Thirty Great Inventions of China: From Millet Agriculture to Artemisinin

Preface
Contents
Editors and Contributors
About the Translators and the Division of Translation
The Invention and Civilization (As Postscript)
	First, the Invention as the Driving Force for the Progress of Human Civilization
	Second, the Incentive Mechanism of Invention and Creation
	Third, the Invention and Creation as the Aspiration, Mission, and Undertaking of Generations of Chinese
1 Introduction of the Thirty Great Inventions of China
	1.1 Question: How Many Great Inventions Are There in Chinese History?
	1.2 Definitions: What Can Be Counted as a Great Invention?
	1.3 The Origin of the Thirty Great Inventions of China
	References
2 Millet Agriculture
	2.1 The Origin and Early Development of Millet Agriculture in China
	2.2 The Improvement and Maturity of Millet Agriculture Technology
	2.3 Millet Agriculture and the Development of Chinese Civilization
	References
3 Rice Farming
	3.1 The Origin of Rice Farming
	3.2 Improvement and Development of Rice Farming Technology
	3.3 The Significance of Invention and Development of Rice Farming in China
	References
4 Sericulture and Silk Production
	4.1 Mulberry Cultivation and Silkworm Breeding
		4.1.1 Cultivation of Mulberry
		4.1.2 Domestication of Silkworm
	4.2 Silk Reeling and Weaving
		4.2.1 Silk Reeling
		4.2.2 Silk Fabrics
	4.3 Loom
		4.3.1 Pedal Loom
		4.3.2 Jacquard Loom
	References
5 Chinese Characters
6 Algorism and Rod Calculus
	6.1 The Development of Algorism and the Invention of Rod Calculus
		6.1.1 The Development of Number Concept and Algorism
		6.1.2 Computing Tool—Counting Rod
	6.2 The Fundamental Operations of Arithmetic
		6.2.1 The Fundamental Operations of Integer
		6.2.2 The Fundamental Operations of Common Fraction
	6.3 Calculation of π Approximation
	6.4 Extraction of Root—Solution of Linear Equation
		6.4.1 Extraction of Root in Ancient China
		6.4.2 Zeng Cheng Kai Fang Fa
	6.5 Methods of Solving Equations
		6.5.1 Fang Cheng Method
		6.5.2 Sun Yi Method (Loss and Profit Method)
		6.5.3 Zheng Fu Method (Positive and Negative Rules)
	6.6 Tian Yuan Method and Si Yuan Method
		6.6.1 Tian Yuan Method
		6.6.2 Si Yuan Method
	6.7 Da Yan Method
	6.8 The Algorism and Rod Calculus: Characteristics of Traditional Chinese Mathematics
	References
7 Bronze Metallurgy
	7.1 Copper Mining and Smelting
	7.2 Copper Mining
		7.2.1 Opencast Mining and Underground Mining [3]
		7.2.2 Underground Mine Development [5]
		7.2.3 The Shaft and Drift Supporting [6]
		7.2.4 Underground Mining Methods [7]
		7.2.5 Tools and Appliances for Mining and Loading [8]
		7.2.6 Drainage, Ventilation and Lighting [9]
		7.2.7 Transportation of Ore [10]
		7.2.8 Ore Dressing [11]
	7.3 Copper Smelting
		7.3.1 Early Copper Smelting Technology
		7.3.2 Copper Smelting Technology in the Shang and Zhou Dynasties
		7.3.3 The Adoption of Copper Sulfide Ore in Copper Smelting
	7.4 Bronze Piece-Mold Casting
	7.5 *The Erlitou Culture: Establishment of the Mold Method
	7.6 *Invention and Use of Core Chaplet and Spacer
		7.6.1 *Invention and Use of Core Chaplet
		7.6.2 *Invention of Copper Spacer
	7.7 *Separate Casting and Attaching
		7.7.1 *Invention of Post-Casting
		7.7.2 *Invention of Pre-Casting
	7.8 *Invention and Development of Movable Mold
	7.9 *Welding
	References
8 Pig Iron-Based Steel Smelting Technology
	8.1 Iron Smelting as an Epochal Invention
	8.2 Chinese Ancient Iron Smelting Techniques Based on Pig Iron
		8.2.1 Pig Iron Smelting
		8.2.2 Iron Mold Casting
		8.2.3 Cast Iron Softening
		8.2.4 Decarburization of Cast Iron into Steel
		8.2.5 Iron and Steel Stir-Frying
		8.2.6 Well-Tempered Steel
		8.2.7 Co-Fusion Process of Steel-Making
		8.2.8 Inlaid Steel, Added Steel and Pig Iron Drenching
	8.3 Splendid Iron and Steel Smelting Civilization of China
	8.4 The Causes and Characteristics of the Iron and Steel Smelting Technology in Ancient China
	References
9 Canal and Navigation Lock
	9.1 The Great Canal
	9.2 Excavation of Canals Connecting Adjacent Watersheds
		9.2.1 The Hangou Canal and the Honggou Canal
		9.2.2 The Xuxi Canal and the Pogangdu Canal
		9.2.3 The Lingqu Canal
	9.3 The Formation of a National Canal Network Fitting Natural Conditions
		9.3.1 The Planning and Layout of National Canal Network
		9.3.2 The Replenishment and Improvement of the National Canal Network
		9.3.3 Great Social Value of the Formation of the National Canal Network
	9.4 The Completion of the North–South Great Canal that Could Cross the Mountains and Rivers
		9.4.1 The Feasibility Planning of the Beijing-Hangzhou Great Canal Made by Guo Shoujing
		9.4.2 The Whole North–South Line Joined up of the Beijing-Hangzhou Great Canal
		9.4.3 Treatment of the Beijing-Hangzhou Great Canal
		9.4.4 The Rise and Fall of the Beijing-Hangzhou Great Canal
	9.5 The Development and Innovation of Canal Navigation Lock
	9.6 *Single-Gate Navigation Lock: A Facility for Adjusting the Gradient of Water Surface of Canals
		9.6.1 *The Navigation Locks Technique of the Lingqu Canal
		9.6.2 *The Structure and Development of the Conventional Single-Gate Navigation Locks in Ancient Times
	9.7 *Multi-gate Navigation Lock: A Device for Adjusting the Gradient of Canals and Helping Vessels Pass Through a Navigation Lock Smoothly
		9.7.1 *Achievements of the Multi-gate Navigation Locks Made in the Northern Song Dynasty
		9.7.2 *Reasons for the Decline of Multi-gate Navigation Locks
	9.8 *Navigation Lock with Pond: Multi-gate Navigation Lock with Water-Saving Facilities
		9.8.1 *Technical Achievements Made of the Jingkou Navigation Lock
		9.8.2 *The Archaeological Discovery of the Three Navigation Locks in Chang’an
	References
10 Plows and Seed Ploughs
	10.1 The Emergence and Early Development of Plows
	10.2 The Improvement of Plows
	10.3 The Invention and Improvement of Seed Ploughs
	10.4 The Western Spread of Chinese Plows and Seed Ploughs and Their Influence
	References
11 Water Wheel
	11.1 Up-Shot Vertical Water Wheel
	11.2 Down-Shot Vertical Water Wheel
	11.3 Oblique-Impact Horizontal Water Wheel
	References
12 Traditional Technique of Lacquer
	12.1 The Discovery and Utilization of Lacquer
	12.2 The Invention of Preformed Element Forming and the Use of Varnish
	12.3 Maturity of the Refining Technology of Lacquer and Initial Development of the Technology of Polishing
	12.4 Invention of the Technology of Filling and Inlaying and Excavation of the Potential Performance of Lacquer
	12.5 Development of Civil Lacquer Art and Prevalence of the Foiled Decoration Technology with Lacquer
	12.6 Summary of Chinese Decoration with Lacquer and the Introduction of Japanese Decoration with Lacquer
	12.7 Engraving and Inlaying on the Decoration of Furniture Screens
	12.8 Patting and Applying with Thin Lacquer and Thickly Decoration by Filling
	12.9 New Creation of Contemporary Lacquer Painting: Covering Bright and Polished Painting with Foil Powder
	12.10 Returning to the Green, Returning to Civilian Use: Future Development of the Decoration Technology with Lacquer
	References
13 Papermaking
	13.1 The Origin and Development of Papermaking
		13.1.1 Papermaking in the Wei and Jin and the Southern and Northern Dynasties
		13.1.2 Papermaking in the Sui, Tang, and the Five Dynasties
		13.1.3 Papermaking in the Song and Yuan Dynasties
		13.1.4 Papermaking in the Ming and Qing Dynasties
	13.2 The Spread of the Technology of Papermaking of China
		13.2.1 The Papermaking of China in East, South, and Southeast Asia
		13.2.2 The Papermaking of China in Central Asia, West Asia, and North Africa
		13.2.3 The Papermaking of China in Europe, America, and Oceania
14 Traditional Chinese Medicine Diagnosis and Treatment
	14.1 The Theory of Traditional Chinese Medicine
		14.1.1 The Yin-Yang and the Five Elements Theories
		14.1.2 The Visceral Manifestation Theory
		14.1.3 The Qi-Blood-Body Fluid Theory
		14.1.4 The Main and Collateral Channels Theory
	14.2 Diagnostic Technology of Traditional Chinese Medicine
		14.2.1 Development of the Diagnostic Technology of TCM
		14.2.2 The Content and Method of the Four Ways of Diagnosis
		14.2.3 Syndrome Differentiation
	14.3 Treatment Technology of Traditional Chinese Medicine
		14.3.1 Principle of Treatment
		14.3.2 Method of Treatment
	References
15 Porcelain
	15.1 The Invention of Ceramic Technology
	15.2 Early Pottery Manufacturing
	15.3 The Firing of Various Potteries
	15.4 The Appearance of Proto-Porcelain
	15.5 The Maturity of Porcelain Invention
	15.6 The Development of Porcelain Technology
	References
16 The Technology of Chinese Wooden Structure Architecture
	16.1 The Characteristics of Ancient Chinese Wooden Structure Architecture
		16.1.1 Beam-Frame Structure Type
		16.1.2 Beam Front Characteristics of Frames
		16.1.3 Mortise and Tenon Joint Structure
		16.1.4 The Era Characteristics of Dovetail in Beam-Lifting Frame
		16.1.5 Construction Method of the Lifting Beam-Frame Bracket Set
	16.2 The Originality Achievements of Ancient Chinese Wooden Architecture
		16.2.1 Establishment of a Modular System of Wooden Structure
		16.2.2 Specification of Types of Buildings
		16.2.3 The Proposed Scientific Proportion of the Stressed Member-Beam Section
		16.2.4 Creation of a Structural System with Superior Seismic Performance
		16.2.5 Proposal of Some New Technologies in Material Processing
		16.2.6 Colored Painting Techniques for Protecting Against the Rise of the Times
	16.3 Conclusion
	References
17 Chinese Cooking
	17.1 The History of Chinese Cooking
		17.1.1 Pre-historic Age (about 4000 years Ago)
		17.1.2 The Xia, Shang, Zhou Dynasty (2100 B.C.–221 B.C.)
		17.1.3 The Qin, Han, Wei, Jin, Northern and Southern Dynasty (221 B.C.–589 A.D.)
		17.1.4 The Sui, Tang, and Song Dynasty (581 A.D.–1279 A.D.)
		17.1.5 The Yuan, Ming, and Qing Dynasty (1271 A.D.–1911 A.D.)
	17.2 The Dietary Structure Featuring Vegetables and Fruits, with Meat as the Subsidiary Food
	17.3 A Strict Selection of Ingredients and Sophisticated Cutting Skills
		17.3.1 The Selection of Ingredients
		17.3.2 Cutting Skills
	17.4 Stir-Fry: The Unique Chinese Cooking Method
	17.5 Seasoning: The Key to Successful Cooking
	17.6 “Xian” Flavor and Extracting This Flavor from Soup
	17.7 Tofu
	17.8 Medicinal Dishes
	17.9 Vegetarian Diet
	17.10 Conclusion
	References
18 Carriage Hitching Technique and Stirrup
	18.1 The Carriage Hitching Technique
		18.1.1 The Early Western Neckband Driving Method
		18.1.2 The Early Chinese Yoke Driving Method
		18.1.3 The Chest Belt Driving Method
		18.1.4 The Saddle (or Neck Strap) Driving Method
		18.1.5 Significance of Improving the Driving Methods
	18.2 Horse Stirrup
		18.2.1 A Brief Introduction to Horse Stirrup
		18.2.2 The Origin of the Horse Stirrup
		18.2.3 Dissemination of the Horse Stirrup
		18.2.4 The Meaning of the Horse Stirrup
	References
19 Printing
	19.1 Block Printing
		19.1.1 The Invention and Popularization of Block Printing (from About 636 in the Tang Dynasty to 960 in the Five Dynasties)
		19.1.2 The Heyday of the Block Printing (the Song Dynasty, 960–1279)
		19.1.3 Printing in the Yuan Dynasty (1271–1368)
		19.1.4 Printing in the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644)
		19.1.5 Printing in the Qing Dynasty (1644–1911)
	19.2 Wax Printing, Tin Casting Board, and Clay Plate
	19.3 Movable Printing
		19.3.1 Clay Movable Printing
		19.3.2 The Wood Movable Printing
		19.3.3 The Copper Movable Printing
		19.3.4 The Tin Movable Printing
20 Tea Planting and Making
	20.1 China—Hometown of Tea
	20.2 The Development of Tea Drinking
	20.3 Evolution of Tea Processing
	20.4 International Communication of Tea and the Tea-Making Technology
	References
21 The Invention and Use of Celestial Equatorial Measurements
	21.1 The Origin of the Circular Sphere and Equatorial Astrometric Measuring Instrument in China
	21.2 The Invention of Armillary Sphere
	21.3 The Invention of Abridged Armillary
	21.4 The Promotion of the Development of Ancient Chinese Astronomy by the Equatorial Astrometry Instrument
	References
22 Bulkhead
	22.1 The Invention of Watertight Bulkhead
	22.2 Improvement and Wide Application of the Watertight Bulkhead Technology
	22.3 The Spread and Modern Development of the Watertight Bulkhead Technology
	References
23 Gunpowder
	23.1 Alchemist and Gunpowder
	23.2 Invention of Gunpowder for Military Usage and Its Improvement
	23.3 The Gunpowder Technology Spread to the West
	References
24 Compass
	24.1 South-Controlling Spoon
	24.2 South-Pointing Needle Compass
	24.3 Geomantic Compass and Navigation
	References
25 The Technology of Ultra Deep Drilling
	25.1 The Early Drilling Technology for Digging Large-Diameter Shallow Wells
	25.2 The Bamboo Salt Well Drilling or the Small-Diameter Deep Well Drilling
	25.3 The Spread of Deep Well Drilling Technology to the West
	References
26 Intensive Cultivation and Eco-Agriculture
	26.1 Reasonable Utilization and Improvement of Farmlands
		26.1.1 Reasonable Utilization of Land
		26.1.2 Soil Improvement
	26.2 Crop Rotation and Multiple Cropping
	26.3 Ways for Land Cultivation and Command of Agricultural Timing
	26.4 Selection and Breeding of Seeds
	26.5 Reasonable Use of Manures
		26.5.1 Improving the Productivity of Land and Fertilizing Soil
		26.5.2 Turning the Waste into Valuable Resources to Improve the Yield
	26.6 Crop Protection and Pest Control
	References
27 Traditional Chinese Calculation Method with Abacus
	27.1 The Origin of Abacus Calculation and the Invention of Abacus
	27.2 Popularization and Development of Abacus
	27.3 The International Communication and Influence of Abacus
	References
28 Ferment of Distiller’s Yeast
29 Fire Arrow and Projection Firearm
	29.1 Fire Arrows
	29.2 Explosive Firearms
	29.3 Tubular Firearms
	29.4 The Western Transmission of Tubular Firearms and Fire Arrows
	References
30 Variolation of Traditional Chinese Medicine Diagnosis and Treatment
	30.1 The Cognition of Smallpox in Ancient China
	30.2 The Invention of Variolation
	30.3 Methods of Variolation
	30.4 The Spread of Variolation Abroad
	References
31 Artemisinin (Qing Hao Su)
	31.1 History of Malaria and Humans Against Malaria
	31.2 Artemisia and Its Antimalarial Records in the Classics of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)
	31.3 Discovery of Artemisinin
		31.3.1 “523” Project
		31.3.2 Discovery of Antimalaria Effect of Artesunate Ether Extract
		31.3.3 Extraction of Artemisinin
		31.3.4 Measurement of Artemisinin Chemical Structure
		31.3.5 Synthesis of Artemisinin Derivatives
		31.3.6 Pharmacological Research on Artemisinin
	References
32 Hybrid Rice
	32.1 Introduction
	32.2 Research and Development of the “Three-Line” Hybrid Rice
	32.3 Research and Development of the “Two-Line” Hybrid Rice
	32.4 Research and Development of the Super Hybrid Rice
	32.5 Hybrid Rice’s Going Global