The Chinese Invention of Glass

[Tony Jones]

On QI last week they mentioned that the Chinese never invented glass, and as such were hindered in their development by the lack of chemically inert glass containers for chemical experiments, and also from the lack of glass for spectacles which could extend the working life of scholars by 10-15 years (though the Chinese did invent sunglasses using panes of smokey quartz).

So, assuming this is true, the obvious question is, what if the Chinese did invent or acquire glass technology? When might they have done so, and what impact might it have had?

 

[tallwingedgoat]

The ancient Chinese did have glass, they just couldn't make transparent glass nor did they have glass blowing. The earliest China could have gotten these technologies would be through the Romans via the Silk Road during the Han dynasty. Another possibility is through contact with the Arabs during the Tang dynasty.

Transparent glass was a critical technological bottleneck because much of the discoveries of the natural world depended on the telescope and microscope. The study of optics also pushed the boundaries of mathematics. I'm not sure about the need for glass tubes in chemistry. Most of the time glass tubes could be substituted for with ceramics.

Having such glass does not in itself guarantee the invention of these tools, but I think the eye glasses would seem like a logical extension of the Chinese sun glasses.

 

[Paladin]

I know for a fact that both clear Roman glass and rock crystal made it's way up the Silk Road into Central Asia, so it's entirely plausible it goes a little further.

 

[tallwingedgoat]

I know for a fact that both clear Roman glass and rock crystal made it's way up the Silk Road into Central Asia, so it's entirely plausible it goes a little further.

It's more than likely it did reach China. But for the Chinese to acquire the technology is a different story. Goods changed hands multiple times on the Silk Road, often taking decades to go from one end to the other, if at all. It would look amazing, but there's no indication how it was made.

 

[robertp6165]

It's more than likely it did reach China. But for the Chinese to acquire the technology is a different story. Goods changed hands multiple times on the Silk Road, often taking decades to go from one end to the other, if at all. It would look amazing, but there's no indication how it was made.

True...the best way for the Chinese to get it would probably be to capture an Arab glassworker at the Battle of Talas, like the Arabs captured Chinese paper makers in OTL.

 

[Cicero the Younger]

I guess I don't understand enough about glass manufacture. Why would it have been necessary for the Chinese to learn these technologies from the West? What is it about Chinese glass that would have made it impossible for them to figure out how to make it clear on their own?

 

[tallwingedgoat]

I guess I don't understand enough about glass manufacture. Why would it have been necessary for the Chinese to learn these technologies from the West? What is it about Chinese glass that would have made it impossible for them to figure out how to make it clear on their own?

Glass was invented in the Middle East and spread throughout the Med. Lots of people were experimenting with it. Transparent glass results from the use of manganese-oxide which probably came about accidentally after much effort is put into all sorts of experimentations.

The Chinese never had much interest in glass except as cheap beads. They just never played with it enough IMO.

 

[Tyr]

According to QI they were well aware of glass (of course, they weren't totally cut off from the world, they knew foreigners made it) its just they were perfectly happy with china and felt it did everything they could possibly want glass for.

 

[Analytical Engine]

Transparent glass was a critical technological bottleneck because much of the discoveries of the natural world depended on the telescope and microscope. The study of optics also pushed the boundaries of mathematics. I'm not sure about the need for glass tubes in chemistry. Most of the time glass tubes could be substituted for with ceramics.

Well, you can see what's going on for a start.