The term "four new inventions" harks back to the "four great inventions" of ancient China - papermaking, gunpowder, printing and the compass. China has been putting strong emphasis on ...

The invention of the compass promoted maritime undertakings, and its use soon spread to the Arab world, and thence to Europe. China's four great ancient inventions made tremendous contributions to ...

Often, the Big Dipper (Great Bear) was drawn within the center ... There is a story that the first Chin emperor used the divining board and compass in court to affirm his right to the throne.