27/04/2025
More than 2,000 years ago, before forklifts, trucks, or even proper roads, the ancient Chinese came up with something genius: the wheelbarrow.
Historical records trace its first use back to around 200 AD during the Han Dynasty.
Legend says a Chinese general named Zhuge Liang used early versions of wheelbarrows — sometimes called "wooden oxen" — to move supplies and wounded soldiers across rugged terrain. 🐂
Imagine the difference: one person could now carry what would normally take two or three people.
Less effort, more distance, faster work.
In a way, the wheelbarrow was one of humanity’s first steps toward mechanizing labor.
And today, from construction sites in Joburg to vegetable gardens in rural KwaZulu-Natal, the wheelbarrow is still helping people move mountains... one load at a time. 🌍💪
Small invention. Massive impact.
