The four great inventions of ancient China refer to the compass, papermaking, printing, and gunpowder.

The compass is the earliest navigational tool that指南针 was invented in ancient China. Papermaking 造纸术 allowed for the mass production of paper and made book printing possible. Printing 印刷术 made it easier to print and distribute books, and gunpowder 火药 was used for both military and civilian purposes. These inventions date back to ancient China and represent the excellent achievements in wisdom and civilization of the Chinese nation.