Pre-Qing dynasty China was a major source of innovations btw. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Chinese_inventions http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Chin

Pre-Qing dynasty China was a major source of innovations btw. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Chinese_inventions http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Chinese_inventions It's interesting to note that almost all the inventions came before the Qing dynasty. Qing's Qianlong Emperor (1711-1799) is considered a "Confucian fundamentalist", who paved the way for the subsequent isolationist policies. Confucianism is just one school of philosophy among many in China btw. Its influence tends to fluctuate from period to period. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vinegar_tasters http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vinegar_tasters