Sticky Rice As Mortar: Chinese Secret Unearthed!
June 3rd, 2010 - 8:24 pm ICT by GDBy Ranjan Bhaduri
June 3, (THAINDIAN NEWS) In a recent development, the scientists have unveiled the secret behind Chinese super-strong mortar.
The mortar was made from sticky rice. Incredible as it may seem to some people, this lent the buildings and walls stability and durability which has made them last for centuries.
The sweet rice as it is called now, was used to fill in the places between bricks, stones and similar materials for construction in China several centuries back. The sticky rice mortar was invented in China almost 1500 years back.
The sticky rice was blended with elements like slaked lime. It is possibly the first organic mortar of the world using both inorganic and organic materials.
It has been found that the composite mortar was stronger than the standard pure lime mortar. The city walls, pagodas and even tombs were built with this material. Some of these buildings can be seen today still. They were powerful enough to resist the ravages of earthquakes.
The strength of the sticky mortar is owing to a component known as amylopectin. The Chinese builders also experimented with various other items as mortars. These include egg whites, fish oil and blood of animals etc. However, nothing worked as well as sticky rice mortar.
The Ming Dynasty has the record of using the sticky rice mortar but archaeological surveys have shown that it was used in other provinces of China as early in 4th and 5th century. The sticky mortar is also very useful in restoring ancient stonework.
The discovery has created sensation among scientists who are trying to find out the details about the material.
- Ancient Chinese Secret Of Sticky Rice Mortar Revealed - Jun 03, 2010
- Ancient Chinese secret of sticky rice mortar busted - May 30, 2010
- What is the secret of ancient Chinese super-strong mortar? - May 31, 2010
- Aga Khan Trust helps restore 16th century tomb - Jul 19, 2011
- US aid to restore 16th century mausoleum (With Image) - Aug 12, 2011
- Humayun's Tomb gets 16th century makeover (With Images) - Jun 16, 2011
- Chinese opera star named Unesco Artist for Peace - May 24, 2011
- 105 years after quake, Himachal temple rebuilt - Jan 06, 2012
- US returns seized ancient artifacts to China - Mar 12, 2011
- Over 100 ancient tombs found in Chinese town - Jun 27, 2011
- President Patil visits Forbidden City - May 28, 2010
- More Great Wall remains found in NW China - Mar 21, 2011
- Rare 1,100-year-old murals on display in China - Jun 21, 2011
- Robbery attempt at imperial cemetery - Oct 25, 2011
- Ancient Chinese calligrapher's work sold for 46 million dollars - Nov 21, 2010
Tags: ancient stonework, archaeological surveys, bricks, chinese secret, city walls, construction in china, earthquakes, egg whites, fish oil, lime mortar, ming dynasty, mortars, organic materials, pagodas, provinces of china, similar materials, slaked lime, sticky rice, sweet rice, tombs