中国的四大发明是指南针、造纸术、印刷术和火药。这些发明对中国古代的政治、经济、文化的发展产生了巨大的推动作用，经各种途径传至西方，对世界文明发展史产生巨大的影响力。
造纸术：由蔡伦发明，极大地促进了书写和传播知识的能力，纸张的出现，为人们学习和掌握知识提供了更加方便和广泛的途径，也促进了文化和艺术的交流和发展。
指南针：栾大是指南针的雏形的发明者。指南针的发明对人类的科学技术和文明的发展，起了无可估量的作用，它的发明对人类的航海和军事目的产生了深远的影响。
火药：孙思邈是火药的发明者，火药的发明和使用对战争和军事技术产生了重要影响，火药的发明和应用还对炸药、烟火、火箭、导弹等技术的发展产生了重大影响，这些技术又推动了航空、航天、能源和化学等领域的发展。
活字印刷术：毕升是活字印刷术的发明者。印刷术的发明使得书籍的传播变得更加容易，从而促进了文化的交流和传播。印刷术的发明和应用还对环境产生了深远的影响。
The four great inventions of China are the compass, paper, printing and gunpowder. These inventions greatly promoted the political, economic and cultural development of ancient China, and were spread to the West through various channels, exerting great influence on the development history of world civilization.
Paper: Invented by CAI Lun, greatly promoted the ability to write and disseminate knowledge. The appearance of paper provided a more convenient and extensive way for people to learn and master knowledge, and also promoted the exchange and development of culture and art.
Compass: Luan Da is the inventor of the prototype compass. The invention of the compass has played an inestimable role in the development of human science and technology and civilization, and its invention has had a profound impact on human navigation and military purposes.
Gunpowder: Sun Simimiao is the inventor of gunpowder, the invention and use of gunpowder had an important impact on war and military technology, the invention and application of gunpowder also had a significant impact on the development of explosives, fireworks, rockets, missiles and other technologies, which in turn promoted the development of aviation, aerospace, energy and chemistry and other fields.
Movable type printing: Bi Sheng is the inventor of movable type printing. The invention of printing made it easier to spread books, thus promoting the exchange and spread of culture. The invention and application of printing also had a profound impact on the environment.