My Favorite Chinese Inventions 2 December 2010, Cervera de los Montes A4 (29,7 x 21,0 cm) Felt-tip pen and ballpoint pen on paper i China has been the source of many significant inventions, including the Four Great Inventions of ancient China: paper making, the compass, gunpowder, and printing. This list contains military related inventions. Tags: China, list 396 / 779