Most often heard explanation is that China had too much cheap labour to be interested in developing labour saving technologies. Fine crafts for the ruling class

Most often heard explanation is that China had too much cheap labour to be interested in developing labour saving technologies. Fine crafts for the ruling class were quite innovative, but everything else could be done cheaper by employing people. There is a good comment that summarizes this point on http://www.economist.com/members/persona.cfm?econUId=2970938 http://www.economist.com/members/persona.cfm?econUId=2970938 (economist.com does not allow linking to individual comments).