INVENTOR

Bi Sheng

990 - 1052

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Bi Sheng (972–1051) was a Chinese artisan and engineer during the Song dynasty (960–1279), who invented the world's first movable type. Bi's system used fired clay tiles, one for each Chinese character, and was invented between 1039 and 1048. Printing was one of the Four Great Inventions. Because Bi was a commoner, not an educated person, little is known about his life besides this invention. Read more on Wikipedia

His biography is available in different languages on Wikipedia. Bi Sheng is the 86th most popular inventor (down from 80th in 2019), the 244th most popular biography from China (down from 230th in 2019) and the 3rd most popular Chinese Inventor.

Bi sheng is most famous for the use of the "baozi" which is a dough-based food that is usually filled with meat, vegetables, or sweet beans.

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Among INVENTORS

Among inventors, Bi Sheng ranks 86 out of 426. Before him are Rowland Hill, Charles K. Kao, Jacques de Vaucanson, Paul Gottlieb Nipkow, Oleg Antonov, and Ray Tomlinson. After him are Raymond Damadian, Joseph Pilates, Alphonse Bertillon, Henri Coandă, Thomas Savery, and André-Jacques Garnerin.

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Contemporaries

Among people born in 990, Bi Sheng ranks 7. Before him are Tughril, Conrad II, Holy Roman Emperor, Pope Nicholas II, Lady Godiva, Sancho III of Pamplona, and Samuel Aba. After him are Mieszko II Lambert, Jovan Vladimir, Gisela of Swabia, Stefan Vojislav, Estrid Svendsdatter, and Ælfgifu of Northampton. Among people deceased in 1052, Bi Sheng ranks 2. Before him is Emma of Normandy. After him are Boniface III, Margrave of Tuscany, Fan Zhongyan, Vladimir of Novgorod, and Guaimar IV of Salerno.

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In China

Among people born in China, Bi Sheng ranks 244 out of 1,610. Before him are Kang Youwei (1858), Jack Ma (1964), Emperor Ming of Han (28), Pu Songling (1640), Zaifeng, Prince Chun (1883), and Zhang Liang (-290). After him are Emperor Taizu of Jin (1068), Heshen (1750), Emperor Suzong of Tang (711), Emperor Ai of Han (-27), Sima Guang (1019), and Ban Zhao (45).

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Among INVENTORS In China

Among inventors born in China, Bi Sheng ranks 3. Before him are Cai Lun (48), and Charles K. Kao (1933). After him are Taiichi Ohno (1912), Yuan Longping (1930), Thonmi Sambhota (618), An Wang (1920), and Robin Li (1968).

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