Do We Need to Redefine the Top Four Inventions

China's traditional top four inventions have taken on a new look. An exhibition recently held in Beijing showed that the ancient compass, papermaking, printing and gunpowder no longer hold pride of place. While papermaking and printing remain ubiquitous, they have been merged into a single art. Compass and gunpowder, meanwhile, have been replaced by bronze, silk and porcelain.

An article in the Beijing Review says that although Chinese experts stated a number of reasons for the redefined "greatest-ever Chinese inventions list", the proposal triggered much public debate. Some people argue that the original four inventions of ancient China are widely recognized at home and abroad. They were chosen by Europeans according to Asian scientific and technological development level at the time. They have become the core cultural symbols that showcase pioneering Chinese inventions and innovation. It is inappropriate to change their status. Others say the attempt to redefine the four inventions according to their own studies does not mean betraying the ancient ancestors. It's just a new way of promoting more modern culture. The newly listed inventions also have irreplaceable symbolic and aesthetic significance.

The article concludes that no matter what the new top four inventions are, they must have significant and profound influence in today's world. And with scientific progress, to update the understanding of ancient Chinese culture will help enhance the nation's cultural cohesion.