Infinitely CRAZY: Thursday Thirteen

Wednesday, December 12, 2007

Thursday Thirteen - Yet More China Facts

In 550 AD, two Chinese monks smuggled silkworms out of China and started the western world's silk boom.

Shi Huang-Ti was the first emperor of China and founder of the Qin dynasty. Had he been a European ruler, he would likely be considered great today. The Chinese, on the other hand, have given him a black reputation for his ruthlessness, his massive conscription of labour, his wars, his harsh laws, and his burning of books in 213 B.C. [ China | Royalty ]

Chinese Emperor Shi Huang-Ti built a network of 270 palaces, linked by tunnels, and was ao afraid of assassination that he slept in a different palace each night.

In 213 B.C., the Chinese emperor Shi Huang-ti ordered the burning of all of China's books, except for a select few on subjects such as agriculture and medicine. He ordered the burning because people used several of those writings to criticise the emperor, and also because Shi Huang-Ti styled himself as the "First Emperor". Vast numbers of valuable works were lost and it was only through the efforts of a few brave teachers and scholars that any of the earlier literature of China survived. It was nearly 150 years before it was safe to bring the surviving books from their hiding place. [ China | Royalty ]

The Ch'in Dynasty (221-207 B.C.) buried alive many scholars in its programme to suppress learning and Confucianism.

A terracotta army of six thousand men and horses was buried with Shi Huang-Ti, China's first emperor, at Xianyang.

The purpose of the Great Wall of China, the monumental fortification separating China from Mongolia, was not especially to keep out the Huns from the north. The Huns could easily find places along the stretch that they could scale with ladders. But they couldn't get their horses across. Without their horses, they weren't very effective warriors.

The Chinese physician Hua T'o, born sometime between 140 and 150 A.D., was the first doctor known to perform surgery under general anaesthetic. The potion used to render his patients unconscious was a mixture of hemp and strong wine called ma fei san. Prior to the communist revolution, a national holiday commemorated his birth. [ China | Medicine ]

The Sui, who ruled China briefly around 600 A.D., devoted much of their reign to constructing the Grand Canal, a waterway 100 feet wide, lined with roads and trees, and stretching for 1,000 miles. The canal was completed in less than 25 years, at a terrible cost in human life. Almost 5.5 million people were involved in the construction, and it has been estimated that 2.5 million died due to the harshness of the working conditions. The canal, extending from Peking to Hangchow, is as navigable today as when it was built almost 1,400 years ago.

Fingerprinting was used in China as early as 700 A.D.

Liu Ch'ing, who became the governor of China's Shansi province in 955 A.D., was born with two pupils in each eye.

The brightest astronomical event in historic times was the supernova of 1054, which produced the Crab Nebula. The supernova was far brighter than Venus. It was bright enough to be visible in daylight and to cast a shadow at night. We know of it through the astronomical records of China, Japan, and the Middle East.

In Kublai Khan's China, anyone who had crops struck by lightning was excused taxes for three years. This was not selfless charity, as the Chinese believed that lightning was a sign of God's disapproval. So, if the Khan had accepted money from someone who had incurred God's wrath, he could have brought ill fortune upon himself.

posted by The Crazy King of Clowns @ 4:18 AM

12 Comments:

Sue said…

These are all very interesting. I would love to learn more, and possibly travel there one day. Happy TT :)
pussreboots said…

Fascinating as always. Happy TT.
Samantha_K said…

I am fascinated by Eastern culture. Love this list! Happy TT!
Sandee (Comedy +) said…

Your information on the Grand Canal stopped me in my tracks. I can't imagine 2.5 million workers dying building a canal. That really is harsh conditions. Great post. Have a wonderful TT. :)
ellen b. said…

Very interesting. I love the mini history/fact lessons we get with these weekly tt's...
SJ Reidhead said…

That list took some work. Good job.

The Pink Flamingo
http://thepinkflamingo.blogharbor.com/blog/_archives/2007/12/12/3406557.html
Nicholas said…

Very interesting. The history of China is such a long, fascinating story. It's a shame we don't study it at all in the west.
damozel said…

This was definitely one of my favorite T13's of the day. That's fascinating, and though I love China in a vague fashion (so beautiful), I didn't know most of this. I do love that terra cotta army though!The Flatland Almanack --Damozel
The Mocha Mom said…

Very interesting list, my tt is finally up too.
Mommychicky said…

You mean the Great Wall wasn't built for America's Next Top Model fashion shoots? Just kidding. Cool list.

Check me out if you get a chance. Happy TT!
Holly said…

Hemp and strong wine for anesthesia?

Thanks!

Happy TT-13!

Smiles,

Holly
http://theabundanceplace.com
Denise Patrick said…

Great information. I think I'd read that about the Great Wall. Wonderful TT!

Wednesday, December 12, 2007

Thursday Thirteen - Yet More China Facts

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