country while it’s far from the truth.
The intro is the hardest part for me to write usually and I always leave it to be written last, so I’m glad you liked it!
I thought it was well done too. Short and simple and on to the list!
yes of course, just like Alabama and also, Africa is a country