How did the ancients in the Han Dynasty process grain? From stone tools to stone milling, explore the development process of ancient grinding
In ancient China, grain processing was an important part of agricultural production. In the heyday of feudal society, the Han Dynasty also reached a high level of grain processing technology. From the initial stone tools to the later stone milling, the ancients of the Han Dynasty continued to explore and innovate, which promoted the development of grain processing technology. Focusing on this theme, this article will explore the process of grain processing by the ancients in the Han Dynasty, as well as the evolution of ancient grinding techniques.
Before the Han Dynasty, the ancients mainly used stone tools for grain processing. These stone tools usually include simple tools such as stone mortars and stone pestles. A stone mortar is a concave stone tool used to hold grain, while a stone pestle is a long rod that is used to mash grain in a stone mortar. Although this processing method is primitive, it has been able to meet the basic processing needs of the ancients for grain.
With the development of society in the Han Dynasty and the progress of agricultural production, grain processing technology has also been further developed. The ancients of the Han Dynasty began to try to use more efficient tools to process grain, so the stone mill came into being.
Stone milling is a tool that uses the rotation of a stone wheel to grind grain. It is composed of two stone plates, the upper stone plate has a shaft in the center, and one end of the shaft is equipped with a wooden handle or animal power, which drives the stone disk to rotate by shaking or animal force. The grain is placed in the space between the upper and lower stone plates, and as the stone plates rotate, the grain is gradually ground into powder.
The advent of stone milling has greatly improved the efficiency of grain processing. Compared to stone tools, stone milling can grind grain more quickly and evenly, making grain processing easier and more efficient. At the same time, the use of stone grinding has also promoted the development of the grain processing industry, making grain processing an independent industry.
In the Han Dynasty, the use of stone milling was already quite common. It is widely used not only in homes, but also in government offices, temples, and other places. With the popularization of stone milling, grain processing technology has been further developed and improved. People began to try to use stone discs of different materials to make stone grinding in order to seek better grinding results. At the same time, there are also stone mills that are specially used to process different kinds of grains, such as rice and wheat.
The technology of the ancients in the Han Dynasty to process grain was not only of great significance at that time, but also had a profound impact on later generations. The invention and use of stone milling has provided important reference and inspiration for grain processing technology in later generations. With the progress of the times, grain processing technology continues to develop, but the basic principle and structure of stone grinding are still retained, and are widely used in modern grain processing machinery.
In addition, the process of grain processing by the ancients in the Han Dynasty also reflected the development of social productive forces and scientific and technological level at that time. From the initial stone tools to the later stone grinding, every technological innovation is inseparable from the deep understanding and continuous exploration of production and life by the ancients. This innovative spirit not only promoted the development of grain processing technology, but also made important contributions to the prosperity and progress of ancient Chinese society.
To sum up, the process of grain processing by the ancients in the Han Dynasty was a process of continuous exploration and innovation. From the initial stone tools to the later stone milling, the ancients of the Han Dynasty promoted the development and improvement of grain processing technology through continuous practice and innovation. This process not only reflected the development of social productivity and scientific and technological level at that time, but also provided important reference and enlightenment for the grain processing technology of later generations. Today, when we look back on this period of history, we cannot help but be impressed by the wisdom and innovative spirit of the ancients.
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