The Chinese have made a great contribution to the development of science and technology through the invention of such useful products as gunpowder, paper, the compass and printing, which are now known all over the world. Their achievements in the fields of astronomy, biology, medical science and geography are equally outstanding. Many Chinese discoveries were handed down from generation to generation and found their way to foreign countries. Since most of this happened thousands of years ago, however, people today have only a sketchy notion of the achievements of their ancestors, most of it gleaned from old books.

To give people a clearer impression of the technological achievements of ancient China, the National Science Hall has spent 2.5 years in preparing an exhibition, which opened March 15, based on Chinese scientific achievements. The exhibition includes original objects, and specimens together with models and charts prepared from historical documents.

Of the 30 or so objects on display, the "south-pointing chariot," which correctly shows the directions of the compass through a complex series of cogwheels, is the earliest and one of the most important inventions in Chinese history. It was said that the chariot was invented by the legendary emperor Hsuan Yuan and was used in a war with Chih Yu, chieftain of a rival tribe. The emperor made use of the "south pointing chariot" to find the right direction through a fog-shrouded battlefield and achieve victory.

The compass is another ancient Chinese invention, which shows the directions through the use of magnetic rock. The date of its invention is not certain, but it was believed to have been used for maritime navigation during the last years of the northern Sung dynasty (960-1126 A.D.). At that time, merchants ships plying the South China Sea took the new invention to the Arabs, who in turn passed it on to European countries. It was with the use of the compass that the New World was eventually discovered.

Paper is another Chinese invention displayed at the hall. In 105 A.D. when the Europeans were still writing on parchment, Tsai Lun of the eastern Han dynasty first made a kind of paper out of bark and rags. After papermaking skills were passed on to Europe during the 12th century, the first European paper mill was established in Spain in 1150. The hall put on a display of paper making through the ages, which included a working model, powered by electricity, of a paper mill of the Ming dynasty, which included such processes as cutting and washing bamboo, and drying the paper sheets on fire-heated walls.

Of all the exhibits, two strange-looking furnaces attracted the most visitors. These were the so-called alchemy furnaces of ancient China, which were used in the search for the elusive elixir of life. Although these furnaces failed to produce the desired results, and even led to the death of a few people, they were the forerunners of modern chemistry.

As early as 221 B.C., Chin Shih Huang (the first emperor of China) who unified China under the Chin Dynasty, sent out Taoist priests to look for herbs which would make him immortal. At that time it was also widely believed that refined concentrates of certain substances such as mercury, sulfur, lead, gold and arsenic, could perform the function.

In the early years of the eastern Tsin dynasty, (317-420 A.D.), alchemist Ko Hung wrote in his book Pao Pu Tzu that "Tan sha (cinnabar) can be turned into mercury, and back into cinnabar." What he was describing was the world's first observed chemical reaction. The skills of alchemy spread from China to Islamic countries in the Tang (618-907 A.D.) and Sung (960-1276 A.D.) dynasties, and thence on to Europe.

Some 1600 years ago, as an alchemist was once again trying to find the secret of immortality, the furnace he was working with suddenly exploded, and he was seriously burned. But the accident eventually led to another Chinese invention － gunpowder. This new substance was used on the battlefield for the first time during the Sung dynasty. In the reign of Emperor Jen (1023-1063 A.D.), of the northern Sung, the Wu Ching Tsung Yao (collection of the most important military techniques) carried articles on various firearms, including incendiary and toxic smoke bombs. The book also recorded formulas for making gunpowder and how to use it.

Since China has traditionally had an agriculture-based economy, the Chinese have been at the forefront of inventions for use on the land.

The emphasis on farming led to an interest in the development of astronomy and the calendar. Emperor Yao (a legendary scholar ruler who reigned from 2357 to 2255 B.C.) ordered astronomers to study the times when the sun rose, and the length of its shadows. This led to the calculation that there are 365 1/4 days in a year, which is further divided into four seasons. The first calendar system calculated the year according to the sun and the months according to the moon. The further idea of setting the seasons according to the movement of the stars created a harmonious whole which is still observed in China today.

The water clock is another Chinese invention which predates mechanical clocks, and works on the principle of water flowing from one container to another. During the Sung dynasty, Yen Su, who worked at the ministry of rites and education, designed his famous lotus water clock, which took its name from a decoration shaped like a lotus on the finger which pointed to the time.

Items exhibited at the National Science Hall only represent a small portion of the scientific and technological inventions of ancient China. Staff at the hall plan to invite specialists to study the production of more models, charts, and specimens based on Chinese scientific methods. Items on view at the current exhibition have surprised and delighted visitors, and enlightened them on the inventiveness of the Chinese in the past. Many people have been made aware for the first time that China was a leading country in the development of world science. Today, people in Taiwan are actively engaged in the development of science and technology to match the achievements of their illustrious ancestors.

[Picture Caption]

1. Paper, one of the four most important inventions of ancient China, was discovered 900 years before it was introduced to Europe. 2. "South-pointing chariot" shows directions through the rotation of cogwheels. It is said to have been invented by the legendary emperor Hsuan Yuan. 3. Although it failed to produce an antidote for mortality, alchemy was a forerunner of modern chemistry and led to the Chinese invention of gunpowder. Picture shows the furnaces used by alchemists in ancient times.

1. Before the invention of mechanical clocks and watches, the water clock was the most accurate apparatus for telling the time. Usually a third container was placed between the main ones to control the rate of water flow. Of all the water clocks, the lotus water clock of the Sung Dynasty was the most famous. 2. Water wheels such as this were used by Chinese people for thousands of years. As the wheel turns, the bamboo tubes pick up water and discharge it into a trough. 3. Meteorology was highly developed in ancient China. Many kinds of rain-measuring instruments, such as this were invented during the Sung Dynasty. 4. "Sui heng sui nieh" (water balance) of the Sung Dynasty was used for measuring horizontal and vertical angles, in a similar way as the modern theodolite.

"South-pointing chariot" shows directions through the rotation of cogwheels. It is said to have been invented by the legendary emperor Hsuan Yuan.

Although it failed to produce an antidote for mortality, alchemy was a forerunner of modern chemistry and led to the Chinese invention of gunpowder. Picture shows the furnaces used by alchemists in ancient times.

Before the invention of mechanical clocks and watches, the water clock was the most accurate apparatus for telling the time. Usually a third container was placed between the main ones to control the rate of water flow. Of all the water clocks, the lotus water clock of the Sung Dynasty was the most famous.

Meteorology was highly developed in ancient China. Many kinds of rain-measuring instruments, such as this were invented during the Sung Dynasty.

Water wheels such as this were used by Chinese people for thousands of years. As the wheel turns, the bamboo tubes pick up water and discharge it into a trough.

Sui heng sui nieh" （water balance） of the Sung Dynasty was used for measuring horizontal and vertical angles, in a similar way as the modern theodolite.