Describes each of the thirty inventions in detail, from its background to its development in history Written by leading experts in the field Is based on rigorous scientific research and investigations but written in an easy-to-understand style

Autorentext

**Hua Jueming **was born in 1933. His hometown is Wuxi, Jiangsu. In 1958, he graduated from Tsinghua University majored in Mechanical Engineering. In 1967, he went to graduate school in studied under Mr. Wang Zhenduo in History of Mining in The Institute for the History of Natural Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences. He had successively held the posts of Research Associate and Vice Director of The Institute for the History of Natural Sciences, Director of The Institute for History of Science and Technology & Ancient Texts in Tsinghua University, Member of the committee of the science and technology of cultural artifacts of the State Administration of Cultural Heritage, President of The Society of Chinese Traditional Handicraft, Member of the committee for Intangible Cultural Heritage of the Ministry of Culture. He also holds concurrent professor posts in Tsinghua University, University of Science and Technology of China, Beijing University of Aeronautics andAstronautics, and Tongji University. His research areas include the history of technology, the philosophy of technology, traditional handicraft. He has  published 130 papers and 14 monographs. His representative publications include: The History and Study of Metallurgy and Foundry, Metallurgy in Ancient China, Chinese Handicrafts, Selected Essays of Hua Jueming, Thirty Great Inventions of China. His publications have been honored with the National Distinguished Publication Award. He was awarded the first class honor of Science and Technological Achievements Awards bestowed by the Ministry of Culture. He has also been honored with the Life Achievement Award by the China Foundry Association. 

Feng Lisheng** **was born in Wuhai City, Inner Mongolia in 1962. By 1983 he graduated from the Inner Mongolia Polytechnic Institute and got a Bachelor's degree. By 1987 he graduated from Institute of science history of Inner Mongolianormal university and obtained Master of Science. By 1999 he graduated from the department of mathematics of Northwest University and received PhD degree of science. He was a professor at Inner Mongolia Normal University. Now he is the director of the science and technology history and ancient literature research institute of Tsinghua University and adjunct professor and doctoral supervisor of the science and technology history institute at Inner Mongolia Normal University. He is visiting scholar and guest professor at Dongbei University, Tokyo University and Central University successively. He was elected in New Century Talent Supporting Project by education ministry in 2004. And he is also the member of the national committee on the protection of intangible cultural heritage, executive director of China science and technology history society, president of China traditional technology research institute, vice President of the national institute of mathematics history. Research Interests: mathematical history, history of technique, literature of science and technology, technology and cultural heritage protection. Important publications include Ancient Chinese Surveying History, A History of Mathematical Relations between China and Japan. Awards: first prize of research achievements of Inner Mongolia Normal University, Qualitative Report Domain People Pass on the Co-editor won first prize of national excellent ancient books, codified *Colored Encyclopedia of Science and Technology *won second prize of national science and technology progress in 2009, prepared History of science and Technology in China -Math volume won the fourth Guo Moruo history prize first prize.

Inhalt

Introduction of the Great Inventions of China.- Millet Agriculture.- Rice Farming.- Sericulture and Silk Production.- Chinese Characters.- Algorism and Rod Calculus.- Bronze Metallurgy.- Pig Iron Metallurgy.- Canal and Navigation Lock.- Plough, Grain Sowing Implement.- Waterwheel.- Traditional Technique of Lacquer.- Papermaking.- Traditional Chinese Medicine Diagnosis and Treatment .- Porcelain.- The Technique of Chinese Wooden Structure Architecture.- Chinese Cooking.- Carriage Hitching Technique and Stirrup.- Printing.-Tea Planting and Making.- The Invention and Use of Celestial Equatorial Measurements.- Bulkhead.- Gunpowder.- Compass.- The Technique of Ultra Deep Drilling.- Cultivation and Eco-agriculture.- Traditional Chinese Calculation Method with Abacus.- Ferment of Distiller's Yeast.- Fire Arrow and Projection Firearm (Huo chong).- Variolation of Traditional Chinese Medicine Diagnosis and Treatment.- Artemisinin (Qing hao su).- Hybrid Rice.- Introduction to Authors and Team Members.- Invention and Civilization (Afterword).