Table of Contents
Who Invented the Wheelbarrow?
The wheelbarrow was invented by Zhuge Liang (181-231 A.D.) of China. Liang was a general who used wheelbarrows to transport supplies and injured soldiers. Two men were necessary to move and steer the Chinese wheelbarrows, which had two wheels.
The oldest wheelbarrows discovered in the shape of a one-wheel cart are seen in 2nd-century Han Dynasty tomb paintings and brick tomb reliefs. A painted tomb mural showing a man pushing a wheelbarrow dating to 118 AD was discovered in a tomb in Chengdu, Sichuan province.
A stone sculpture showing a man carrying a wheelbarrow was discovered in the tomb of Shen Fujun in Sichuan province around 150 AD. Then there’s the story of the saintly Dong Yuan, seen in a painting at Shandong’s Wu Liang tomb shrine, wheeling his father around in a single-wheel Lu Che barrow (dated 147 AD).
Yet there are earlier tales dating back to the first century BC and the first century AD. During their pitiful wedding ceremony in about 30 BC, the wife of the once destitute and youthful imperial censor Bao Xuan assisted him in pushing a lu che back to his village, according to the 5th-century Book of Later Han.
Later, during the Red Eyebrows Rebellion (c. 20 AD) against the usurper Wang Mang (45 BC–23 AD), the official Zhao Xi saved his wife from harm’s way by disguising himself and pushing her along in his lu che barrow, past a group of British and rebels who questioned him and let him pass after he convinced them that his wife was gravely ill.
Yet, Prime Minister Zhuge Liang (181-234 AD) of Shu Han from 197–234 AD is credited with inventing the wheelbarrow in the Chinese historical record of the Sanguozhi (Records of the Three Kingdoms), compiled by the ancient historian Chen Shou (233-297 AD).
According to legend, in 231 AD, Zhuge Liang invented the wooden ox and utilized it to convey military supplies during a war against Cao Wei. Further detailed annotations of the text by Pei Songzhi (430 AD) depicted the design as a big, single central wheel and axle around which a wooden frame in the shape of an ox was built. The Song Dynasty (960–1279) scholar Gao Cheng claimed later in the 11th century that the little wheelbarrow of his day, with shafts facing forward (to be dragged), was a direct descendant of Zhuge Liang’s wooden ox.
Furthermore, he pointed out that the shaft of the 3rd century ‘gliding horse’ wheelbarrow was pointing backward (so that it was pushed instead). There were two kinds of wheelbarrows in China. After the third century, the more typical style had a huge, centrally positioned wheel. Before, all wheelbarrows had front wheels.
The central-wheeled wheelbarrow could generally transport six human passengers at once, and the weight of the burden was split equally between the wheel and the puller, rather than being exacted on the animal or human driver pulling the wheelbarrow.
European travelers to China from the 17th century forward appreciated this, and it received special emphasis in the writings of a member of the Dutch East India Company, Andreas Everardus van Braam Houckgeest, in 1797 (who accurately described its design and ability to hold large amounts of heavy baggage). The lower carrying surface, on the other hand, rendered the European wheelbarrow clearly more useful for short-distance tasks. Traditional wheelbarrows were still widely used in China in the 1960s.
Who is Zhuge Liang?
Zhuge Liang, also known as Kongming, was a notable person in Chinese history, best remembered for his position as a military strategist and politician during China’s Three Kingdoms period, which lasted from 220 to 280 AD. He served the realm of Shu Han under Liu Bei and his successors. Zhuge Liang is largely considered one of the most skilled strategists and tacticians in Chinese history.
During the Three Kingdoms Period in China, Zhuge Liang, the prime minister of the Shu Han Dynasty, was a vital factor in the creation of the wheelbarrow. During a military war against Cao Wei in 231 CE, Zhuge Liang invented a revolutionary wheelbarrow. His “wooden ox” design had a single wheel in the center, with loads carried on each side or on top. Its design allowed a single person to haul large amounts of food and ammunition. This discovery was kept hidden since it gave them a huge edge over their competitors.
The following are some important features of Zhuge Liang’s life and legacy:
Strategic Intelligence:
Zhuge Liang was well-known for his outstanding military tactics and techniques. He is widely credited with developing the “empty fort tactic,” which involves duping the enemy into believing a well-defended city is weak. During the Three Kingdoms period, his methods aided Shu Han in resisting the mighty state of Wei.
Academic Excellence
Zhuge Liang was a scholar and a well-educated guy in addition to his military skills. He was knowledgeable in a variety of subjects, including Confucianism, literature, and calligraphy.
Loyalty to Liu Bei:
Zhuge Liang is well-known for his unswerving dedication to Liu Bei, the founder of the Shu Han empire. During his life, he dutifully served Liu Bei and his son, Liu Chan.
Northern Campaigns:
In an attempt to reunify China under the Shu Han banner, Zhuge Liang led a series of Northern Expeditions against the kingdom of Wei. While he had some triumphs, he died before achieving his ultimate ambition.
Legacy After Death:
Zhuge Liang was posthumously awarded the title of “Loyal and Martial Marquis Worthy of Great Respect” after his death. He is also a renowned figure in Chinese mythology, where he is frequently shown as a wise and noble hero.
Zhuge Liang’s life and achievements have been praised in a variety of works of literature, notably the historical classic “Romance of the Three Kingdoms,” in which he is portrayed as a key character. His memory lives on in Chinese culture, and he is frequently considered a figure of intelligence, strategy, and loyalty.
