The Four Great Inventions（1）

四大发明（1）

During the Song Dynasty, the Chinese people further developed the making of the compass, paper, gunpowder, and the art of printing.

宋朝时期，中国人进一步发展了指南针、造纸术、火药和印刷术。

Together, they are called the four great inventions that China contributed to the world.

这些被 称为“四大发明”，是中国对世界作出的贡献。

As early as the Warring States period the magnetic force of magnetite was discovered, and a sort of instrument was made of magnetite to show directions.

早在战国时期，人们就发现了磁力，并用磁石制造了一种仪器，用它来辨别方向。

This was certainly the earliest compass in the world.

这无疑是世界上最早的指南针。

During the Han Dynasty, people made a spoon-like compass.

汉朝时期，人们制造了一种形如勺子的指南针。

A small spoon, made of magnetite, with a very smooth bottom, was placed on a square copper plate.

这是一个磁石制的勺子，勺子底很平滑，置于一个四方形的铜盘上。

The center of the plate was ground smooth to make it easy for the spoon to move.

盘子中心很光滑，因此勺子可以很容易地转动。

When the spoon, after it was turned, came to a stop, its handle would point to the south.

勺子停止转动后，勺柄所指的方向就是南方。

This form of compass was further improved during the Song Dynasty.

这种指南针在宋朝时期得到了改进。

People made iron needles and rubbed them on a piece of magnetite, so that they would become magnetic.

人们制造了铁针，把这些铁针在一块磁石上摩擦，使它们具有磁性。

Then one such needle was hung with a thin thread, or put on something light that floated on the water in a bowl.

然后将它们用一根细线吊起来，或是将它们置于一些 可以漂浮在一碗水上的轻物体。

The latter was the compass that was first used in navigation.

后来这种用法首先在航海中使用。

China was the first country in the world to use the compass on sea-going ships.

中国是第一个在海船上使用指南针的国家，

Historical records show that in 1099 -1102 the compass was used on ships sailing to or from Guangzhou.

据历史记载，在1099年到1102 年的几年间，中国人就在来往于广州的海船上使用了指南针。