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Technology during the Tang period was built also upon the precedents of the past. The mechanical gear systems of Zhang Heng (78–139) and Ma Jun (fl. 3rd century) gave the Tang engineer, astronomer, and monk Yi Xing (683–727) inspiration when he invented the world's first clockwork escapement mechanism in 725. [22]
During the Tang dynasty, folding screens were considered ideal ornaments for many painters to display their paintings and calligraphy on. [227] [228] Many artists painted on paper or silk and applied it onto the folding screen. [227] The landscape paintings on folding screens reached its height during the Song dynasty (960–1279). [226]
The invention and use of paper brought about a revolution in writing materials. [12] [better source needed] By the 6th century in China, sheets of paper were beginning to be used for toilet paper as well. [13] During the Tang dynasty (618–907) paper was folded and sewn into square bags to preserve the flavor of tea. [9]
Earliest known written formula for gunpowder, from the Wujing Zongyao of 1044 AD.. Gunpowder is the first explosive to have been developed. Popularly listed as one of the "Four Great Inventions" of China, it was invented during the late Tang dynasty (9th century) while the earliest recorded chemical formula for gunpowder dates to the Song dynasty (11th century).
There were many other mechanical inventions during the Tang era. These included a 0.9 m (2 ft 11 in) tall mechanical wine server created during the early 8th century in the shape of an artificial mountain, carved out of iron and rested on a lacquered-wooden tortoise frame.
The Tang dynasty (AD 618–907) and Song dynasty (AD 960–1279) in particular were periods of great innovation. [citation needed] In the 7th century, book-printing was developed in China, Korea and Japan, using delicate hand-carved wooden blocks to print individual pages.
7th century: Banknote in Tang dynasty China: The banknote is first developed in China during the Tang and Song dynasties, starting in the 7th century. Its roots are in merchant receipts of deposit during the Tang dynasty (618–907), as merchants and wholesalers desire to avoid the heavy bulk of copper coinage in large commercial transactions ...
A fragment of a dharani print in Sanskrit and Chinese, c. 650–670, Tang dynasty The Great Dharani Sutra, one of the world's oldest surviving woodblock prints, c. 704-751 The intricate frontispiece of the Diamond Sutra from Tang-dynasty China, 868 AD (British Museum), the earliest extant printed text bearing a date of printing Colophon to the Diamond Sutra dating the year of printing to 868