The Umbrella
The umbrella was symbolized power and high class/rank. The first umbrella constructed was made in 21 A.D. for Wang Mang, the overthrower of the Han Dynasty. The umbrella was built secretly, and when it was introduced, the public thought it opened and closed by magic. The European version of the umbrella was first introduced in the 17th century, and it functioned strangely and was unreliable. It was in England when the umbrella, first used to create shade, was thought to be able to be used for protection against rain by Colonel James Wolfe.
Go back to the Chinese invention page