The door of oriental Asia, China is the bewitchment for entire world. The enigmatic country is perpetually linked with a civilization that holds the honor of being to be one of the oldest and most diversified civilizations. The city is connected with an ages old culture that has the potential to lead the world. A captivating trove of some of the most attractive features of the world, Chinese bewilderment calls every one to wander on its mysterious trails.

Take a trip to china and checkout how old wonders and modern temptations are amalgamated. See the soaring heights of shanghai, spectacular birds nest at Beijing- it was the honored venue of 2008 Olympic and take complete looks of only artificial landmark of the earth that can be seen from moon also- it is great wall of china…

Apart from these, there are many more enchantments, which will keep you on the height of enchantment in China. Come on a trip to China and get all the secrets of its bewitchment. Making its place in one of the top-notch travel destinations of the world, a trip to China is taken as a reward of lifetime. The city is a destination for all those who want to enjoy serenity, seclusion, modern temptation and cultural variance.

The scintillating Chinese country is known for its scrumptious cuisines as well. You would be able to find then all around the world, as no body can say no a platter crammed with Maggie, Manchurian, Chinese fried rice, momos etc.

China is land of captivation, whether it is great Chinese wall or terracotta warriors, which beauty and fine preparation is mesmerizing people.

Fun Activities and Attraction in China- China is completely spectacular. The vibrant nation offers numbers of enchantment to get enthralled. On the nature of attraction, Chinese sites are divided into two parts, which are respectively natural altercation in China and historical sites of china.

Natural attraction of China- the king of oriental Asia is replete with floral and other natural allurements. Eastern side of Beijing is surrounded by Mount Taishan while west is surroned by Mount Huashan. Mount Hengshan is its north and central area is covered by mount Songshan. Mountains are snaking through all around the China. If you are looking forward for a scenic boating then crisscross with waves of river Li. Both sides of the river offer unusual enchantment. It is great to take fun of exhilaration at hoary high cliffs, tranquil lakes, waterfalls and forests during a tour in China.

Hotel in China- If planning a trip to china then you must get all the basic information, which is imporatent to land there. If you are looking for accommodation then you have an assorted option, there are numbers of hotel in china. These china hotels are available in almost every range and facility.

Chinese business etiquette is closely linked with country’s culture and its history.

In this article we will try to explain the philosophical base of Chinese business etiquette.

It is necessary for better understanding your Chinese partners and for evaluation of their behaviour.

Confucianism and Taoism are the two main philosophical sects in China, which have had an impact on the Chinese way of doing business for centuries, and nowadays still have been influencing and remain important.

Interpersonal relationships are the main core in Confucianism. And nowadays it has a great influence on Chinese mentality and social behaviour.

• One of the most important aspect of Confucianism is mutual respect and interpersonal trust in society.
• There are two main doctrines that have an impact on business negotiations: hierarchical social relations and the concept of saving face.
• Confucianism defines the hierarchical relationships in society as follows:

Managers and followers, father and son, husband and wife, elder and younger, teacher and pupils. The first protect and guide, while the others respect and follow. In Confucianism obedience and adherence to these rules is regarded as the path to harmony in society.

In China, we can notice that the doctrine of the hierarchy is still present in many companies and management systems.

Also, in business negotiations it is important to determine a key person or a manager from your company, which will have the same status as the Chinese key person or manager.

• There is also as a concept of saving face in Confucianism.
• This concept is needed to create harmony in social relations.
• There is an example of the influence of Chinese culture on the bargaring.

Suppliers from China do not refuse to reduce prices. As bargaining about the price is also a part of Chinese culture. But still they will say “NO” to your target price for the goods, in order to save your face, and also will control the negotiation process.

Understanding of Chinese philosophy of doing business will help you to achieve your business goals, and also will help you to understand actions of your business partners. However it does not mean that you can avoid misunderstandings, it will just help you to better analyze the partners, and gain a stronger position in negotiations.

Famous Chinese strategist and philosopher Sun Tzu (author of Art of War) said:

“Know the enemy and you do not have to fear the result of 100 battles.”

Of course your Chinese partners do not real enemies. But it is better to be always aware the Chinese way of doing business is still totally different from the European. China is needed to lear.

The making of different products requires different types of moulds. The type of material that is used for making the mould depends upon the product that is going to be made with the mould. These molds are so important that they are used all over the world on a daily basis for making numerous types of products. The same is the case with automotive mould making. Let’s know more about it.

Purpose

Moulds are used for making products of various sizes and designs. However, the mold has to be stronger if you want to make a big product. If you look at the history, we come to know that they have been in use for centuries. The principal behind the product is still the same.

The End Product

Based on the product design, the internal part of the mould is carefully made. At times, the process involves casting as well. The quality of the end product is dependent upon the quality of the mould. Therefore, only skilled professionals are employed for making the mould.

The Materials

What are they made of? Usually, moulds are made from metal, plastic and stones. At times, plastic moulds are also used for making soft products. If you are looking for moulds, we suggest that you consider china mould makers as well.

Choosing a Mould Maker

For mould making, we suggest that you look for a company that has professionals who specialize in the field. The company should be able to make molds from various materials, such as clay, plastic or metal. They are designed in a certain way so that the end product gets the desired shape.

Mould makers have many skills for carrying out their jobs. For instance, they must know how to make use of the precision tools and instruments. Aside from this, they should have a solid understanding of other things, such as blueprints and geometry. They also have to mix up different materials in order to make the molds.

Often, the professionals specialize in tool manufacturing. The majority of mould makers work as an assistant in order to learn the art. Actually, the professional involves practical training for several years. Therefore, we highly recommend that you go with a professional who has years of experience.

Outsourcing Mould Making

If you are looking for a good mould maker outside your country, we suggest that you consider china mold makers. They are not so expensive and can take big orders as well. Plus, they design moulds based on your requirements. The cost is really low as well.

If you want to look for good mould makers online, you can find one more easily. As a matter of fact, you can find tons of manufacturers in your area as well. But most companies prefer outsourcing due to a number of reasons. And when it comes to outsourcing, you can’t find a better option than china. In fact, most of technical work is outsourced to this country. Therefore, we suggest that you send an order to China today.

THE HISTORY OF BLUE WILLOW

I have seen credit given for the willow china pattern given to at least two different people. One would be Thomas Turner who is said to have introduced the famous design in about 1780. The original copper plate for his design was engraved by Thomas Minton and is still preserved at Coalport China. The most reported story says that the willow design was the creation of Josiah Spode, a derivation of an original Chinese pattern called Mandarin. Spode developed his willow pattern sometime around 1790.

The traditional willow design always features a large beautiful Chinese home with a willow tree, small bridge with 3 figures, a humble servants house at the foot of the bridge, a small Chinese boat & of course the famous love birds above the willow tree. The romantic lore of the design could have added to it’s popularity over the years.

The story goes something like this…….

Long ago, in the days when China was ruled by emperors, a Chinese mandarin, Tso Ling, lived in the magnificent pagoda under the branches of the apple tree on the right of the bridge, over which droops the famous willow tree, and in front of which is seen the graceful lines of the fence. Tso Ling was the father of a beautiful girl, Kwang-se, who was the promised bride of an old but wealthy merchant. The girl, however, fell in love with Chang, her father’s clerk. The lovers eloped across the sea to the cottage on the island. The mandarin pursued and caught the lovers and was about to have them killed when the gods transformed them into a pair of turtle doves. These are seen gazing into each other’s eyes at the top of the design. A lengthy and old Staffordshire poem of the pattern concludes with the verse: “In the oft quoted plate two birds are perceived, High in the heaven above: These are the spirits of Chang and Kwang-se, A twin pair of ever in love”.

Companies That Produce Willow China Due to Spode’s obvious success with the Blue Willow design, many, many pottery & china companies went on to produce some version of it. Here is a list of manufacturers that I am familiar with that produced or still do produce Blue Willow.

Adams Adderly Alfred Meakin Allerton Barratt Booths Buffalo (restaurantware & hotelware) Burslem Churchill Coalport Cuthbertson Homer Laughlin John Maddox & Sons Johnson Brothers McCoy Pottery Myott Made in China Made in Holland Made in Japan Maruta Moriyama Pottery (Japan) Norcrest Ridgeway Royal China Royal Doulton Royal Wessex Scio Pottery (Ohio) Spode Staffordshire Syracuse China(Restaurantware & Hotelware) Wedgewood Wood & Sons

VARIETY OF WILLOW ITEMS As the popularity of Blue Willow grew & grew over the years many companies begin to make a variety of merchandise to coordinate with the customer’s china pieces. You can find just about anything in Blue Willow including but not limited to: glassware, wallpaper, linens , tablecloths & towels, flatware & cutlery, picture frames, piggy banks, cookware, enamelware, fabric, tins, needlepoint pillows & kits, planters, candles, switchplates, items for bed & bath, soap dishes, even paper products including paper plated & napkins!

Besides numerous price guides written to aid collectors, there is a child’s story book entitled BLUE WILLOW by Doris Gates. You might enjoy recipes from The Blue Willow Inn Bible of Southern Cooking.

In 2005 there was even an animated short movie made in New Zealand that tells Blue Willow’s story of love & family betrayal.

The willow design is also made in red (sometimes called red transferware, or pink willow), green, brown & multicolored.

There are many Blue Willow pieces now being made in China. These are nice pieces to fill in your collection with & much more reasonable than antique or vintage pieces. There are sellers however that try to pass these newly produced items off as vintage or antique. Be sure you are buying from a reputable sellers.Also be sure what you are buying is actually blue willow. I have seen Flow Blue, Blue Onion, Blue Calico & other Blue Transferware advertised as Blue Willow.

The most valuable Blue Willow items are the early English, Staffordshire & Spode pieces. The Mid Century Made in Japan pieces are growing in popularity as well & can command a good price on unusual styles. There are quite a few restaurantware collectors out there too, so the heavy restaurant weight china usually does well.

I hope this has given you a little insight into collecting Blue Willow China ~ Have Fun!

http://www.nanaluluslinensandhandkerchiefs.com/

Have you seen those little smart cars driving around town? They are kind of cute, and they get really good fuel mileage. Of course most people need a little but more space, so what if they had a micro minivan? Did you know that in many other countries these little mini vans are driving around? They have them in Europe, Asia, India, and in many countries in South and Central America. Why not in the United States?

Is it because we have so many rules and regulations with regards to automobiles, or do people just want more power in their cars? Do people in the United States travel further distances with more stuff in them? Do we want everyone to have a large minivans so when they go to the store they buy more? It’s hard to say why we are not using these fuel-efficient vehicles in our own country.

There was an interesting article in the Wall Street Journal on May 11, 2011 titled “GM Bets Large on Rural China Markets – Success of Microvans Prompts Push to Manufacture Other N0-Frills Vehicles for Emerging Consumers” by Norishiko Shirouzu. The article discusses how GM wants to sell 5 million of these microvan vehicles by 2015 in China, and do you think they can do it, well, I certainly do. Apparently, according to the article they sold 2.35 million in 2010.

You see, China’s middle class continues to grow. By the way in China living in the middle class means making about $1500 per year, so it’s a lot different than here in the US, but now something like 500 million people in China are now there. Interestingly enough, these microvan type concepts are not only hot items in China, but also in India where Tata Motors has recently announced the new Magic IRIS as a substitute to all those 3-wheeler type vehicles folks are now driving around to carry their goods.

In the city I live in, it is legal to drive your golf cart on the road, and we have extra big bike lanes that allow people do this. In fact it’s kind of funny on the bike lane it has a picture of a bicycle stenciled in, along with a picture of a golf cart. It’s quite hilarious actually but it works. People take their golf carts to the grocery store, to Starbucks, and even taken through fast food drive thrus, it works.

If people just have short distances to go, why do they need a full-size car, and why do they need to spend all that money on insurance and monthly payments? They don’t. It makes no sense really. So, I dare to ask the question; why aren’t we selling these micro minivans in the United States of America? US companies are making them, why aren’t they selling them here too? If you have the answer to my question then shoot me an e-mail, in the meantime please consider all this and think on it.

The Chinese Zodiac used to be a way of counting the years. After development of thousands of years, the Chinese Zodiac becomes a kind of astrology. Chinese astrology is based on a twelve-year lunar cycle. Each of the 12 years is presented by an animal. Which animal you belong to is determined by the year in which you were born. To be accurate about your born year, you must use a Chinese calendar. Each sign is ascribed a set of attributes the Chinese believe comprise the nature of each particular animal.

Some scholars believe that the origin of Chinese Astrology is from the zootheism. The 12 animals in Chinese Zodiac are all related closely to human life. Half of the 12 Chinese Zodiac animals live with human: ox, sheep, horse, pig, dog and Rooster. Five of them are related closely to human life: tiger, rabbit, monkey, rat and snake. And the last one-the symbol of the spirit of China- the dragon.

The Chinese believe that the world is made of five elements: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water. These are modifiers and affect the characteristics of each of the 12 animal signs. Thus, each of the 12 animals is governed by an element plus a Yin Yang Direction.

If a Chinese ask you: “what do you belong to?” It means which animal sign you belong to in the 12 Chinese Zodiacs. In China, this is a polite way to ask how old you are.

2008 is the year of Earth Rat, the beginning of the 12-year cycle in Chinese Astrology. We provide free yearly horoscope for every sign. But first, you have to find out which zodiac sign you belong to.

Fine china sets are considered as a form of art more than a functional plate where you usually use to hold your food or eat from it. Moreover, they are often used on special occasions and used to serve food and make them look elegant. On the other hand, there are fine china sets that are used not mainly to hold food items but are used to decorate your rooms such as your kitchen and dinning room to make the rooms more appealing to the eyes.

What is great about fine china sets is that they do not follow any design standards. In fact, fine tableware sets can have a modern look to it or can have a classical look. In any case, it does not matter what kind of design they have as long as they look beautiful to the eye.

There are a lot of china sets that are sold in the market. There are sets made from porcelain and bone but, then again, if you are planning to buy them for the purpose of either decorating your home or using them to serve food, you might find the task challenging. There are a lot of brands of china that are sold in the market, but here are some of the favorite china wares found in china stores everywhere.

Rosenthal Fine china

Rosenthal fine china is made by a German company that excels in making glass, porcelain or ceramic wares. In fact, Rosenthal has been around for quite some time now and has been considered as top of the line china sold all over the world. The characteristics of Rosenthal china are that they are made from quality materials and that their designs are more attuned towards aesthetics. For this reason, Rosenthal china looks too good to be used as dinnerware, thus they are more often used for decorative show-pieces.

Denby china

Denby china is unlike other dinnerware sets, since it combines interesting and sumptuous design as well as quality and functionality. All Denby china has versatile designs that range from contemporary to classical pieces. In fact, Denby china combines chic, contemporary design and elegant aesthetics which makes this particular brand of china perfect for plating food as well as for decorating your kitchen or dining room. Denby china is considered as practical ways to decorate your room.

Franciscan china

The Franciscan china is made by a Californian company since 1934 and has become popular ever since. In fact, Franciscan china is influenced by Western and Spanish cultures that are numerous in California during this era. What is great about Franciscan china is that you will be able to tell a particular design whether it belongs to them or not by means of looking at their designs. All Franciscan china has a very distinct design that is centered on floral designs.

Johnson Bros china

Johnson Bros china is basically a British tableware that consists from dinner plates to tea cups. What makes Johnson Bros china noteworthy is that they are the first to introduce semi porcelain tableware. Basically, Johnson Bros china popularized the basic whiteware which is a very durable than most types of china. If you are looking for elegant yet cheap tableware, then you should buy Johnson Bros china for your kitchen.

Noritake fine china

A lot of china enthusiasts have been considering on buying Noritake fine china for reasons that they appeal a lot to the public. In fact, Noritake fine china has been bringing high quality china in the market. They have been around since 1904 therefore they have been making fine quality china and have been selling them in the market. Noritake fine china varies from porcelain to whiteware which provides a lot of clients with options in choosing fine china. Noritake fine china is very elegant to look at.

China’s coal consumption peak season typically starts before the Chinese New Year. Coupled with the unusual snowstorm in southern provinces this year, coal prices in China shot up furiously within a short period of time at the beginning of 2008.

In the transit hub of Qinhuangdao, major coal prices reached a record high in January 2008, up more than 20% from just a month ago, and such increases are on top of the continued uptrend in coal prices since 2004. Coal is the most important energy source in China, accounting for 70% of the national energy consumption. Why would the coal price keep going up in recent years?

“Tight balance” between supply and demand

The coal price trend in China is closely related to its price forming mechanism. And the reform progress in China’s coal pricing mechanism in recent year has shown a clear tendency towards marketization.

In the era of planned economy, coal prices were uniformly set by the government. In 1993, China started to relax sale prices for coal products other than thermal coal, which accounted for 50% of total coal consumption in China, so thermal coal price was still under a dual pricing mechanism of “planned coal” and “market coal”. In late 2004, the government announced the “Coal-Electricity Price Linking Mechanism”, which allows periodic electricity price increases once thermal coal price increases 5% or more in the past 6 months, and the thermal coal price in turn can be determined by negotiation between coal sellers and buyers in the market. For various reasons, thermal coal price failed to become marketised initially, but the price differentials under the dual pricing mechanism began to converge. In 2007, the 50-year-old system of government organising annual coal order meeting among coal producers, transporters and users was finally removed, and now suppliers and buyers are starting to independently negotiate prices based on market circumstances, under the government’s macro control framework.

Against such a backdrop, the relationship between supply and demand has now become the major factor in determining coal prices. From a consumption mix perspective, the electricity, metallurgical, chemical and construction materials industries, which collectively account for 70% of total coal consumption, are the main users of coal in China. In the first three quarters of 2007, outputs from China’s coal-fired power, coke, raw steel and cement industries had grown 16.7%, 19.4%, 17.6% and 15% respectively over previous comparable period, far exceeding raw coal output growth of 11% from the same period. On one hand, the demand for coal had been increasing significantly. On the other hand, the government were mandating the closure of small and medium coal mines and limiting the capacity expansion of coal mines, thus reducing coal supply growth. And the railway transportation in China has long been a bottleneck for coal. As a result of all these factors, demand and supply of coal in China has been in a “tight balance” situation for years.

Coal prices in China started to decline in 1997 and reached a bottom in 2001. The problem of coal shortage started to surface in 2004. Although coal producers had been expanding their production in the following years, with 8.2% increase in output in 2007 alone, the supply shortage nevertheless failed to alleviate. Therefore, coal producers in China have made a windfall profit in recent years, thanks to the ever-rising coal prices.

Experts predicted that national raw coal output in 2008 would be similar to the level in 2007, with about 2.73 billion tons of production, against an expected demand of 2.728 billion tons. Although there may be tightness in certain regions and coal products, China’s coal market as a whole is expected to reach equilibrium this year, with coal prices maintaining at a high level.

“Full-cost” reflecting resources scarcity

Not only coal prices in China reflects demand and supply interaction, they are also starting to reflect the associated resources scarcity and environmental costs. Therefore, the crystallisation of regulatory costs is another important reason for the ever-rising coal prices in China.

Previously, most coal mining rights in China could be acquired with little compensation, and costs of safety, environment and rehabilitation had not been included in the normal costing of coal. This not only failed to reflect the true value of resources, but also led to uncompensated resources consumption and unrecovered environmental damage. For many state-owned coal companies, they also had to face legacy issues such as rebuilding exhausted coalmines and staff re-employment difficulties.

To solve these problems, China began implementing the system of compensated use of mineral resources in September 2006, and the coal industry took the reform trial. The State Council began a pilot system of compensated use of coal resources in eight major coal producing provinces, and coalminers had to pay for the exploration rights and extraction rights. Further reforms in resource taxes and resources compensation charges are also under contemplation by the regulators in China.

In addition, Shanxi Province, one of the major coal sources in China, is planning to implement a trial scheme for sustainable developments of coal companies this year. One of the important features is to levy and establish three funds, namely coal sustainable development funds, mine environmental recovery fund and coalmine redevelopment fund. And these three funds, along with mining right fees, will be included into total production costs of coal from now on. Therefore, in addition to the production costs, coal producers now have to factor in environmental, resources, ecology and redevelopment costs, hence the “full costs” of coal production.

The risen costs will no doubt put pressure on coal companies. In the first three quarters of 2007, listed coal companies in China reported an average gross margin of 30.31%, down 4.82% from the same period last year, mainly because the rise in regulatory costs had exceeded the growth in coal prices in that period.

Non-coal costs

The increase in production costs is not the sole reason for the rising coal prices. China has a complex coal distribution chain, which had become even more expensive recently, so these non-coal costs are also responsible for the rising coal prices in China. It is understood that sea freight contract prices for coal has increased from 40-50 yuan per ton before 2007 to the current price of 100 yuan per ton.

The “coal-power tension” between coal producers, power generation plants and power distribution networks, which are all acting in their self-interests within the value chain, has long attracted the public attention. While the coal prices continued going up in January this year, the government didn’t accordingly increase electricity prices as per the “Coal-Electricity Price Linking Mechanism”, due to macro control considerations (on inflation). In this circumstance, the thermal coal price became a tenacious point between coal producers and power producers.

Experts suggested that the improvement in coal pricing mechanism in China needs to progress alongside reforms in related industries such as power generation, railway and ports. Furthermore, China is now facing an upward pressure in general prices, so stabilising prices and preventing serious inflation will be the main objective for macro control. An effective coal price setting mechanism should not only observe the principle of market economy, but also take into account the government’s macro control theme and affordability of downstream industries.

Software inventions are patentable in the United States, and in many other key jurisdictions. However, not all other countries allow broad protection for software innovation. Two of the more important patent offices, the European Patent Office (EPO) and the Chinese State Intellectual Property Office (SIPO) restrict how software inventions may be protected. However, many types of software can still be protected in China and Europe.

Europe

The EPO precludes patenting “(a) discoveries, scientific theories and mathematical methods; (b) aesthetic cre¬ations; (c) schemes, rules and methods for performing mental acts, playing games or doing business; and (d) programs for com¬puters, and presentations of information.” However, there is an exception. Article 52(2) excludes “the patentability of the subject-matter or activities referred to therein only to the extent to which a European patent application or European patent relates to such subject-matter or activities as such.” This clause creates an exception for certain kinds of software innovations to be patentable subject matter at the EPO.

The EPO’s patentable subject matter includes the technical or hardware related elements of an invention, as opposed to features that are merely algorithms. This is not an obvious distinction. In the United States, algorithmic elements can be protected, if claimed correctly. In Europe, algorithms, such as an accounting program, that are executed on a general purpose computer are not patentable. However, software that does something to hardware is likely to be patentable. For example, software that controls communications between machines is more likely to be patentable subject matter. Similarly, software that accelerates graphic display functions is probably patentable.

EPO patent applications are also structured differently from United States patent applications. The application should follow a problem/solution format. A technical problem is described and a solution, the invention, is then presented. This is in sharp contrast to US applications where the problem description is often minimized so that it is not used against the applicant as prior art.

The claimed embodiments of the EPO application are directed to the problem. EPO software claims are organized as two part claims, with a preamble that lists elements that are known in the art followed by a second part with the novel inventive elements.

China

In China, software, algorithms or computer games are not per se patentable subject matter. Software inventions must solve a technical problem and have physical features. So like in Europe, your clever accounting or stock analysis algorithms are not patentable subject matter. However, software with physical features such as accelerating data interchange or storing data more efficiently solve a technical problem, and so are likely to be patentable subject matter.

Even though Europe and China do not support the protection of software inventions to the same extent as the United States, you can protect many types of software innovations in those jurisdictions.

In the last two centuries, new cultural discoveries have nearly rewritten history. It’s been an exciting time, full of adventure and surprises. Around every corner there are new responses to questions we had already imagined answered. And of these breakthroughs, none shines as brightly as the impact of ancient Chinese inventions on modern life. As we explore ten of the greatest inventions and innovations of Ancient China, you may be surprised at their influence on recent technology.

1. Paper. Paper, as we know it, was invented in China around the year 105. After seeing earlier attempts made from silk, bamboo sticks and animal skins, Cai Lun came up with his own idea. After mixing mulberry bark, rags, wheat stalks and other stuff, a pulp formed. This pulp was pressed into sheets and dried, becoming a crude form of paper. Paper was such an important invention that the process of making it was a jealously guarded secret. The secret was safe until the seventh century when the art spread to India.

2. The Printing Press. Before Johann Gutenberg “invented” the printing press in the 1440’s, China created a type of printing press between 206 B.C. and A.D. 45. It was made using stone tablets to create a “rubbing” of famous Buddhist and Confucian texts. Next came block printing in the Sui Dynasty. In block printing, images and words were engraved on wooden boards, smeared with ink and pressed onto sheets of paper. Later, moveable type printing presses were introduced. According to the authors of Ancient Inventions, “By A.D. 1000, paged books in the modern style had replaced scrolls – a good 450 years ahead of Gutenberg.”

3. The First Book. Due to the early advent of the printing press, China also claims the first book. In 868, almost six hundred years before the Gutenberg Bible, the earliest known book was printed. By the end of the Tang dynasty, China had bookstores in almost every city.

4. Paper Money. While today you’d rather carry a lot of cash instead of coin, that hasn’t always been the case. The idea of paper currency was first attempted under Emperor Han Wu-Ti (140-87 B.C.) after war had drained the treasury. He issued treasury notes, worth and in exchange for 400,000 copper coins. Instead of paper, the Emperor used the skin of the white stag. But the creature was so rare that the idea soon lost appeal. In the early 800’s, the idea revived to deter highway robbers. In 812, the government was again printing money. By the year 1023, money had an expiration date and was already plagued by inflation and counterfeiting. Nearly six hundred years later paper money headed west, first printed in Sweden in 1601.

5. The Abacus. Well before Texas Instruments, the first calculator was in the works. The abacus dates from around the year 200 B.C. It is a very advanced tool with a simple design. Wood is crafted into a rectangular frame with rods running from base to top. About 2/3’s from the base, a divider crosses the frame, known as the counting bar. On each of the rods are beads. All of the beads above the counting bar equal five. Those below equal one. The rows of rods are read from right to left. The furthest bar to the right holds the one’s place, the next holds the ten’s place, then the hundred’s, and so on. While its design may sound complex, there are some Chinese today so skilled that they can solve difficult math problems faster than someone using a calculator!

6. The Decimal System. In the West, the decimal system appeared quite recently. Its first believed instance was in a Spanish manuscript dated around 976. But, the first true example goes back much further. In China, an inscription dated from the 13th century B.C., “547 days” was written as “five hundred plus four decades plus seven of days.” The Chinese likely created the decimal system because their language depended on characters (like pictures) instead of an alphabet. Each number had its own unique character. Without the decimal system, the Chinese would have had a terrible time memorizing all of these new characters. By using units of ones, tens, hundreds, etc., the Chinese saved time and trouble.

7. The Mechanical Clock. In the year 732, a Buddhist monk and mathematician invented the first mechanical clock. He named it “Water-Driven Spherical Bird’s-Eye-View Map of the Heavens.” Like earlier clocks, water gave it power, but machinery cased the movement. But, after a few years, corrosion and freezing temperatures took their toll. It wasn’t until 1090, when astronomer Su Sung designed his mechanical marvel “Cosmic Engine”, that a more dependable timepiece was made. Created for Emperor Ying Zong, this clock had a tower over 30 feet tall. It housed machinery that, among other things, caused wooden puppets to pop from one of five doors at regular intervals throughout the day. (Much like the modern idea of a Cuckoo clock.) The entire machine was powered by a giant waterwheel. This clock ran until 1126, when it was dismantled by the conquering Tartars and moved to Peking for another several years. The first clock reference in Western history was in 1335, in the church of St. Gothard in Milan.

8. The Planetarium. A planetarium is a big enclosed space that shows the stars and constellations on the inside. Orbitoscope was the name of the first projection planetarium. It was built in Basil in 1912 by Professor E. Hinderman. But, once again, China is the mother of this invention. The first planetarium is attributed to the design of an early emperor. As one source states, an astronomer named Jamaluddin created a planetarium during the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368), along with a perpetual calendar and other important astronomical devices.

9. The Earthquake Sensor. The earliest earthquake sensor was also an interesting piece of art. It was a bronze cylinder about 8 feet around, with 8 dragons perched above 8 open-mouthed frogs. In the mouth of each dragon rested a bronze ball. When an earthquake struck, a pendulum inside the cylinder would swing. It knocked the ball from the mouth of the dragon and down into the frog’s mouth. That frog’s back was then facing the direction of the center of the quake. Chang Heng invented it in A.D. 132 (during the Han Dynasty), almost 600 years before the first western sensor was made in France. Later, in 1939, Imamura Akitsune recreated the invention and actually proved it effective.

10. The Helicopter Rotor & Propeller. While the Ancient Chinese didn’t actually invent the helicopter, they were involved in its creation. In the 4th century A.D., they invented a toy called the “Bamboo Dragonfly”. You’ve probably seen them as prizes at local fairs or carnivals. It was a toy top, with a base like a pencil and a small helicopter-like blade at the end. The top was wrapped with a cord. When you pulled the cord, the blade would spin around and soar into the air. This toy was studied by Sir George Cayley in 1809 and played a role in the birth of modern aviation. It wasn’t until the early 1900’s that the first helicopter took flight.

It is sometimes a mind blowing thing to realize that what seemed to be modern ideas or inventions are much older than we’d imagined. And it’s likely that there are more inventions to be discovered. More historical changes to be made. In the conclusion of The Greatest Inventions of the Past 2,000 Years, Jared Diamond summed it up well while referring to the changing view of history and its inventors, “So, forget those stories about genius inventors who perceived a need of society, solved it single-handedly, and thereby transformed the world. There has never been such a genius……..If Gutenberg hadn’t devised the better alloys and inks used in early printing, some other contemporary tinkerer with metals and oils would have done so……do give Gutenberg some of the credit—but not too much.”

Questions:

1. Choose one of the inventions mentioned. Explain how different the world would be if it hadn’t been invented.

2. Why do you think there was such a large space of time between the Eastern and Western dates of invention?

3. What are two other inventions that came from ancient China? Research and find out when the idea was introduced to Western culture.