What is Four Great Inventions?
{{Infobox Chinese |title = Four Great Inventions |pic = Making Paper.gif |piccap = Five major steps for making [[paper]], outlined by [[Cai Lun]] in AD 105 |picsize=200px |t=四大發明 |s=四大发明 |l=four great inventions |p=sì dà fā míng }} The '''Four Great Inventions''' are the four most important [[invention]]s in the [[history of China]]. They are celebrated in Chinese culture for their historical importance. They are seen as symbols of China's advanced [[science]] and [[technology]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.china.org.cn/e-gudai/8.htm|title=The Four Great Inventions|publisher=China.org.cn|accessdate=2007-11-11}}</ref> The Four Great Inventions are: * The [[compass]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chinaculture.org/gb/en_aboutchina/2003-09/24/content_26519.htm|title=Four Great Inventions of Ancient China: Compass|publisher=ChinaCulture.org|accessdate=2007-11-11|archive-date=2007-04-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070409061805/http://www.chinaculture.org/gb/en_aboutchina/2003-09/24/content_26519.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> * [[Gunpowder]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.chinaculture.org/gb/en_aboutchina/2003-09/24/content_26504.htm |title=Four Great Inventions of Ancient China: Gunpowder |work=ChinaCulture.org |accessdate=2007-11-11 |archive-date=2007-08-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070828042215/http://www.chinaculture.org/gb/en_aboutchina/2003-09/24/content_26504.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> * [[Paper]]making,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.chinaculture.org/gb/en_aboutchina/2003-09/24/content_26514.htm |title=Four Great Inventions of Ancient China: Paper |work=ChinaCulture.org |accessdate=2007-11-11 |archive-date=2007-10-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071018032458/http://www.chinaculture.org/gb/en_aboutchina/2003-09/24/content_26514.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> * [[Printing]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.chinaculture.org/gb/en_aboutchina/2003-09/24/content_26509.htm |title=Four Great Inventions of Ancient China: Printing |