THE CHINESE CIVILIZATION |) 7) @ooo BC) Writing is a form of technology that is a means to communicate with one another; it is a tool With a history of nearly 5,000 years, Chinese characters, or Hanzi, are among the oldest written languages in the world, Today, almost one-fourth of the world's population continues to utilize Chinese characters. AS an art form, Chinese calligraphy continues to be an essential component of Chinese culture. HUI) Z 6) (8 @efore 1500 BCE) During China's Bronze Age, the Shang dynasty was in power, bronze casting was arguably the most significant technological advancement. Several bronze objects that were being cast in China began getting produced before 1500 BCE. Clay molds were used by the Shang to cast bronze items, which were subsequently filled with molten metal after the clay had been decorated with a design. The Bronze is used to create military weapons such as spearheads and swords—and these helped them have an advantage in every battle. Even until now, the bronze casting is used as an element of modern furniture and architectural designs. This is ‘one example of how the early Chinese's intelligence and creativity are still present in Chinese culture today. ss HI) | LYE" oo - 200 BC) It was made during Han Dynasty between 300 and 200 BC. It was called as “south-governor” or “south pointing fish”. Compasses were made not for navigation but for divination and fortune- telling purpose by the Chinese. The use of compass was also important for feng shui—the art of establishing harmony in a room. There were 2 types of compasses, the wet compass which has more refined needle and can float in water; and dry compass which placed upon a pointed shaft or silk thread. Both of them were used fornavigational purposes and naval orienteering. eat a HANICAL CLOCK.) The world’s first mechanical clock went by the name of the ‘Waterdriven Spherical Birds’-Eye- lew Map of the Heavens’. Invented by Yi Xing, a Buddhist mathematician and monk, in 725 AD, it was developed as an astronomical instrument that incidentally also worked as a clock. However, it was water-powered - a stream of falling water drove a wheel through a full revolution in twenty-four hours. The internal mechanism was made of gold and bronze, and contained a network of wheels, hooks, pins, shafts, locks and rods. A bell chimed automatically on the hour, while a drumbeat marked each quarter-hour. CTA a ecasoaps During the Tang Dynasty (around 850 A.D.), the ancient alchemists in China accidentally invented gunpowder, which was supposed to be an elixir of life. They combined 75 parts saltpeter, 15 parts charcoal, and then 10 parts sulfur until it exploded when exposed to an open flame. The military during the Song Dynasty (as early as 904 A.D.) utilized it against the Mongols using "an arrow fixed with a tube of gunpowder that ignited and would hurl itself across enemy lines.” In 1076, they ‘even banned ithe selling of saltpeter to foreigners. Despite their best efforts, information about the ‘gunpowder was transported over the Silk Road to Europe, the Middle East, and also India. In 1280, their formula was published in the west. Their secret was out. ne of China's four great inventions was gunpowder. What was supposed to be an elixir of life ended up being used in battle and as weapons.REFERENCES eal Introduction to Chinese Characters | Year of China. Brown University. (n.d.). Retrieved February 8, 2023, from https:/itinyurl.com/mtvfna7y CSU ae se A McLean, J. (n.d.). Advancements Under the Shang | World Civilization. https://courses.lumenlearning.com/suny-hcce-worldcivilization!chapterladvancements- | under-the-shangl Chinese bronzes - The Zhou dynasty (1046-256 BCE). (2009, July 30). Encyclopedia Britannica, https:!/www.britannica.comlartiChinese-bronzesiThe-Zhou-dynasty-1046-256-bee =. (nd). The Art of Chinese Bronze. _http:/ien.chinaculture.org/2014- 12/02/content_579449,htm_ ———<——— — CRO WSS The history of the Compass, Dalvey. (n.d.). Retrieved February 9, 2023, from https:/www.dalvey.com/blog/the-history-of-the-compass SAT Mee WE (BIEN McNamara, A. (2018) China: amazing inventions from the Far East https:/www.sciencefocus.com/future-technology/made-in-ancient- china-amazing-inventions-from-the-far-east/ as https:/ieditions.covecollective.orgichronologiesidiscovery- gunpowder#:~:text=Gunpowder%20was%20initially%20used%20by,and%20deadly% || 20history%200f%620gunpowder. Gunpowder. Szczepanski, K. (2019). The Invention of Gunpowder: A History. https:/www.thoughtco.comlinvention-of-gunpowder- 195160#: xt=Chinese%20AIchemists%20Tinker%20With%20Saltpeter%20and%20 Make%20Gunpowder&text=During%20the%20Tang%20Dynasty%2C%20around,char coal%20and%2010%20parts%20sulfur.