Umbrella

Umbrellas were invented by the Chinese. The umbrellas were made from oiled paper because oil repels water. The frames of the umbrellas were made from mulberry bark or bamboo. Red and yellow umbrellas were used by royalty, and blue umbrellas were used by the common people. The Chinese also used umbrellas to keep the sun off their skin.

   Seismograph

During the Han Dynasty an astronomer invented this earthquake device to give warning of an earthquake. The seismograph looks like a bronze vase covered with dragons and toads. Inside the vase swung a long metal pendulum. Outside the vase, eight dragons' heads were mounted onto its sides. The dragon heads were evenly spaced apart and each dragon had a ball in its mouth. Below each dragon was a toad, with its mouth open.

When an earthquake occurred, the pendulum would swing in the direction in which the earthquake occurred. The pendulum would hit a rod inside the vase. This rod would knock a ball out of a dragon's mouth. The ball would drop into the toad's mouth. The ball came out in the direction in which the earthquake had occurred. This would signal an earthquake.

The ancient Chinese needed this invention because China experienced many devastating earthquakes. The Chinese could provide more help to the earthquake victims if they were able to tell the direction that they should head with the supplies. Remember that during the time period of ancient China there were no methods of fast communication available; therefore, it was important to have a clue where to head with the supplies.

  Blast Furnace

In the 6th century B.C. , the ancient Chinese were the first people to use cast iron for tools, weapons, and cooking pots. It was a long process to make the cast iron. Therefore, in the first century A.D. , a blast furnace was invented by an unknown person. The blast furnace was powered by steam and boiling water. The furnace shot out hot air which heated the iron. Heated iron is much easier to work with. This early furnace might have opened the way for the creation of steel.

Tea Shredder

The ancient Chinese loved to drink tea. Drinking tea became very popular during the Tang Dynasty. At first, tea leaves had to be chopped or shredded by hand which was very time-consuming. A Chinese inventor created the tea shredder. The tea shredder had a wheel in the center which would slice the tea leaves into thin strips. This would make the job easier and less time-consuming.

Wheelbarrow

The wheelbarrow was invented by the Chinese. The Chinese wheelbarrow had a single wheel in the middle of the wheelbarrow. Farmers used the wheelbarrow to take a load of produce to the market place. Builders used the wheelbarrow to carry heavy building supplies. Soldiers used the wheelbarrow to remove injured or dead people from the battlefield.

Yoke

The ancient Chinese laborer used a yoke to carry things. A yoke is a stick that is carried across the shoulders and back. Buckets are hung or objects are tied to the end of the yoke. Many workers in isolated, rural areas of China today continue to use a yoke to carry items.

Credits: Information and the black and white pictures on this page came from Behind the Great Wall: A Journey to the Middle Kingdom by Demco Inc. This web page was created for the use of students at Akers School.

source: http://www.central.k12.ca.us/akers/inventions.html