Top 10 Awesome Ancient Chinese Inventions

Many inventions in ancient China make today’s Chinese feel ashamed. Today we can only look at these relics excavated from ancient tombs and utter a deep sigh on the lost civilization and their amazing creativity. Here is a list of 10 ancient Chinese inventions that may surprise you.

1. Running Horse Lantern

Running Horse Lantern was invented by Chinese no later than around 1000 AD and can be often found in Chinese festivals. Many ancient Chinese books have recorded this kind of lantern. Paper blades are horizontally laid on the top of the lantern, when the lamp or candle is lit, the rising hot air will make the paper impeller turn around, and the shadows of the paper-cuts on the same axis are then projected onto the screen of the lamp, looking like each one is chasing another. This is the original application of principle of modern steam turbine.

2. Incense Burner In The Quilts

Incense Burner In The Quilts is a kind of ball-shaped copper container with ember inside, which can be placed in the quilts for warming and perfuming. The ingenious part is inside the copper container, no matter how the device rolls, the circular arch frame surrounding the incense burner can keep it horizontal, and so the burning incense will not fall out. How exquisite it is! Isn’t it similar with the gyroscope on modern planes and ships? The widely used modern navigators actually apply the same mechanic rules.

3. Crystal Cup

Do you think this is a broken glass? Then you are mistaken, this is a crystal cup from the ancient China’s Warring States Period (475 -221 BC).

4. Sewer Pipe

Guess what this stuff is? Yes it is a section of sewer pipe. What time do you think was it built? Qin Dynasty, 2200 years ago. However today even we have highly developed technology, when there is heavy rain, the roads will be changed into a “sea” in many Chinese cities.

5. Urban Drainage System

What’s this? The Roman Colosseum? But it seems much smaller…… This is actually a Song Dynasty (960-1279) building. Maybe you think The Sewer Pipe above is not a rare thing but just a ceramic tube and its waterproofing function may not be that strong. This is actually urban drainage system of the Song Dynasty. The most cattle X feature is that it has a special device, even if the river outside the city suddenly rises, the water will not flow backward into the city. The water gate will be open when the water is drained from the city into the river outside. When the river rises, and the water from outside will push it strongly, coupled with solid walls, no water can leak into the city.

6. Flood-Control Dam

Look here, what is this? Some people say it is a bunker. No, this is not a bunker, this is a dam with flood – control function. It’s very ordinary at first sight, it was built in the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty, and the coolest thing is that it can completely work normally today.

7. Toothbrush

What’s this? Fire stick? You are wrong, this is used to clean the mouth and teeth, and we call it toothbrush today. It is a relic unearthed from tomb of the Eastern Han Dynasty (25 – 220 AD).

8. Toilet Seat

This wooden lacquer ware has already been heavily corroded from aging, so it is difficult to tell what it is. Let us see the restored picture! Yes, this is a toilet seat. Just connect with the sewer pipe above you will know how advanced ancient Chinese tech is. Of course, this toilet seat was not prepared for the common people; however it cannot be denied that ancient Chinese people had great creativity and imagination a thousand years ago.

9. Belt Buckle

Have you ever thought of what the Tang Dynasty belt buckle looks like? These are relics unearthed from Chu State Tomb in Tianzihu Anji County Industrial Park.

10. The Incense Burner

This is …… do you want to say this is the logo of Android, but you are not sure of it? Don’t be afraid, just speak up, this is indeed the logo of Google’s Android system. Wait, I did not trick you, this is actually the Han Dynasty “little bronze man” displayed Shanxi History Museum – of course, it is not a little man but just a incense burner.