LESSON 3

CHINESE TECHNOL-
OGY, SCIENCE AND
MEDICINE
 LEARNING OBJEC-
TIVES
• To learn about the con-
tributions of China in the
field of science and tech-
nology
• To examine few items
invented in China
KEY WORDS
PRINTING
MOVABLE TYPES
MULBERRY TREE
PAPER MAKING
SILK
CHINESE INVENTIONS
01
PAPER MAKING
02
BLOCK PRINTING
03
MOVEABLE TYPE
04 CERAMICS
05
SILK REELING MACHINE
 JOSEPH NEEDHAM
“Knowledge should be developed within a context
of universal cosmic meaning, not simply for the
purpose of domination and power over Nature”.

An English biochemist, embryologist and a historian of science

who wrote and edited the landmark history, Science and Civilisa-
tion in China, a comprehensive study of Chinese scientific devel-
 Paper Making
 Paper-making, one of the Four Great Inventions of
China, was invented in the Western Han Dynasty and
improved in the Eastern Han Dynasty
 The invention of paper is a symbol of advanced science
and technology in ancient China.
 A sheet of paper was made from mulberry tree and other
coarse fibers as well as fishing nets and old rags
 Paved way for printing technology
 Paper making in ancient China went
through three steps
01 02 03

Selection
PAPER
Add Contents Title
Cooking, Separating
and stirring and and drying
separation
of raw
pounding
boiled
the paper
fibers in a
MAKING
materials fibers mould PROCESS

Add Contents Title

 WOOD BLOCK PRINTING

 Woodblock printing existed in Tang China by the

7th century AD
 Enabled widespread publishing of a variety of
texts and the dissemination of knowledge and
literacy.
 used for printing books on agriculture and medi-
cine, as well as for printing calendars and calli-
graphy.
 The Process of Wood Block Printing
Text to be printed was first written on a
sheet of paper. The paper was then glued
face-
down to the wood block and using a
knife,
the characters on the paper were care-
fully
engraved on the wood. The surface of
wood block was then inked and covered
with a
 MOVEABLE TYPES

 Moveable-type printing was invented between

1041 and 1048
 It was invented by Bi Sheng, a common man who
was highly experienced in woodblock printing
 Further this invention played a significant role in
history
 The Process of Moveable Type Printing
They made clay type for each linguistic character, then had them
fired for hardness. A layer of resin, wax, and paper ash mixture was
placed on the bottom of an open iron box to hold the type with characters
facing up. The bottom of the box was heated to melt the wax mixture,
and simultaneously all the typeface was pressed down with a wood board
to ensure that the types were levelled.
Finally the top of the clay types were inked, and the mechanism
would then be ready for printing just like a wood block. Afterward the
clay types could be disassembled and reused. The moveable-type
printing process substantially reduced the time for printing from several
days to a matter of hours

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGoNIomsQIM
 OTHER MAJOR INVENTIONS

 MAKING OF CERAMICS:- objects made of clay

and hardened by heat: earthenware, stoneware, and
porcelain, particularly those made in China.

 SILK REELING MACHINE:- machinery in weav-

ing silk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zgWVJGRsC90
REVIEW THE CONCEPTS